The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has decided to transform its iconic office in north Kolkata into a museum dedicated to Bharatiya Jana Sangh founder Syama Prasad Mookerjee. The museum will exhibit various items used by Mookerjee, such as his chair, books, rare photographs, and documents related to his life and work. This initiative aims to educate the public, especially the youth, about Mookerjee’s role in shaping India’s unity and West Bengal’s development post-Independence.
The building at 6 Muralidhar Sen Lane, where Mookerjee resided and conducted political activities, holds immense historical significance for the BJP and its predecessor, the Bharatiya Jana Sangh. It served as the Kolkata office for the Bharatiya Jana Sangh after its formation in 1951 and later for the BJP after its establishment in 1980. Over the years, the premises welcomed prominent leaders like Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Narendra Modi, and L.K. Advani.
State BJP President Samik Bhattacharya revealed that the decision to create the museum was made during the recent celebrations of Mookerjee’s 125th birth anniversary. The museum will shed light on lesser-known aspects of Mookerjee’s life and political journey, showcasing books about him, archival material, and rare photographs. While the BJP’s state headquarters currently operates from Salt Lake in Kolkata, the old Muralidhar Sen Lane building is utilized by the party’s North Kolkata district unit.
Party leaders expressed optimism that the museum project would reignite interest among veteran party members and serve as an educational and historical hub for visitors.
