President Mukherjee to complete four years in office in July 25

"To mark the occasion, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate Phase-II of the Rashtrapati Bhavan Museum on July 25, 2016 in the presence of President Pranab Mukherjee, Vice President Hamid Ansari and other dignitaries. The inauguration of Phase-II of the Museum will complete the Rashtrapati Bhavan Museum Complex, which comprises the Stables Museum (Phase –I), the Garages Museum (Phase –II) and the Clock Tower, which will be home to the Visitors Reception Centre, Cafeteria and Souvenir shop," read a government statement.

The Phase-II Museum is being developed at the site of a heritage building, where the Garage for Rashtrapati Bhavan vehicles was earlier located. Phase –I of the Museum, developed in the erstwhile stables of Rashtrapati Bhavan which used to house horses and ceremonial coaches, opened on July 25, 2014.

The Clock Tower was inaugurated on July 25, 2015.

The Phase-II Museum, spread over 10,000 square meters, will be a hi-technology story-telling museum. This museum will depict the story of the planning and construction of Rashtrapati Bhavan; the British Viceroys who occupied the building till 1947; their reaction towards the tumultuous freedom movement in the country; the transfer of power; the formation of the Republic; the life and work of 13 Presidents of India since 1950; life in Rashtrapati Bhavan; the beauty and environment of the campus, the people working here and important visitors, etc. The museum will also have an Art Gallery for holding temporary exhibitions. The first exhibition will be a collection of paintings by Smt. Pratiksha Apurv, to commence from July 25, 2016, read the statement.

Taking forward the process of comprehensive documentation of all aspects of Rashtrapati Bhavan, three portfolios of paintings in Rashtrapati Bhavan published by the Lalit Kala Academy and five new books on Rashtrapati Bhavan published by the Publications Division will be released at the inaugural function of July 25, 2016.

The folios are titled “Paintings in the Ashoka Hall of Rashtrapati Bhavan”, “Company Paintings in Rashtrapati Bhavan” and “Select Paintings of Rashtrapati Bhavan”. The five books are “A Work of Beauty: The Architecture and Landscape of Rashtrapati Bhavan”, “First Garden of the Republic: Nature in the President’s Estate”, “Around India’s First Table: Dining and Entertaining at Rashtrapati Bhavan”, “The Arts and Interiors of Rashtrapati Bhavan: Lutyens and Beyond” and “Discover the Magnificent World of Rashtrapati Bhavan”, a book for Children. A total of thirteen publications including three volumes of the selected speeches of the President and an electronic art catalogue on Rashtrapati Bhavan have been brought out in the last four years as part of the documentation effort.

The President will further launch a micro-site on the Rashtrapati Bhavan website which will contain information on Rashtrapati Bhavan as a tourist destination and its three new tourist circuits namely, the Rashtrapati Bhavan main building, museums and the gardens. He will also flag off a Hop on – Hop off tourist bus on the occasion as a mark of opening of the Rashtrapati Bhavan Museum to public.

The events to mark the completion of the fourth year of the Presidency also include the President laying the foundation stone for a cluster of new residential units in the President’s Estate on July 24, 2016.