Zayed-Gandhi museum will ‘inspire future generations’
INTERACTIVE DIGITAL CONTENT FEATURES RARE PHOTOS, VIDEOS AND OBJECTS OF LEADERS
Anew Zayed-Gandhi digital museum, opened at Manarat Al Saadiyat in the capital yesterday, will inspire future generations by taking them through both leaders’ humanitarian values and ideals, top Emirati and Indian officials said here after its inauguration.
“The Zayed-Gandhi digital exhibition will contribute to conveying the philosophy of the two world leaders to the future generations, enabling them to learn about their lives, achievements and deeds,” said Shaikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, after inaugurating the museum along with visiting Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj.
The museum commemorates the 100th birth anniversary of Shaikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan and 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi.
Swaraj said: “The enunciation of peace, tolerance and sustainable living by Mahatma Gandhi, our beloved Bapu and the UAE’s founder Shaikh Zayed lovingly called Baba Zayed, has been portrayed beautifully at the Gandhi Zayed Digital Exhibition. Both leaders with their love for humanity and indomitable spirit continue to inspire us.”
Strong collaboration
Noora Mohammad Al Kaabi, Minister of Culture and Knowledge Development, said the museum is a cultural forum that promotes cultural exchanges and dialogue among peoples and takes visitors on a journey entitled ‘Love, the Nation, and Wise Leadership’ through the values of Peace, Tolerance and Fraternity. The museum’s interactive digital content will showcase rare photos, videos and objects representing the life, works and philosophies of both leaders, using cutting-edge technologies.
Shaikh Abdullah and Swaraj announced the museum, a firstof-its-kind UAE-India exhibition aligning with the ‘Year of Zayed’ programmes, during Shaikh Abdullah’s India visit in June. A senior Emirati official told Gulf News that the museum opens up the strong collaboration between the UAE and India. “It is the first celebration together on a cultural platform… of developing digital museum together,” said ■ Shaikh Salem Khalid Al Qasimi, assistant undersecretary for knowledge development at the Ministry of Culture.
An Indian official who curated the digital content on Gandhi told Gulf News that youth will be able understand values and ideals of the both leaders very easily from the exhibition. “It is a digital exhibition because it speaks the language of technology… the language of today. The youth today understand the language of technology very well. So we build and curate digital museums and exhibitions on different subjects,” said Birad Rajaram Yajnik, trustee at Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts. He had curated a Mahatma Gandhi Digital Museum in the Pravasi Bharatiya Kendra in New Delhi in 2016.
As Gulf News reported, the museum is likely to become a travelling exhibition with stops in at least Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah over the next year after it opens to the public in March 2019.