BJP Demands Return of Jawaharlal Nehru’s Letters as National Heritage

BJP Demands Return of Jawaharlal Nehru’s Letters as National Heritage

Sub : History

Sec : Modern history

Why in News

• The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has called for the return of a significant collection of letters written by India’s first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, which were reportedly shifted to the residence of former Congress president Sonia Gandhi in 2008. These letters, considered historical documents, were originally part of the Nehru Memorial Museum and Library (NMML), now renamed the Prime Ministers’ Museum and Library (PMML).

Background:

• The letters were written by Jawaharlal Nehru to prominent figures such as Lady Edwina Mountbatten, Babu Jagjivan Ram, and Jayaprakash Narayan.
• These documents provide a glimpse into Nehru’s era when traditional correspondence was the primary mode of communication.
• The letters were donated to the Nehru Memorial Museum and Library in 1971.
• In 2008, 51 cartons of these documents were reportedly taken to Sonia Gandhi’s residence with approval from the then NMML director.

BJP’s Allegations

• BJP spokesperson argued that the letters are not personal property but part of India’s national heritage.
• He emphasized the need for public access to these documents, highlighting their historical and cultural importance.
• A digitisation project for the letters, planned in 2010, could not commence as the documents were moved before the process began. This has raised concerns about potential attempts to suppress their content.

Prime Ministers’ Museum and Library (PMML):

• The Nehru Memorial Museum and Library (NMML), now known as the Prime Ministers’ Museum and Library (PMML), is a premier institution in New Delhi dedicated to preserving and studying modern Indian history
• Founded in 1966 in memory of India’s first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, NMML is situated in the historic Teen Murti House, Nehru’s former official residence.
• Constituent Units: The institution comprises several key components:
  • Memorial Museum: Showcases Nehru’s life and contributions.
  • Library on Modern India: Houses an extensive collection of books, manuscripts, and periodicals related to India’s modern history.
  • Centre for Contemporary Studies: Facilitates research on current historical and cultural topics.
  • Nehru Planetarium: Aims to promote scientific temper among the public.
• In 2023, the institution was renamed the Prime Ministers’ Museum and Library to honour all of India’s Prime Ministers, reflecting a broader focus beyond Nehru.
• The institution has undertaken digitization projects to make its vast archival collections accessible online, enhancing research opportunities for scholars worldwide.
• PMML serves as a vital resource for researchers, historians, and the public, offering insights into India’s political heritage and the contributions of its leaders.

Jawaharlal Nehru:

• Birth: November 14, 1889, in Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh.
• Family: Son of Motilal Nehru, a prominent lawyer and leader of the Indian National Congress, and Swaroop Rani.
• Education: Studied at Harrow School, Trinity College (Cambridge), and later at the Inner Temple, London, to become a barrister.
• Joined Freedom Movement: Inspired by Mahatma Gandhi’s call for non-cooperation in 1919.
• Indian National Congress: Became Congress President for the first time in 1929 at the Lahore session, where the demand for Purna Swaraj (complete independence) was formalized.
• Advocated socialism and industrialization for India’s development.
• Imprisoned multiple times for participating in various agitations, including the Civil Disobedience Movement and the Quit India Movement (1942).
• First Prime Minister: Served as the Prime Minister of independent India from 1947 to 1964, the longest-serving PM in Indian history.
• Planning Commission: Established in 1950 to steer India’s planned economic development.
• Implemented the first Five-Year Plan in 1951, emphasizing agriculture and irrigation.
• Foreign Policy:
  • Advocate of Non-Alignment Movement (NAM): Co-founded with leaders like Yugoslavia’s Tito and Egypt’s Nasser.
  • Championed Panchsheel Principles: Five principles of peaceful coexistence signed with China in 1954.
• Economic Policy: Advocated a mixed economy combining public and private sectors.
• Education and Science:
  • Established premier institutions like IITs, IIMs, and AIIMS.
  • Formed the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) in 1962.
• Books Written:
  • The Discovery of India (1946): Reflects Nehru’s vision for India’s cultural and historical heritage.
  • Glimpses of World History (1934): Letters to his daughter, Indira Gandhi, providing insights into world history.
  • An Autobiography (1936): Chronicles his life and political journey.
• Death: May 27, 1964, in New Delhi, due to a stroke.