The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India Girish Chandra Murmu inaugurated the CAG Museum in Shimla, Himachal Pradesh in the iconic Chadwick House.
The museum has been developed into a state-of-the-art facility that showcases the evolution, achievements and milestones of the institution of the CAG. The event was attended by members of the CAG’s audit advisory board and senior officers of the state government, among other guests.
Here’s all you need to know about the CAG Museum at Chadwick House.
Chadwick House came into the limelight when Mahatma Gandhi stayed there in 1946 for a meeting of the Cabinet Mission that was meant to initiate dialogue for the transfer of political powers from Britain to India. Its status was further enhanced when a batch of Indian audit and accounts service officers from a newly independent India underwent training in 1950. However, the building fell into disrepair when the training institute moved away from it.
Without proper care and maintenance, Chadwick House was on the brink of demolition in 2018. It was rescued by the supreme audit institution of India to safeguard its heritage. A memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed with the then owner Prasar Bharati in December 2020, which kickstarted the process of establishing Chadwick House as a museum.
The museum is structured into 10 distinct galleries, each designed to provide a detailed exploration of different facets of CAG's history, roles and significance. Utilising graphic panels, videos, diorama sets, interactive displays and artefacts, these galleries offer visitors a comprehensive understanding of the institution and its history. Some of the artefacts visitors can see are a Remington typewriter, British-era franking machines, clocks and trophies from the field offices of the CAG.
One of the exhibits at the museum is a life-size Chanakya statue in a sitting posture while writing his most famous book “Arthashastra”—the first documentation of the principles of accounting. Arguably the biggest attraction will be the 1907 table and chair of Sir C V Raman, the only Indian person to receive a Nobel Prize in Physics, who had a brief stint as an assistant accountant general at CAG’s Kolkata office.
The museum features cutting-edge interactive displays like digital archives, audiovisual presentations and interactive kiosks that provide an immersive learning experience for visitors. In his address, Murmu emphasised the importance of the museum as a repository of knowledge and a source of inspiration for future generations of auditors. He said, “Chadwick House has witnessed history being made and henceforth, it should serve as a testament of our unwavering dedication to public service.”
The museum is open to the public and welcomes visitors to explore and learn about the legacy and continuing journey of the institution of the CAG.
(With inputs from multiple sources)