Museum of Royal Kingdoms of India: 560 erstwhile princely states to showcase legacy, next to statue of man who led their integration into Indian union

“The objective is to acquaint future generations with the timeless spirit of unity and sacrifice of these erstwhile princely states through the five-acre museum, which will have four thematic galleries,” said Pankaj Sharma, Director of Gujarat’s Directorate of Archaeology and Museums. The idea for the museum came from the PMO, which wanted to build something for the princely states on the lines of the Prime Ministers’ Museum in New Delhi, which highlights the life, times and contributions of all the 16 PMs so far, the officials said. Families of all the PMs so far were contacted to donate objects and memorabilia for the Pradhanmantri Sangrahalaya, to be displayed in dedicated galleries for each of the prime ministers.

Sharma said as many as 260 of the royal families have been contacted and over a 100 have responded, expressing their consent to either donate objects for display at the Kevadia museum, or loan some objects for some years. Officials said specific deals and arrangements are being worked out with descendants of some of these families for the objects, including correspondence, chariots, thrones and other royal insignias, significant documents pertaining to social work or causes they have contributed to and the instruments of accession they signed with the Union of India at Patel’s behest.

Mumbai-based Ratanji Baltiboy Consultants are doing design and technical work for the project, as well as curation. Since over 500 such princely states existed, the new museum is not designed to hold dedicated galleries for each, but thematic galleries, spanning the 18th century until the time of their accession in 1949.

“The political integration of these states into the Indian Union represents one of the most defining achievements of our nation post-Independence,” said an official, adding under the leadership of Sardar Patel, the then Deputy PM and Home Minister of the nation, the rulers of the princely states were persuaded to accede to India through the Instrument of Accession. By 1949, nearly all princely states had joined the Indian Union, laying the foundation for a sovereign republic.