Nehrus non-public papers in focus at PMs museum meet

The contentious concern of former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru’s non-public papers surfaced in the course of the forty seventh annual common assembly of the Prime Ministers’ Museum and Library (PMML) Society on Monday, folks conscious of developments mentioned.

The NMML was expanded to incorporate memorials to all prime ministers and renamed PMML in 2023. (PMO)

The assembly was chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the Teen Murti Bhavan and was attended by senior ministers, together with defence minister Rajnath Singh and finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman. In the assembly, Modi additionally mentioned the establishment now honours the legacy of all prime ministers and pushed for a nationwide modernisation of museums.

PMML member Rizwan Kadri had written to Congress MP Rahul Gandhi on December 10 final 12 months, looking for his assist in the return of 51 cartons of Nehru’s correspondence with numerous personalities that have been allegedly withdrawn from the museum in 2008 on the request of former Congress chief Sonia Gandhi.

Kadri had advised HT in December that he had written to Sonia Gandhi in September, requesting the return of the papers or permission to scan them for analysis functions, however didn’t obtain a response. The incident additionally resonated in Parliament final 12 months.

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The NMML was expanded to incorporate memorials to all prime ministers and renamed PMML in 2023.

The concern once more got here up for dialogue on Monday, mentioned a senior official current on the assembly. This official mentioned the matter was actively mentioned, and strategies have been made that “extra critical efforts” are required to retrieve the gathering as “regardless of communication, no response from Gandhi has been obtained.”

The official famous one member highlighted the papers have been returned “lengthy earlier than 2014,” indicating authorized session can be wanted to find out the suitable plan of action.

“Despite this complexity, the PMML govt council affirmed its dedication to retrieval, deciding the long run motion can be decided by the council itself, with additional authorized consultations deliberate,” mentioned the official, requesting anonymity.

The Congress celebration didn’t reply to requests for a remark on the time of print.

During the assembly, PMML highlighted its broader efforts to amass traditionally important paperwork and revealed it secured 61 non-public paper collections, together with these of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, General Cariappa, and Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya, mentioned the official quoted above.

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The establishment additionally reached out this 12 months to households and workplaces of all prime ministers, looking for donations of necessary correspondence. While former PM Charan Singh’s household has responded, Gursharan Kaur, spouse of former PM Manmohan Singh, has indicated she’s going to “look into it”, based on the identical official.

“The PM Museum now justly honours the legacy of all prime ministers, particularly that of Nehru…one thing that was lacking earlier than 2014,” Modi mentioned, based on the identical official.

He additionally used the platform to advocate for a nationwide modernisation of museums. He mentioned that establishments corresponding to PMML enable residents to expertise the nation’s historical past immediately and known as for complete upgrades in data bases and know-how, based on an official launch.

Key proposals included making a National Digital Map of all Indian museums, creating a standardised “blue e book” information for museums, and documenting authorized battles from the Emergency interval. “Several court docket instances have been fought in the course of the Emergency so the PM desires documentation of the identical,” mentioned the official.

Modi additionally talked concerning the want for steady technological upgrades and recent views, suggesting forming committees with 5 younger members (below 35) from every state to generate concepts on museum growth and new museum creation. He additionally talked concerning the authorities’s initiative for a centralised digital platform for manuscripts throughout India. Before departing, the PM planted a Kapur tree within the Teen Murti lawns, symbolising “progress and heritage”, an official launch mentioned. The prime minister has additionally requested that prime influencers be engaged to go to the museums and likewise invite officers of assorted embassies to Indian museums to extend the attention concerning the wealthy heritage preserved in Indian Museums.

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The assembly commenced with Chairman Nripendra Misra outlining PMML achievements like digitisation initiatives and new acquisitions, adopted by tradition minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat speaking concerning the establishment’s scholarly significance. Attendees included finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman, training minister Dharmendra Pradhan, data and broadcasting minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, BJP chief Smriti Irani, and tradition secretary Vivek Aggarwal, with director Ashwani Lohani conducting proceedings, an official launch mentioned.

This was the primary AGM since new members have been appointed to the PMML society in January. The AGM was initially scheduled to be held in April, nevertheless, it was rescheduled as a result of Pahalgam terrorist assault on April 22.