The students of Class X got an opportunity to visit one of the landmarks of the city of Ahmedabad, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Museum , as a part of their Social Science project.
Stepping into the cool confines of the museum, the students were struck by the grandeur and magnificence of the building. The museum, also known as Moti Shah Mahal ,was built by Shah Jahan in1622 . It was later renovated and given the face of a museum which was inaugurated by our learned Ex Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh on the 29th of Oct., 2013.
The museum is a state of art and technology. The students were enamoured by the visuals and detailed description of the story of the Iron Man of India -Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. His pivotal role in the freedom struggle of the country and his undying efforts in unifying his motherland is showcased beautifully in the museum with meticulous details. The murals, the various portraits , the information of his family members, his close associates etc. provided rich material and deep insight to the students for their presentation.
The museum also houses the rich and rare collection of the personal belongings of Sardar Patel. The valuable gifts received by him, with an estimated worth of Rs 400 chores, made one student immediately question,'Was our country really so rich?' Miniatures of Patel's residence, his school, the jail and other places associated with his life are also a part of the museum.
Along with history, students added to their knowledge of literature when they came to know about the great poet Tagore's stay in the building when he was 17 years old and that it served as an inspiration to his story 'The Hungry Stones', came as a surprise to many.
The multimedia interactive displays and the film on the intense role Patel played in India’s struggle for freedom, his charitable disposition, his close association with the Father of the Nation, his strong decisions during his tenure as the Deputy Prime Minister of free India -all made the students realise the innate qualities of the Bismark of our country. Really it was an immensely enriching experience for the students. When they came back to school, their faces beamed with satiation and satisfaction.
