President Droupadi Murmu has authorised the renaming of the Nehru Memorial Museum and Library (NMML) as the Prime Ministers' Museum, according to a statement from the Union cabinet secretariat, news agency ANI reported.


"In the Government of India (Allocation of Business) Rules, 1961, in THE SECOND SCHEDULE, under the heading "MINISTRY OF CULTURE (SANSKRITI MANTRALAYA)", in entry 9, for the words 'Nehru Memorial Museum and Library', the following words shall be substituted, namely:-'Prime Ministers Museum and Library," the official notification reads. 






During a special meeting in mid-June, the NMML Society decided to alter its name to the PMML Society.


The Culture Ministry then announced that the Nehru Memorial Museum and Library Society will be renamed the Prime Ministers' Museum and Library Society.


The decision was made during a special meeting of the Memorial Museum and Library Society presided over by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, the Society's Vice-President.


This project was authorised by the NMML Executive Council during its 162nd meeting in November 2016. Last April 21, the Pradhanmantri Sangrahalaya opened to the public.


Despite having received an invitation from the government, no member of the Nehru-Gandhi family attended the inauguration.


Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi, and Rajiv Gandhi are three members of the Nehru-Gandhi family who have served as Prime Ministers of India.


According to the Culture Ministry, the Museum is a seamless mix that begins with the rebuilt and remodelled Nehru Museum structure, which is "now completely updated with technologically advanced displays on Jawaharlal Nehru's life and contribution."


"Housed in a new building the museum then goes on to tell the story of how our Prime Ministers navigated the nation through various challenges and ensured the all-round progress of the country. It recognizes all the Prime Ministers, thereby democratizing the institutional memory," the release was quoted by ANI in its report. 


Congress Slams Renaming Of Nehru Memorial Museum, Says Its 'Petty Act'


Prior to President's approval, earlier in June, Congress Party had called the centre's move to remove India's first Prime Minister's name a "petty act" and claimed that changing structures does not erase memories, news agency PTI reported.


 The BJP had also blasted the Congress, accusing it of "Modiabind" – mindless hostility to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. J P Nadda, the head of the BJP, had stated that Congress' refusal to acknowledge that there are leaders other than "one dynasty" is an example of "political indigestion."


The Congress called it "vengeance" and claimed that renaming structures does not erase legacies.


According to Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, the act demonstrated the "low mentality and dictatorial attitude" of the BJP and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), since they can never diminish Nehru's enormous contribution as "the architect of modern India."


"Those who do not have any history are erasing the history of others. The ill-fated attempt to change the name of the Nehru Memorial Museum and Library cannot belittle the personality of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, the architect of modern India and fearless guardian of democracy," Kharge had said earlier in a tweet in Hindi.






"This only shows the low mentality and dictatorial attitude of BJP-RSS. The petty thinking of the (Narendra) Modi government cannot reduce the huge contribution of 'Hind ke Jawahar' towards India," he said.


Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh had stated: "Pettiness & Vengeance, thy name is Modi. For over 59 years NMML has been a global intellectual landmark and treasure house of books & archives. It will henceforth be called Prime Ministers Museum & Society."


"What won't Mr. Modi do to distort, disparage and destroy the name & legacy of the architect of the Indian nation-state? A small, small man overburdened by his insecurities is the self-styled Vishwaguru," Ramesh was quoted by PTI in its report.


Teen Murti Bhavan, according to Congress General Secretary (Organisation) K C Venugopal, is a historic site where India's future was fashioned.


"The architect of India's post-independence glory was our first PM Jawaharlal Nehru. Erasing his legacy by changing the name of the Nehru Memorial Museum and Library is a petty act, which only further diminishes the stature of the current regime," Venugopal posted on X (formerly known as Twitter).






"India's every success is achieved on the foundation of Nehru ji's vision. India knows that, and removing his name from a museum will not change the revered stature that Nehru ji enjoys in every Indian's heart," he said.