Madhya Pradesh

• 17 Oct 2022

'Gatha Swaraj Ki' Exhibition

Why In News?

• On October 16, 2022, Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah, during his visit to Madhya Pradesh, inaugurated the exhibition 'Gatha Swaraj Ki' at the Museum at Jaivala's Palace in Gwalior.

Key Points

• The 'Gatha Swaraj Ki' gallery has been dedicated to Shivaji Maharaj, the founder of the Maratha Empire and Mahadji Scindia, the founder of the Scindia Empire. Thirty Maratha princely states like Scindia, Gaikwad, Holkar, Newalkar, Bhonsle and Panwar have been mentioned in the exhibition.
• Rani Laxmibai of Jhansi has also been ranked as Maratha Kshatrani in the stand of Maratha Kshatrani prepared in the Maratha Gallery. In this, apart from the queen of Jhansi, beautiful and emotional portraits have been installed from Vaijabai, who was the queen of the princely state of Scindia, to Rajmata Vijayaraje Scindia.
• Jaivilas Palace is a unique example of grandeur and beauty. Union Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia also lives in one part of this palace, which describes the history of the Scindia family, while its other part has been converted into a grand museum.
• Significantly, this palace is spread over about 40 acres (12 lakh square feet). This beautiful palace was built in the year 1874 by Maharaja Jayajirao Scindia of Gwalior princely state, who was the grandfather of Jyotiraditya Scindia. The palace was designed by French architect Sir Michael Philos.
• Jaivilas has four hundred rooms. One crore rupees were spent in the construction of Jaivilas in 1874. It took 12 years to build the Jaivilas Mahal with the help of foreign craftsmen. The museum started in the year 1964 in Jaivilas Palace.
• The Durbar Hall on the second floor of the palace is called the pride of Jayavilas Palace. The walls and ceiling of the hall are completely decorated with gold-diamonds-jewels. It is the world's heaviest (3500 kg) The chandelier has been installed.
• Jaivilas Palace is one of the few palaces built in the Tuscan and Corinthian style of Italy, not only in India but in the world. A museum was built in the palace by the late Rajmata Vijayaraje Scindia in the memory of her husband Maharaja Jivaji Rao Scindia, in which the tales of the Scindia royal family have been preserved. This museum is one of the few royal museums in the world, which attracts thousands of visitors from all over the world to Gwalior every year.