BENGALURU, 23 AUG

Visvesvaraya National Memorial Trust will set up a museum next year adjacent to the house of Bharat Ratna Sri M Visvesvaraya at Muddenahalli, around 60km from here. The memorabilia of the former Dewan of Mysuru that are currently housed in his house will be shifted to the museum in Chikkaballapur district.  

“The new museum will come up on an acre granted by State government,” Satish Mokshagundam, president of the trust and great-grandnephew of Visvesvaraya, told Salar News. “The museum will have more artefacts than that are currently housed in the house and it will be in a bigger space. I will ensure that the museum comes up in my lifetime. The funds will be sourced from industrialists, friends and those who knew Sir MV personally. State Department of Culture will oversee the new museum.’’

Mokshagundam said the family has memorabilia of Sir MV such as a key given by Sakleshpur Cooperative Society and a painting presented by an eminent Chinese personality during his visit to India. “Due to security reasons, many memorabilia have been kept safely in an undisclosed destination and they would be on display once the new museum comes up,’’ he said.

The house now has on display awards, titles and certificates presented to Visvesvaraya, his collection of books and items of daily use such as shaving razors. Vivesvaraya was born on 15 September, 1860, and his house has been renovated and is revered as a temple by the villagers. —Salar News