E-Auction of Prime Minister’s Gifts and Mementos

Why in the news?

  • The Ministry of Culture is organising an e-auction of over 600 gifts and mementos received by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi.
  • The auction runs from 17th September to 2nd October 2024, and is open to the public via the website: https://pmmementos.gov.in.

Highlights of the Auction:

  • A key feature is sports memorabilia from the 2024 Paralympic Games.
  • The collection showcases India’s cultural diversity with traditional art, sculptures, handicrafts, religious artefacts, and statues of Hindu deities.
  • Significant items include temple models of Shri Ram Mandir and Shree Dwarkadhish, ceremonial swords, shawls, and folk art forms like Madhubani and Gond.

Contribution to Namami Gange

  • Proceeds from the auction will be donated to the Namami Gange Project, a government initiative to restore and conserve the Ganga River.
  • Previous auctions, since 2019, have raised over ₹50 crores for the project.
  • Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat urged public participation to contribute to environmental conservation.

National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA) – Key Points:

  • Location: Situated in Delhi at Jaipur House, former residence of the Maharaja of Jaipur, near Rajpath facing India Gate.
  • Established: March 29, 1954, by the Indian Government.
  • Aim: To acquire, preserve, and present modern Indian art (from 1850 onwards) to foster global understanding and sensitivity towards contemporary Indian art.
  • Collection: Over 14,000 works by notable artists like Raja Ravi Verma, Rabindranath Tagore, Abindranath Tagore, Jamini Roy, Amrita Sher-Gill, and Nandalal Bose.

Sources Referred:

PIB, The Hindu, Indian Express, Hindustan Times