Museums are resistance against distortion of history, says Pinarayi Vijayan

Pinarayi Vijayan inaugurates AKG Museum, emphasizing its role in preserving history and resisting authoritarianism.

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Tuesday inaugurated the AKG Memorial Museum at Peralassery here, emphasising that museums serve as centres of resistance against attempts to distort history and undermine democratic values.

The museum has been established on a 3.3-acre plot acquired by the Revenue department near the Anjarakandi river at Paliyath. Land acquisition cost ₹12.06 crore, while ₹6.44 crorewas spent on constructing the building and ₹4.82 crore on exhibition arrangements.

The two-storey museum features six galleries showcasing AKG’s struggles, role in the freedom movement, parliamentary interventions, and mass agitations. Facilities include a mini-theatre equipped with modern technology, life-size statues and miniatures, visual recreations of key events, interviews with prominent personalities, a documentation system, administrative offices, and essential amenities—including that ensuring accessibility for persons with disabilities.

Addressing the gathering after the museum’s inauguration, the Chief Minister noted that institutions preserving history stand as bulwarks against efforts to suppress debate and steer the nation toward authoritarianism. In an era dominated by information technology, he observed, knowledge spreads rapidly—but falsehoods travel even faster. He expressed concern that even individuals in responsible positions were leading campaigns of misinformation.

“In this context, museums gain greater significance as spaces that uphold truth and counter false narratives,” he said. He highlighted that the struggles led by leaders such as A.K. Gopalan shaped the country’s current social and political landscape, and cautioned against the ongoing attempts to undermine movements against feudal landlordism and imperialism. Pointing to the passage of Bills without discussion, suspension of dissenting members, and targeting of critics, he warned that parliamentary democracy itself was at risk.

Describing AKG’s life as emblematic of an era, the Chief Minister affirmed that the government continues to follow his vision of ensuring that the benefits of development reach all sections of society. Establishing a memorial in his birthplace, he added, is part of the effort to preserve history for future generations.