The Rashtrapati Bhavan: Would this relic of the Raj better serve as a Museum?

Long after the visuals of the swearing-in ceremony in the forecourt of Rashtrapati Bhavan had faded from the TV screens, one thought kept nagging me: Why can’t this relic of the Raj be put to a better use? How about converting it into a National Museum?

I know we already have one in New Delhi. But did you know it does not have enough space and can only showcase about 15,000 of its over 2 lakh artefacts? Forget about showcasing, the museum does not even have enough space to store these treasures. “They are just dumped here”, says Director General AKVS Reddy. In fact some galleries are kept closed since the space is “being used for storing exhibits”.

How many of you are aware of the terrible state of this institution? “The museum building and facilities visibly lack maintenance. The lift is not operational, spotlights have no bulbs, wall paint has peeled off and the auditorium has tattered seats...Of the 15 galleries..seven are closed. Many have been shut for years and officials are not sure if they will ever open.”.  This is from a report by UNESCO experts in 2011 (apparently some corrective steps have been taken since).  Poor maintenance is not just limited to peeling wall-paint. At least three galleries have been seriously affected by roof leakages – leading to their closure.  Numerous posts remain vacant – 60% of the total and 26 of the 32 senior positions.

I am not sure what the budget for the institution is but it appears to be modest, in the region of Rs 10 crores (excluding salaries).

Contrast this with the Rashtrapati Bhavan. The official website of the President of India helpfully informs us that “Few official residential premises of the Head of the State in the world will match the Rashtrapati Bhavan in terms of its size, vastness and its magnificence.”

The Bhavan has four floors and 340 rooms spread over a floor area of 200, 000 square feet. Most of it – I believe – remains unoccupied most of the time. The rooms meant for the Viceroy now host the “Guest Wing” where the Heads of State of other countries stay during their visit to India. Strangely this entire wing was closed for almost 20 years.

How much do you think is spent on maintaining this “magnificence”? “In 2007, the maintenance cost of the presidential palace was estimated to be more than Rs 100 crore (Rs 1 billion) per year.” The electricity bill alone was almost Rs 7crores!  That is not all.  It cost about 27.52 crore in 2009 to cover “establishment-related expenses“.

Surely there can be better uses for this money – and this space? Isn’t it time to have a rethink on this? Is it not possible to use at least a part of this imposing edifice to showcase the best of Indian art and culture? Wouldn’t that be fitting? 

P.S. I have no knowledge of architecture or form but at least one commentator seems to believe that the Rashtrapati Bhavan is in the form of “processional architecture, architecture that depends for its effect on our approach and movement through a sequence of varied spaces.” Wouldn’t that be perfect for a museum?

Related Links: National Museum in a state of decay, Museum of neglect emperils past and these 2 damning  reviews by tourists..