UP CM Yogi Adityanath plans interactive Shivaji Maharaj Museum in Agra by January, highlighting India’s bravery, culture, and historical heroes.

The Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Museum in Agra is to be finished by January, according to UP CM Yogi Adityanath, who has emphasized that the facility should be “a place of inspiration for India’s bravery, self-respect, and cultural splendour” rather than a static historical exhibit.

The CM presented a bold plan for the museum during a Department of Culture review meeting Thursday. According to him, the “living experience of India’s glorious history” will captivate tourists with its immersive storytelling and cutting-edge technology.

Every exhibit and architectural feature must be created to embody UP’s cultural identity. Visitors will be able to actively participate in the state’s rich legacy rather than merely observe it thanks to thematic and interactive presentations.

The museum will have a number of cutting-edge galleries that will bring history to life. Among these are the Shivaji and the Great Escape Gallery, which will use 7D technology to create a dramatic portrayal of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s famous escape from the Agra Fort. Shivaji’s determination for independence will be symbolized in this part, giving visitors a clear sense of his valor and strategic genius.

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The Pioneers Gallery, which will honor the enduring heroes of the First War of Independence in 1857, is another example. Items, souvenirs, and records pertaining to the individuals who established the groundwork for India’s freedom will be on exhibit in this exhibition. It will have recollections of Tantia Tope, Rana Sahib, Rani Lakshmi Bai of Jhansi, and numerous more.

To make this gallery come to life, the CM has instructed that “cutting-edge presentation methods” be employed.

Interactive representations of Uttar Pradesh’s religion, local culture, and holiday customs will be available at the Festivals and Rivers Galleries.

Since CM Adityanath renamed the initially intended “Mughal Museum” in 2020 to honor Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, the museum project has generated a great deal of historical and political controversy.

Former Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav first announced the museum in 2015, and work on it started in 2017. A museum specializing in Mughal history, culture, weapons, and clothing was the original idea. This was consistent with Agra’s standing as a hub for Mughal culture.

However, in September 2020, Yogi Adityanath defended the renaming by arguing that emblems of slavery had no place in Uttar Pradesh and questioned how the Mughals could be regarded as “our heroes.” This choice caused a great deal of criticism in both intellectual and political circles.

The museum’s new focus has drawn criticism for a number of reasons, including a historical gap given Shivaji’s minimal involvement with Agra beyond his temporary incarceration there.

Many questioned whether it was appropriate to dedicate an entire museum to a warrior king from Maharashtra in Agra, a city that is known for its Mughal architectural and cultural legacy.

The Congress and the Samajwadi Party are two opposition parties that have criticized the decision for being politically driven. The administration was prioritizing the renaming of historical sites in order to modify historical narratives along ideological lines, they claimed, rather than concentrating on development projects.

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The state government had just declared this week that Mustafabad would now be known as Kabirdham.

Concerns have been raised by certain historians and cultural analysts that the name undervalues the important contribution the Mughal Empire made to the development of Agra’s identity and India’s diverse cultural legacy. Mughal structures include the Taj Mahal and Agra Fort, which contribute to the city’s global reputation.

The UP government has stuck to its plan for the museum, which is to celebrate Indian resistance and cultural pride, in spite of the criticism.