Nehru Memorial: Scholars demand Vigilance probe

Joining the debate on the functioning of the Nehru Memorial Museum and Library (NMML),a group of eminent scholars,led by historian Ramchandra Guha...

Joining the debate on the functioning of the Nehru Memorial Museum and Library (NMML),a group of eminent scholars,led by historian Ramchandra Guha,has requested the Chief Vigilance Commissioner to institute an inquiry into financial and other irregularities that have been brought out by a recent audit into the functioning of the prestigious organisation.

In a letter to the CVC,the scholars said the audit had reported serious financial irregularities in the NMML and that they were worried about the institutional health of the renowned research centre.

Among these are the transfer of public funds (to the tune of Rs 5 crore) to a private trust,the irregular appointment of dozens of consultants when regular staff positions are unfilled,unjustifiable expenditure on dinner parties and melas,etc. At the same time,the report notes that the regular professional work of the NMML,relating to research,publication,and acquisition of rare manuscripts,has come to a standstill, the scholars said in the letter.

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The letter has been signed by Sumit Sarkar,Sunil Khilnani,Nayanjot Lahiri,Rukun Advani,A R Venkatachalapathy,Brinda Bose,Tridip Suhrud and Neera Chandoke,besides Guha. Most of them are present or former research fellows at the NMML and have complained about the declining standards at the institution in the past as well.

The NMML is an institution of national importance,and the main repository of the records of our freedom struggle. Scholars and writers have been for sometime worried about its institutional health,and it may be noted that in May 2009,57 leading intellectuals had written a letter to the Prime Minister drawing his attention to the steady deterioration of the NMML… Now the special audit report suggests that their fears may have come true, the letter said. Given the evidence before us,we urge the CVC to immediately constitute an inquiry into the financial and other affairs of the NMML, it said.