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Indian War Memorial Museum, Red Fort
(New Delhi)
This museum was set up as a tribute to the soldiers
who had participated in the world war in India or abroad on behalf of
the British. Naubat Kahana or Naqqar Khana (Musical house) of the Red
Fort was chosen to accommodate the museum in its first and second
floors. The museum is approachable from the north and south of the
building facing east.
The introductory gallery comprises diorama showing the battle of
Panipat with the army of Babur and Ibrahim Lodi standing opposite each
other. The other displayed objects are arrows, swords, khukris,
revolvers, machine guns, shells etc. Variety of daggers with ivory and
inscribed hilt, chest armour, small weapons like gupti, battle axes
are also exhibited in the gallery. Helmets, armours, different types
of swords, daggers etc are displayed in Gallery No. 2 and 3. Bomb
fuses, shells, models of pistols, bullets, gun powder flasks on
display gives vivid picture of the arms and ammunition used during the
First World War.
The last two galleries show the impact of European
industrialization over the weapons and communication since radars,
telephone, telegraph, signal lamps, guns with periscope, trench
periscope etc were introduced during the war. Various types of badges,
ribbons, uniform of Turkish and New Zealand army officers, and flags
are also put on display. Model of army transport cart and railway
goods track, model of Baghdad Arab port and Basra dockyard exhibited
in the museum attract the attention of the visitors. Another
attraction of the gallery is the complete dress of Maharaja Jodhpur.
His Highness Pratap Singh including kurta (long shirt), belt, trouser,
turban with zari work, shoes and inscribed sword with sheath.
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