Rajkot (Gujarat): The 164-year-old Alfred High School at Jubilee Bagh in Rajkot, where Mahatma Gandhi studied, has been converted into a museum. The museum set up by the Rajkot Municipal Corporation gives an overview of various events from his birth to his life, including his life and thoughts. The museum was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on September 30, 2018.
The Rajkot Municipal Corporation has developed the Gandhi Museum at an estimated cost of Rs26 crores and made it an international level museum. People from home and abroad visit the Gandhi Museum. The special feature of this museum is that it also shows a 3D movie of things ranging from Gandhiji's biography to his freedom struggle. It has been developed in such a way that even people from home and abroad who come here can easily understand things about Gandhiji's life.
About 1,75,000 people visited
Since its inauguration in 2018, about 1.75 lakh people from home and abroad have visited the museum. The museum was temporarily closed due to pandemic. However, it was reopened recently as per Covid guideline. The museum is currently being managed by Rajkot Municipal Corporation.
Speaking to ETV Bharat, Rajkot Mayor, Dr Pradeep Dav said, "Some of Gandhiji's memories are associated with Rajkot so that people from Rajkot and abroad can know about them. The museum has been completely modernised by the government and so far the corporation has earned Rs40 lakh from the Gandhi Museum."
Museum designed with complete modernity
The museum uses technology to provide information to the public about Gandhi's student memoirs and biographies, including multimedia mini-theatre, motion graphics animation, 3D projection, multiple screens, augmented reality, circular video projection, circular video projection, circular video projection and technology including monumental lighting. The museum also has a library, murals, prayer halls and an interactive mode of learning associated with the biography of Gandhi. In addition, souvenir shops, workshops, libraries as well as a food court and VVIP arrangements office, advanced parking, ticket window, storeroom etc. are also available.
Gandhiji got admitted to school in 1880
Prior to the construction of the Gandhi Museum in Rajkot, the school was run under the name Alfred High School. In the year 1853, it became the first high school in Saurashtra, which was named Rajkot English School. The high school at the time was run by a British agency, which initially had about 40 students. The school was later merged with Mumbai University in 1866 and was later renamed Kathiawar High School. Mahatma Gandhi got admission to this high school in the year 1880.
