PMML Requests Rahul Gandhi to Return Jawaharlal Nehru's Historic Letters

The Prime Minister’s Museum and Library (PMML) has formally requested Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to return a collection of historic letters written by Jawaharlal Nehru, India’s first prime minister.

These documents, considered a valuable resource for researchers and historians, have been privately stored since 2008. Their removal from public access followed a request by Sonia Gandhi, then-chairperson of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA).

The archival materials, consisting of 51 boxes of Nehru's personal correspondences, were originally handed over to the Nehru Memorial Museum and Library (NMML) in 1971 by the Jawaharlal Nehru Memorial Fund. These letters reflect Nehru’s exchanges with several notable figures, including Albert Einstein, Jayaprakash Narayan, Edwina Mountbatten, Padmaja Naidu, Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit, Aruna Asaf Ali, and Babu Jagjivan Ram.

In a letter addressed to Rahul Gandhi, the PMML highlighted the significance of these documents for academic study. "We recognize the personal importance these materials may hold for the Nehru family, but their wider accessibility would be invaluable for scholars and researchers," the PMML wrote.

This is not the first attempt to secure access to Nehru’s documents. In September 2024, the PMML sent a similar appeal to Sonia Gandhi, requesting the return of the collection or permission to digitize the materials. Historian Rizwan Kadri, a member of the PMML Society chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, highlighted the importance of these papers for understanding modern Indian history.

"I reached out to Sonia Gandhi in 2024 regarding 51 cartons from Nehru's collection. We sought their return or approval to digitize the contents for academic research," Kadri explained.

Initially established as the Nehru Memorial Museum and Library (NMML) at Teen Murti Bhavan in New Delhi, the institution was dedicated to preserving Nehru’s legacy and promoting the study of contemporary Indian history. Its objectives included curating a museum on Nehru's life, maintaining personal and official papers of key leaders, and supporting research initiatives through access to archives, lectures, and publications.

In August 2023, the NMML was rebranded as the Prime Minister’s Museum and Library (PMML) to recognize the contributions of all Indian prime ministers. During the PMML’s Annual General Meeting in February, it was disclosed that the Nehru Memorial Fund had transferred the collection in 1971 on behalf of Indira Gandhi, Nehru’s legal heir, for safekeeping.

The PMML maintains that these papers remain the property of Nehru’s legal heirs, including Sonia Gandhi, following Indira Gandhi’s death in 1984. A document from 1988 reportedly indicates that Sonia Gandhi’s permission is required to access the archives.

The PMML’s latest appeal highlights the broader demand for transparency and public access to historical records, arguing that these materials are essential for a comprehensive understanding of Nehru’s role in shaping modern India.