Dilli Haat memorial to keep Kalam’s legacy alive

A museum in the memory of former president APJ Abdul Kalam will be inaugurated at Dilli Haat in INA on July 30

July 27 marked one year of the death of former president APJ Abdul Kalam. A museum in his memory at Dilli Haat in INA is all set to be thrown open to the public. The memorial, built under the Delhi government’s tourism department, will be inaugurated by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on July 30.

Finishing touches are being given to the museum which will be inaugurated on July 30 by CM Arvind Kejriwal. (Sanchit Khanna /HT Photo)

Stepping inside from the rear gate of Dilli Haat, the large courtyard and a small souvenir shop that form the memorial building are evocative of the former president’s ancestral house in Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu. “The verandah gives one a feel of a typical South Indian house. It is a small memorial with simple design, appropriate to capture the spirit of the humble leader. It has been planned in an area of 6,500 square feet,” said Pradeep Sachdeva, curator of the memorial, who has also designed Dilli Haat.

Finishing touches are being given to the museum, which will house the late president’s belongings and personal possessions. Panels on wall will bear his pictures and quotations.

“Extensive curating has been done by the finest graphic designers for the work. Its simplicity blends well with the character of Dilli Haat. There will be special lights and visual panels. It is a personal and intimately scaled memorial,” said Sachdeva.

The memorial will have a life-size sculpture of Kalam and a narrative on visually illustrated panels of his life as a teacher, scientist and the president of India.

“The idea behind having a memorial of the late president in the Capital was to carry forward his legacy. The memorial at a public place like Dilli Haat will inspire scores of visitors, in particular young minds. His inspirational quotes, notes and documents have a lot to tell about the life he led,” said a Delhi Tourism spokesperson.

In Missile Man’s Memory

The museum has been built in an area of 6,500 square feet

Stepping in from the rear gate of Dilli Haat, the large courtyard and small souvenir shop that form the memorial building, are evocative of Kalam’s ancestral house in Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu

The museum will also have an audio-visual presentation highlighting the former president’s life. Among the personal belongings on display will be clothes, shoes, spectacles, notes and documents and a few utensils

The wall panels at the Dilli Haat museum are adorned with his paintings and quotes from his books