AKG Museum getting ready at Peralassery in Kannur promises immersive experience into a revolutionary’s life

A grand tribute to the life and legacy of communist stalwart A.K. Gopalan is taking shape in his native village, Peralassery in Kannur district. AKG Museum that is getting ready for inauguration is designed to resonate with future generations and is being constructed on a 3.21-acre plot acquired by the Kerala government near the famed Peralassery suspension bridge.

The museum project, envisioned as a cultural and historical centre, was set in motion when Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan laid the foundation stone in February 2021. With a total outlay of ₹25 crore, covering land acquisition, construction and infrastructure, the initiative is being implemented in multiple phases.

Two-storey museum building

In the first phase, a two-storey museum building spanning 10,737 sq ft has been completed at a cost of ₹6.59 crore. The Uralungal Labour Contract Cooperative Society is carrying out the construction. Electrical work and boundary wall have been completed, and finishing touches are progressing rapidly.

The museum promises a multi-dimensional experience of A.K Gopalan’s life, struggles, and political journey. Seven galleries based on modern museology principles will trace his evolution from a grassroots organiser to a national leader. Visitors will navigate through curated visuals, rare documents, archival photograph and exhibits enhanced by augmented and virtual reality technologies. A digital library will provide deeper access to AKG’s writings, speeches and historical documents, while documentaries on his life will be screened regularly.

Community-oriented design

In keeping with its community-oriented design, the museum also houses an office, longue, conference hall, restrooms and a scaled-down version of the iconic Indian Coffee House, an ode to the spaces where political discourse once brewed.

Phase two will see the development of a landscaped park and aesthetic linkage extending to the nearby suspension bridge, making the museum a part of the broader cultural fabric of Peralassery.

Before December

“All major works will be completed before December and the museum will be ready for inauguration,” said A.V. Sheeba, president, Peralassery grama panchayat.

Once inaugurated the AKG Museum will not only add to the legacy of one of Kerala’s most-revered leaders but also offer a space for reflection and learning for students, political enthusiasts and historians alike.