Prime Ministers’ Museum & Library: In letter to Sonia, member seeks access to Nehru papers

A questionnaire emailed to Sonia’s office on the letter did not elicit any response.

As first reported by The Indian Express, the PMML Society had discussed the status of the papers in Sonia’s custody at its last annual general meeting in February, following which it was decided that a legal opinion would be sought.

As per PMML records, the papers reclaimed by Sonia include letters exchanged between Nehru and Jayaprakash Narayan, Edwina Mountbatten, Albert Einstein, Aruna Asaf Ali, Vijaya Laxmi Pandit and Babu Jagjivan Ram.

“I am writing to you as a dedicated member of the Prime Ministers’ Museum and Library Society,” Kadri says in the letter. “My academic journey has deeply intertwined with the history of the Indian National Congress (1885-1947), and I hold a profound interest in various facts and records pertaining to its history, particularly in Gujarat,” he says, adding that even as “Gandhiji’s writings are meticulously documented… unfortunately, Patel did not maintain such comprehensive records prior to independence.”

Kadri’s PhD thesis in 1997 focussed on Mahatma Gandhi, Vallabhbhai Patel and Gujarat’s political history. “As a historian, I am keenly interested in tracking his (Patel’s) contributions,” he says in the letter.

Jawaharlal Nehru and his father, Motilal Nehru, left behind significant records of their contributions, which were preserved at the NMML, notes the letter, adding that their immense contributions to nation-building necessitate thorough scientific study, for which access to the complete records is essential.

“Upon recent inquiry, I was informed that most of these records are housed at the Prime Ministers’ Museum and Library. It was also conveyed to me that some records were taken by your (Sonia Gandhi’s) office, as you were the family’s representative and donor,” Kadri says in the letter.

“I am confident that this was done in good faith to protect these invaluable documents… it is crucial that these records remain accessible to ensure comprehensive understanding of our nation’s history… You will agree that Pandit Nehru deserves unbiased research of his contributions, free from any ‘political influence’, says the letter, seeking “permission to access these records”.

The letter suggests access through scanning of the documents. “I propose to scan these documents with the assistance of two of my qualified aides. This would ensure that the documents are handled with the utmost care and efficiency,” it says.

It also suggests that Sonia could provide copies of the documents to PMML, while retaining the originals with her. “Provide copies of the scanned documents to PMML, ensuring that they are preserved and accessible for future research,” says the letter.

Kadri says Sonia could also return the documents to PMML for archiving. “Alternatively, PMML can return the documents after scanning, making them available for wider public and scholarly access,” he says, adding that he is “willing to bear the cost of digitising them, ensuring that the chronology remains undisturbed”.

Seeking Sonia’s cooperation in the matter, he says his “sole purpose is to study Mahatma Gandhi, Nehru and Patel in a true scientific historical perspective”.

The Nehru papers were donated after 1971 by Indira Gandhi and later by Sonia Gandhi. At the AGM of the PMML in February, chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, a large part of the discussion centred on Nehru’s private papers in PMML’s collection, of which 51 boxes were taken back by Sonia in May 2008.

The members were informed that an “internal enquiry” revealed that in March 2008, M V Rajan visited PMML (on behalf of Sonia) to segregate private papers and official papers in the Nehru collection, and all personal papers identified by him were sent to Sonia.

The AGM in February was the first after the NMML was renamed as PMML.

In recent years, several members of the PMML Society have pitched for taking back the letters exchanged between Nehru and Edwina, and to conduct a “forensic audit” to ensure important papers are not missing.