Parliament Museum magnificent gift to people: PM

New Delhi, Aug 14 (UNI) Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today complimented the billion-strong people of India for having voluntarily sought their salvation from the legacy of poverty, ignorance and disease through a system of representative government, and said it was unprecedented in ths history of the world.

Dr Singh made this remark at the inauguration of the Parliament Museum, located inside the Parliament House, attended by President APJ Abdul Kalam, Vice-President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee, several cabinet colleagues, Members of Parliament and other dignitaries.

Dr Kalam inaugurated the Parliament Museum on the eve of the 60th Independence Day.

Complimenting Mr Chatterjee for having conceived the idea, the Prime Minister said the ''splendid museum'' would portray the history and living traditions of the country's unique democracy.

''Mr. Speaker Sir, on behalf of a grateful nation, I thank you for having conceived this idea. This is a magnificent gift to our nation on the eve of 60th year of independence. Sir, tomorrow we enter the sixtieth year of our independence. In these six decades India has emerged as a great and vibrant democracy. By showcasing this magnificent history of our democracy, the Museum celebrates the success of our efforts,'' he said.

Dr Singh expressed satisfaction that the Museum had a section on the country's freedom struggle.

''The views of Bapuji, Dr. Ambedkar, Jawaharlal Nehru, Sardar Patel, Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad and the many architects of our democracy reflect the values and principles of our democracy as envisioned by the founding fathers of our Republic,'' he said.

Observing that a fundamental objective of Indian democracy had been the attempt to make it inclusive and representative of the diversity of the country, he said the goal of increasing the participation of women in Parliament had to be realised.

He also suggested that this Museum should have a separate section devoted to the magnificent role of ''our women in the functioning of our democracy''. Further, it should also have a section on Parliament's role in social and economic empowerment of the weaker sections and minorities.

In this contect, he quoted Pandit Nehru that ''a museum is a collection of all kinds of things of beauty or things of utility from the past and present. It should convey to us some idea of the larger scheme of life. It should ultimately lead to or at least help in the understanding of the present scheme of things''.

Dr Singh also exuded hope that these words would guide the authorities of the Museum in building a unique institution worthy of ''our heritage that will record, reflect and celebrate our achievements at the fountainhead of our democracy.'' The Prime Minister said children and youth, in particular, would be encouraged to visit it because ''it is the younger generation who must water this plant of our democracy''.

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