The gallery stands as a living tribute to the Salar Jung family’s commitment to preserving art and heritage, enriching Hyderabad’s cultural history

The Salar Jung Museum marked its 74th Formation Day with the inauguration of the newly renovated Founders’ Gallery by Shri Jishnu Dev Verma, Hon’ble Governor of Telangana, on Monday afternoon. The gallery is a tribute to the vision, legacy, and cultural contributions of the illustrious Salar Jung family.

The museum traces its origins to Dewan Deodi, the ancestral palace of the Salar Jungs, where the vast personal collection of Salar Jung III—an eminent art connoisseur—was originally housed. Following his death on March 2, 1949, and in the absence of a direct heir, plans were initiated to establish a public museum. With the initiative of M.K. Velodi, then Chief Administrator of Hyderabad, and guidance from art critic Dr. James Cousins and historian G. Venkatachalam, the collection was organised and opened to the public.

On December 16, 1951, the museum was inaugurated by India’s first Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru and named the Salar Jung Museum. The collection was later handed over to the Government of India, and in 1968 the museum shifted to its present landmark building on the southern bank of the Musi river.

The Founders’ Gallery highlights three generations of the family—Salar Jung I, a visionary statesman; Salar Jung II; and Salar Jung III, who devoted his life to building the renowned collection. The gallery displays portraits, oil paintings, personal belongings, and ceremonial objects, offering visitors an insight into the family’s life and enduring legacy.

The gallery stands as a living tribute to the Salar Jung family’s commitment to preserving art and heritage, enriching Hyderabad’s cultural history.