How Allahabad Museum got hold of gifts and artefacts from Nehru 

I wished to put down in writing the colourful experiences I had and the principles I evolved when I began creating the Allahabad Museum as the executive officer for the newly created Kashi Hindu Vishwa Vidyalaya.

UP, in the 1930s, was an unexplored mine of ancient artefacts dating back to centuries. In 1931, when I was working with the local municipality in Allahabad as the Chief Executive, I decided to start collecting artefacts for a grand museum to be built in Allahabad. Initially, I had a few large halls in the large building I worked in, where I stored my collection. Eventually, I thought of making a supreme effort to have a proper building for the museum and so decided to enlist the support of Jawaharlalji while he was visiting Allahabad.

The occasion for his visit was a (first ever) exhibition of Swadeshi at the Katra Palace of Raja Asodharji. Here, among various other grandly displayed gifts presented to Jawaharlalji over the years in various provinces of India, I chanced upon a large silver casket holding a rolled up declaration in praise of the man.

I decided to do my beggar act and requested Jawaharlalji to indulge me a bit and visit my humble museum. I was determined to play upon his heartstrings as I showed him my baby. People think of Jawaharlalji as a dry and unsentimental leader, but I have known him for long and know how easily he is moved. It is just that being a pragmatic creature he does not allow his feelings to become obvious. He said to me, “Vyas, I myself wished to see your museum but I am very busy and travelling constantly. I must leave immediately but I do promise to see it during my next visit.”

I saw that my arrow had not hit the target, but so what? My bow was intact. I confessed frankly that mine was not entirely an unselfish gesture. Jawaharlalji smiled and told me, “I can see that. What exactly is it that you want?”

I opened up and told him that after the Swadeshi exhibition was over, I wanted him to donate all his own stuff to the museum. Jawaharlalji laughed, “Ah, so this is what you wanted. And may I ask what will you do with them, Vyas? These run of the mill things displayed here are not particularly pretty objects d’art. As a matter of fact, I wished to exchange them for cash and donate the entire amount to the Tilak Swaraj Fund.”

I was appalled and told him these were national treasures and needed to be in a protected environ for public viewing over the coming decades. Jawaharlalji laughed and said, “There is no need to gush over these, just take them if you so wish. The exhibition will be over on October 11, send someone to collect them the next day around 11 am, he can take the entire lot for what it is worth.”

On October 12, I went there and, helped by the staff, had all the pieces loaded on a municipal van. I came back pleased as punch. On his next visit, Jawaharlalji came to my museum as promised and said to me smiling, “Yaar Vyas, you really are a selfish plunderer. Do you know among the things displayed at the Katra exhibition was also my mother’s idol of Goddess Lakshmi which is a family heirloom?”

I smiled back and replied, “I brought back whatever your swayamsevaks handed me. How was I to know what object belonged to someone else? I am truly a grim plunderer but I have my principles and would not steal a mother’s things.” Panditji’s smile became broader as he said, “Do me a favour then. Before your plunderer within you awakens, be so kind as to return that Lakshmi idol. Mother has been incessantly asking for it.” I returned the idol but did it with a heavy heart. I had never before seen such a beautifully crafted idol of the Goddess of wealth.

Jawaharlalji’s easy generosity may not have yielded a large treasure but it did fill me with confidence. And the incident and objects it brought to museum helped me net other large fish right up to the time I was there (1943).

Jawaharlalji continued to send me the various gifts he received. The museum is heaped with his bounty. In one of my visits to Delhi when I called upon him, he told me, “Vyas, there is a lot of clutter here. Just carry off what you will for the museum. “Among this, ‘clutter’, were some rare artefacts that have a place of pride in the Allahabad Museum.

(Translated from ‘Mera Kachcha Chittha’)

(The writer is Founder Chairman of Allahabad Museum)