It was a time of great hope and inspiration A new nation was in the making and many institutions were being founded. The NGMA was prominent among these.  At the inauguration, the then secretary of Union ministry of education Dr Hurnayun Kabir said that Delhi could not establish its claim as a metropolitan city till it had a national gallery of art, museum, theatre and library. Cultural institutions were given as much importance as political ones.

NGMA was inaugurated with an exhibition of sculptures by noted Indian sculptures of the time. The first prize was won by Debi Prasad Roy Chowdhury's Triumph of Labour.

The seed of the idea of a national gallery of art was planted in 1049 A three-day art conference presided by Maulana Abul Kalam Azad was held in Calcutta between August 29 to 31. More than 35 delegates attended including eminent artists, aestheticians and art managers Records show the names of S L Haldankar, Sardar Thakar Singh, Raj Krishna Das, Rathindranath Tagore, Nihar Ranian Ray Stella Kremrisch, Jemes Cousins, Percy Brown and delegates of similar stature. They passed a Resolution No. 14 proposing the setting up at a National Art Gallery. The germinal idea was mooted by Union minister of education Maulana Abul Azad In his inaugural speech.

The National Art Gallery was renamed National Gallery of Modem Art sometime in the latter part of 1953. It was also decided that the gallery would all works of art made aftar mid-19th Century. An exception was made in the case of a few works by European artists of the 18th Century like Tilly Kettle, Daniells and so on.

The idea of a national gallery taking concrete form was helped by the Government acquiring works of art through purchase, generous gifts and permanent loans. A case in point was the munificence of Amrita Sher-Gil's father and brother-in-law. Major purchases of Abanindranath Tagore, Nandalal Bose, MAR Chughtai, Jamini Roy and others' works before the inauguration. A body of Rabindranath's paintings was bought in the first year of NGMA's existence.

When the curtains were lifted on the gallery, the NGMA had less than 200 works in its inventory. Today with a reserve collection of more than 16500 paintings, sculptures, graphics and photographs, the NGMA has travelled a long way towards building a significant colletion of modem and contemporary art.

It was the first curator Dr Hermann Goetz, an art historian, who laid the building blocks of substantial collection. He shaped its character and gave it a sense of direction Goetz's two-year term as curator was followed by that of Mukul Dey, who also held office for two years. Then came sculptor Pradosh Dasguptas longish stint as head of NGMA between 1359 and 1970. It was during Dasgupla's tenure that NGMA mounted shows of paintings by Amrita Sher-Gil and Rabindranath Tagore.

After a brief interlude of a year when archaeologist & B B Lal headed NGMA, the directorship went to Dr L P Shihare (1971-1984). It was during Dr Shihare's tenure that the NGMA gathered tremendous momentum. The defintive show of Rodin's sculptures, in collaboration with the French government, was mounted at the NGMA in 1983. Other important shows at NGMA during Dr Shihare'si term were a show of photography by Henri Cartier-Bresson and one of original graphics by Picasso, Matisse, Braque, Chagall, De Kooning and others. It was during Dr Shihara's office that NGMA acquired the entire corpus of Nandalal Bose's works in 1983 at Shantiniketan.

Dr Shihare's directorship was followed by Dr Anis Farooqi's between 1985 and 1994 There were several landmark exhibitions during Dr Farooqi's time including the show of Henry Moore's sculptures, drawings and graphics, mounted in collaboration with British Council and Henry Moore Foundation, in 1987 In 1987. Avant Garde. a Superb exhibition of works by modern French artist, was held in collaboration with the French Government and the Pompidou Centre. A major show of Neo-Tantra art was sent to Los Angeles in 1986.

There was an excellent exposition of contemporary Japanese art titled Tastes and Pursuits. Japanese art in the 1990s mounted in 1999 In collaborartion with Japan Foundation. The same year witnessed French Avant Garde: 1880-1930: The Vollard Collection from the Leon Dietz Museum in Reunion Island in collaboration with the French government.

In 1997, a significant exhibition to commemorate 50 years of Indian independence, Santiniketan: The Making of a Contextual Modernism was mounted. The show attracted a large number of discerning viewers Jaya Appasamy's collection of art of the colonial period was handed over by Rasaja Foundation on e permanent loan NGMA.

NGMA has hosted several outstanding shows. It managed the major exposition of Picasso's works, Metamorphosis 1900-1972 mounted al |he National Museum.

It sent an important exhibition of Amrita Sher-Gil's woks to Hungary.

There was an exhibition in collaboration with British Council called Past Modern. It showcased the contemporary miniature style paintings of Rabindra and K D Kaur Singh sisters.

Also worthi note are the retrospectives of Prof K G Subramanyan and A Ramachandran, as well as important exhibitions frorn the NGMA's collections called Dialogue (2001) and The Soul Speaks (2004)

While mounting shows and gallery management are just what is seen by visitors on a daily basis, the NGMA is a huge machine that works relentlessly round the year.

There is the reserve collection which has to be carefully rnaintained and documented.

There is the restoration department which has the heavy responsibility of conserving the art works.

There is the publication department NGMA has a little less than 335 publications as well 35 posters, postcards and so on.

NGMA is also producing and acquiring films on artists, many of which have received awards. A recent film produced by NGMA entitled "Santiniketan - A Flashback" has been short listed to be screened as part of the 35th International Film Festival of India in the Indian Panorama section.

As a part of the educational activities it organises annual summer camps of art training for children, which are becoming tncreasingly popular.

The NGMA spread its wings in 1996 with an operational branch in Mumbai. It acquired the Sir C J Nail which has a heritage status. The Bangalore branch is likely to be operational by 2006. It is located in Manikyavelu Mansion - another heritage building.

The new extension wing of the NGMA has reached an advanced stage of construction. The new wing wing an area of 27.000 sq m. comprises two basement floors and three upper floors in the superstructure. It offers generous display and working space. There is adequate space and infrastructure for display areas, administration, conservation laboratories, library, auditorium, preview theatre and lecture hall. The proposed new wing shall be equipped with state of art high technology support services in the from of central environmental control. CCTV and intrusion alarm system, automatic fire detection and protection system.

By the time the new extension is ready to open its doors, the NGMA will present to the public a state-of-art museum.