Salar Jung Museum Embodies Hyderabad’s Soul and Spirit of Secularism: Bhatti Vikramarka

Hyderabad, June 2026 : Telangana Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka on Sunday described the iconic Salar Jung Museum as the very soul of Hyderabad and a living symbol of religious harmony, secularism and the city’s rich cultural heritage.

Addressing the 75th anniversary celebrations of the Salar Jung Museum and the 137th birth anniversary of its founder, Salar Jung III Mir Yousuf Ali Khan, the Deputy Chief Minister hailed the legendary collector as a visionary whose passion preserved world civilizations for future generations.

The event was attended by Telangana Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla, Minister Ponnam Prabhakar, AIMIM MLA Mir Zulfeqar Ali and several dignitaries.

Bhatti Vikramarka praised Salar Jung III, who served as Prime Minister to the seventh Nizam of Hyderabad, for dedicating his life and personal wealth to acquiring rare artefacts from across the globe. He remarked that while people often misplace everyday items such as spectacles or keys, Salar Jung III managed to preserve an entire world of history and culture.

“Collecting over 43,000 artefacts was not merely an act of collecting objects; it reflected extraordinary devotion to art, history and humanity,” he said.

The Deputy Chief Minister highlighted that the museum houses treasures representing multiple faiths and cultures under one roof, including Hindu bronze idols, copies of the Holy Quran, Christian Madonna sculptures and Buddhist artefacts. He particularly noted the presence of unique ritual objects combining the ten avatars of Lord Vishnu with verses from the Quran.

“This is not just an example of religious harmony—it is living proof of secularism and the essence of the Deccan’s famed Ganga-Jamuna Tehzeeb,” he said.

Bhatti Vikramarka also spoke about the Musi River, flowing beside the museum, describing it as a river of Hyderabad’s memories. He reiterated the state government’s commitment to rejuvenating the long-neglected river and transforming it into a world-class riverfront comparable to London’s Thames or Paris’ Seine.

He envisioned the Salar Jung Museum becoming the cultural centerpiece of a revitalised Musi riverfront, integrated with tourism and heritage initiatives. Plans are being prepared to allow tourists to travel along the river, explore heritage streets and access historical sites more conveniently.

Emphasising Hyderabad’s unique identity, the Deputy Chief Minister said the city is not defined solely by its historical monuments like Charminar but also by modern landmarks such as Cyber Towers. He highlighted Hyderabad’s emergence as a global hub for biotechnology, information technology, pharmaceuticals and quantum computing.

“Hyderabad has never chosen between the past and the future—it has embraced both,” he observed.

He further announced plans to link the Salar Jung Museum with the Old City heritage circuit, including Charminar, Golconda Fort, Qutb Shahi Tombs, Chowmahalla Palace and Falaknuma Palace. Improved transport, night tourism and guided heritage walks in Telugu, Urdu, Hindi and English are also being planned.

Stressing the economic value of heritage conservation, Bhatti Vikramarka said preserving history should not only inspire pride but also create livelihoods for guides, artisans and workers in hospitality and transport sectors, making culture a driver of inclusive growth.