Sarojini Naidu museum set for unveiling

After a long delay, the proposal to convert Sarojini Naidu’s home, Golden Threshold, into a museum is seeing the light of the day. The team that is restoring the house has prepared various models that would be exhibited at the museum.

The historic building was the residence of Naidu's father Aghornath Chattopadhyay, the first principal of Hyderabad College, now Nizam College. The home, named after Sarojini's collection of poems, was the centre of nationalist movement in the city. It’s currently the off-campus annexe of University of Hyderabad (UoH).

"The university has mooted a proposal to set up a museum at its Abids campus. It is a long process as it involves seeking permission from the Department of Culture and a heritage panel," points Dr Peddi Rama Rao, project coordinator, Theatre Outreach Unit.

The unit is mulling over several ideas so that the structure of the building is not damaged given the heritage tag and the consequent status symbol is carries with it.

The Department of Theatre Arts has set up a Theatre Outreach Unit at the Abids campus to engage with artists from outside the campus. Students and theatre enthusiasts are taught the ABC of acting, costumes, make-up, set design, marketing and fund raising. It plans to convert the campus into a cultural hub in the heart of the city.

A few belongings of the Naidu family like a folding wooden cot and a safe exist in the building. It is said the cot was specially prepared for Mahatma Gandhi when he visited Hyderabad. Keeping in view the size of the room, a specially designed cot was prepared for the occasion. A few sculptures of artistes are housed in the complex.

"We want to highlight the role of Sarojini Naidu in the freedom struggle. The museum intends to collect the articles and artifacts associated with her and bring them to the city," said a member of the Outreach Unit.

It is safer to presume that the city, which houses a rich collection of artworks and artifacts, will soon add another feather to its cap, once the museum is dedicated to Sarojini Naidu, the poetess-Nightingale of the nationalist movement.

By: Venu K Kodimela