Members of the Prime Minister’s Museum and Library (PMML) have written a letter to Sonia Gandhi. In this, Sonia Gandhi has been asked to either hand over Nehru’s personal documents to PMML.
Members of the Prime Minister’s Museum and Library (PMML) have written a letter to Sonia Gandhi. In this, Sonia Gandhi has been asked to either hand over Nehru’s personal documents to PMML. If this is not possible then provide a copy or digitalized access. Ahmedabad historian and writer Rizwan Qadri is a member of PMML (formerly Nehru Memorial Museum and Library) headed by PM Modi. In a letter to Sonia Gandhi on September 9, he has written that the records related to Nehru are very important. Their study will help in understanding the history of the country better.
The PML Society had discussed the status of the documents with Sonia Gandhi in its last annual general meeting in February. According to the Indian Express, after this it was decided to seek legal opinion. According to PML records, the documents with Sonia include correspondence between Nehru and Jayaprakash Narayan. Apart from this, there are also letters between Nehru and Edwina Mountbatten, Albert Einstein, Aruna Asaf Ali, Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit and Babu Jagjivan Ram.
Qadri has written in the letter that I am writing this letter to you as a dedicated member of the Prime Minister’s Museum and Library Society. My academic journey is deeply connected with the history of the Indian National Congress (1885-1947) and I have a keen interest in various facts and records related to its history, especially in Gujarat. He further wrote that even Gandhiji’s writings have been documented very closely. Unfortunately, Patel did not submit such documentation before independence. Qadri’s PhD thesis in 1997 focused on Mahatma Gandhi, Vallabhbhai Patel and the political history of Gujarat. He has written in the letter that as a historian, I am deeply interested in knowing Patel’s contributions.
The letter said that Jawaharlal Nehru and his father Motilal Nehru left behind important documents of their contribution, which were preserved at NMML. It further said that their immense contribution to nation building needs in-depth scientific study, for which access to the entire record is necessary. According to Qadri, on a recent inquiry, it was found that most of these records are kept in the Prime Minister’s Museum and Library. It was also told that Sonia Gandhi’s office has also taken some records as she was the representative and donor of the family.
Qadri further wrote that I am sure this would have been done to preserve these invaluable documents. It is important that these records remain accessible to ensure a wider understanding of our country’s history. Seeking permission to acquire these documents, the letter said that you will agree that Pandit Nehru deserves unbiased and politically influenced research on his contribution. He wrote that I propose to scan these documents with the help of two of my qualified colleagues. This will keep the documents completely safe and protected.