Hyderabad: Telangana Governor Jishnu Dev Varma on Tuesday inaugurated the Founders’ Gallery at Salar Jung Museum during its 74th Formation Day celebrations. He described it as a tribute to the lasting legacy of the Salar Jung family.
The Governor called the museum a rare blend of vision, curiosity, and reverence for heritage. He noted that its galleries span Indian, Western, and Eastern traditions. In addition, the museum houses a valuable library of manuscripts and calligraphy, serving as a key cultural institution for future generations.
Quoting Rabindranath Tagore, he said, “The highest education is that which does not merely give us information, but makes our life in harmony with all existence.” According to him, museums help bring this idea to life.
Founders Gallery Salar Jung Museum celebrates Hyderabad legacy
The Governor urged museums to transform into active learning centres. Rather than remaining static display spaces, they must engage young visitors through innovation and interactive exhibits. He congratulated the museum team for creating the new gallery and expressed hope that Salar Jung Museum would become a national model for inclusive cultural spaces.
Among those present were senior IAS officer M. Dana Kishore, IA&AS officer Chanda Pandit, Nawab Ahtherm Ali Khan from the Salar Jung family, museum director Priyanka Mary Francis, and Osmania University Vice-Chancellor Prof. Kumar Molugaram.
The Founders’ Gallery showcases the contributions of Salar Jung I, II, and III three generations of visionary leaders and art patrons. It focuses especially on Salar Jung III’s mission to collect rare art objects from around the world and preserve them for the public.
Through portraits, personal items, ceremonial artefacts, and oil paintings, the gallery reveals the family’s lifestyle and its cultural and political influence on Hyderabad’s history.