In the heart of the old city, tucked inside the historic Gool Lodge in Mirzapur, stands one of India’s most unique and socially conscious cultural spaces — the Conflictorium, the country’s first museum dedicated to conflict. Established in 2013, the museum offers an immersive exploration of personal, social, and political discord through the lens of empathy, memory, and healing.
Unlike traditional museums, the Conflictorium doesn’t just showcase history—it invites you to interact with it. It uses multimedia installations, oral histories, participatory exhibits, and symbolic spaces to encourage visitors to confront the many forms of conflict—ranging from communal unrest and caste discrimination to internal struggles.
- Conflict Timeline: Chronicles Gujarat’s sociopolitical upheavals post-1960, including riots and reform movements.
- Empathy Alley: Life-sized cutouts of leaders like Gandhi, Ambedkar, and Jinnah speak their famous speeches, forcing listeners to grapple with contrasting ideologies.
- Memory Lab: Visitors can write and store their personal experiences of conflict in sealed jars—creating a collective human archive.
- Sorry Tree: A Peepal tree where people tie handwritten apology notes—a gesture toward peace and reconciliation.
- Constitution Corner: Hosts a rare pre-1977 copy of the Indian Constitution to emphasize civic responsibility.
The Conflictorium has garnered global acclaim, receiving the Curry Stone Design Prize and the Jane Lombard Prize for Art and Social Justice, among others, for using art and space to provoke social change.
- Location: Gool Lodge, Mirzapur, Ahmedabad
- Timings: Tuesday to Sunday, 11:00 AM – 8:00 PM
- Entry: Free for all
- Activities: Public workshops, artist residencies, storytelling sessions
