The family had earlier planned to convert the
entire society into a museum.
The family of former Congress MP Ahsan Jafri, who was burnt to death by rioters in his Gulberg Society home during the 2002 riots, wants to turn that house into a museum.
So far, the Jafri family’s dream to convert the entire Gulberg society into a museum has remained so, owing to various reasons. However, now they have stepped up efforts to realise their dream, albeit with a few changes.
The family has dropped its original idea of converting the entire society into a museum and now plans to restrict the museum to their house.
“First, it was decided that the entire society would be converted into a museum. However, due to high property rates, it is impossible to execute this plan. So we are planning to limit the museum to our bungalow and then build a memorial hall,” Tanvir Jafri, son on Ahsan Jafri, said.
According to Tanvir, society residents are willing to sell their property at 40% lower rates than prevailing market rates, but arranging such a big amount is almost difficult for them.
While the Jafris’ bungalow at Gulbarg society measures 100 sq metres, they also have a plot in the society.
The family wants to erect a small memorial on the plot, which will house all artifacts and belongings of the former MP.
The plan to convert the bungalow into a museum is the dream of Ahsan’s wife Zakia Jafri. “We have fixed a meeting of all residents in the society on February 28. The decision on whether to convert the entire society or just our bungalow into a museum will be taken during the meeting. We are thinking of going with the second option, as it is more practical,” Tanvir added.
The museum, if built, will be the first of its kind in India that will map genocidal violence in 2002 in Gujarat. It will include details of Godhra train burning, killing of Muslims in Naroda Patiya, Sardarpura, Ode, Vadodara, Dahod and in the villages of Panchmahals district.
Christened as the Gulbarg Museum of Resistance, the project will be undertaken by Mumbai-based NGOs, Sabrang Trust and Citizens for Justice and Peace (CJP).
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