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Yuga Yugeen Bharat National Museum
Context:
India and France signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to develop a new National Museum, named Yuga Yugeen Bharat National Museum in New Delhi.
More on News:
- The museum will be modelled on the Louvre in Paris and will be located in the historic North Block and South Block of the national capital.
- Once completed, it is expected to be the largest museum in the world.
Vision and Purpose:
- The museum is envisioned as a celebration of India’s unbroken civilizational history and aims to blend India’s rich cultural heritage with modern narratives.
- It was first announced by Prime Minister Modi at the International Museum Expo in May 2023 and highlighted during the inauguration of Bharat Mandapam in July 2023.
Key Highlights:
- This project is a key component of the Central Vista Redevelopment Project and will cover approximately 1,55,000 square meters in the North and South Blocks in New Delhi.
- India and France will collaborate on a comprehensive feasibility study, including museum case studies, interpretive planning, and building programming.
- The initiative underscores India’s commitment to sustainable and adaptive reuse, ensuring that the historic buildings retain their architectural value while serving modern cultural purposes.
Adaptive Reuse Approach:
- The museum will be developed using adaptive reuse of the historic North and South Blocks, preserving their architectural heritage while transforming them into vibrant cultural spaces.
- This approach draws on France’s experience with similar projects, such as the Louvre, Grand Palais, and Hotel de la Marine, under its Grand Projects initiative, which transformed government buildings into cultural landmarks.
Significance:
- Cultural Significance: This partnership strengthens the ongoing cultural cooperation between India and France, reaffirming both countries’ commitment to heritage preservation and cultural exchange.
- Strategic Importance: It builds upon the Letter of Intent signed in 2020 and the subsequent Letter of Intent during Prime Minister Modi’s visit to France in 2023, which laid out specific areas for technical collaboration.
