ASI to set up exhibition on freedom fighters at Red Fort

New Delhi: Come November, visitors at the Red Fort will have the opportunity to walk through the struggles of some unknown and known martyrs of the Indian freedom struggle.

The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) is preparing to set up a permanent exhibition called ‘Azadee Ke Deewane’ at a museum inside the Red Fort premises, highlighting various figures and artefacts of the movement until 1947.

“There are many unknown faces of the freedom struggle about whom the public doesn’t know about yet. We will try our level best to come up with those names and information about such people and also about the known faces who participated in the freedom struggle. It will be a first of its kind exhibition,” said Daljit Singh, the director of museums, ASI.

“We want that when people come and see this exhibition, they live through the stories of these martyrs and leave with tears in their eyes,” he added.

“We need archaeologists, museologist, and digital experts who can come up with a theme and will conceptualise, design, and set up the exhibition. The erstwhile Swatantra Sangram Sanghralaya will have a dedicated space for it,” Mr Singh said.

The museum, which displayed artefacts from 1857 to 1947, is currently undergoing conservation work and will also focus on the Revolt of 1857. Likely to be renamed as the ‘1857 Museum,’ it will be moved to a new address soon.

“We are expecting the work to be completed by November 15 this year,” he said. The estimated cost of the project will be around Rs 4,21,30,000.

The other museums and palaces at Red Fort premises like the Mumtaz Mahal, Indian War Memorial, and the Swatantrata Senani Museum will also move to new addresses within the premises.