Salar Jung Museum Celebrates 75th Anniversary as Deputy CM Hails Hyderabad Heritage

HYDERABAD — Telangana Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka on Sunday celebrated the 75th anniversary of the Salar Jung Museum in Hyderabad, describing the institution as the embodiment of the city's soul and a living testament to religious harmony.

Speaking at the dual celebration of the museum's milestone and the 137th birth anniversary of its founder, Salar Jung III Mir Yousuf Ali Khan, Vikramarka highlighted the museum's role in showcasing the region's syncretic culture. The event was also addressed by Telangana Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla, state Minister Ponnam Prabhakar, and AIMIM MLA Mir Zulfeqar Ali.

During his address, the Deputy Chief Minister praised Salar Jung III, the former Prime Minister of the seventh Nizam of Hyderabad, as a visionary collector. He noted that Salar Jung III used his personal resources to acquire and preserve more than 43,000 rare global treasures, ultimately transforming them into public assets.

Vikramarka pointed out that the museum's diverse collection uniquely houses Hindu bronze idols, copies of the Holy Quran, Christian Madonna sculptures, and Buddhist artefacts under one roof. He specifically highlighted ritual objects that combine the ten avatars of Lord Vishnu with verses from the Quran as living proof of secularism and the Deccan's syncretic culture.

Addressing the government's future urban development plans, the Deputy Chief Minister announced a comprehensive project to clean up the adjacent Musi River. He stated that the Telangana government is committed to transforming the long-neglected river into an international-standard riverfront, comparing the vision to the Thames in London or the Seine in Paris.

Under this initiative, the Salar Jung Museum will serve as a central cultural landmark of the revitalised riverfront. The government is preparing a plan to allow tourists to travel along the river, walk through heritage streets, and access historical sites.

Vikramarka also outlined plans to link the museum with the wider Old City heritage circuit, which includes the Charminar, Golconda Fort, Qutb Shahi Tombs, Chowmahalla Palace, and Falaknuma Palace, alongside providing improved transport facilities.