‘Nation’s documentary heritage, not a private property’ | Nehru papers with Sonia, she has promised cooperation: Shekhawat

The Indian Express had reported a day earlier that Sonia has assured the PMML of her cooperation in its bid to obtain a trove of private papers of the country’s first PM. In fact, this is the first time that Sonia has responded to a communication from PMML in the wake of allegations that a bulk of these papers, in 51 cartons, was taken by her in 2008. Sonia conveyed that “her staff will look into it”, sources said.

Responding to a post on X on Tuesday by Congress communications in-charge Jairam Ramesh, where he had sought an apology from the government for its earlier claim that the papers were missing, Shekhawat said “it would be more appropriate for you to urge Sonia Gandhi to honour her commitment and return these papers to PMML” so that scholars, citizens, and the Parliament can access these crucial historical records and the truth of “Nehruvian” times can be examined objectively.

PMML, which is an autonomous institution under the Culture Ministry, had written to the Congress leader twice this year seeking access to these papers, as well as any other correspondence pertaining to Nehru that might be in her custody.

While the matter was widely discussed at the organisation’s last two annual general meetings (2024 and 2025), this is for the first time that the government has come on record on the matter.

“Vide letter dated 29.04.2008 Shri M V Rajan, representative of Smt. Sonia Gandhi, requested that Smt. Gandhi wishes to take back all of the private family letters and notes of former PM Jawahar Lal Nehru,” said the Ministry on X.

“Accordingly, 51 cartons of Nehru Papers were sent to Smt. Sonia Gandhi in 2008. PMML has been in continuous correspondence with the office of Smt Sonia Gandhi since then for return of these papers including the letters from PMML to Smt Sonia Gandhi dated 28-01-2025 and 03-07-2025,” it said.

“These documents, relating to the first Prime Minister of India, form part of the nation’s documentary heritage and not a private property. Their custody with PMML and access to citizens and scholars for research is vital,” it said.

According to PMML records, these papers include letters exchanged between Nehru and Jayaprakash Narayan, Edwina Mountbatten, Albert Einstein, Aruna Asaf Ali, Vijaya Laxmi Pandit and Jagjivan Ram.

Asking what the Gandhi family was hiding by keeping these papers in their custody, Shekhawat also sought Sonia’s explanation on the matter.

Why have these papers not been returned despite multiple reminders from PMML… The nation deserves clarity, said the minister.

“On one hand, we are being asked not to debate the blunders of that era…on the other, primary source material that could enable informed debate is kept out of public access. This is no ordinary matter. History cannot be curated selectively,” he said.