Before the first annual general meeting of its newly formed Society, the Prime Ministers’ Museum & Library (PMML) has reportedly reached out to Congress leader Sonia Gandhi, requesting “access” to papers from Jawaharlal Nehru’s private collection, which she reclaimed in 2008. However, sources indicate that Sonia’s office has not responded to PMML’s request.

As previously reported by The Indian Express, the former PMML Society had discussed the status of these documents during its last annual meeting in February 2024. However, this marks the first time the request has been officially communicated to Sonia. Sonia’s office also did not respond to an email from The Indian Express regarding the matter.

Sources indicate that the PMML, in a letter to Sonia, has “sought access to the papers for researchers.” Additionally, the museum authorities have requested her to donate any other significant correspondence related to Nehru that could aid researchers in understanding modern Indian history. At the last Annual General Meeting (AGM) in February last year, chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh in his role as the Society’s vice-president, while Prime Minister Narendra Modi serves as its president, a substantial portion of the discussions focused on Nehru’s private papers housed in the PMML collection. Notably, Sonia took 51 boxes of these documents in May 2008.

Some members believed that the papers taken by Sonia should be identified, leading to a consensus on seeking legal advice regarding the “ownership, custodianship, copyright and the use of these archival collections.” These papers were initially donated to the organisation by Indira Gandhi in 1971, as the heir of the Nehru papers, and later by Sonia.

As per the PMML records, the documents recovered by Sonia in 2008 consist of letters traded between Nehru and figures such as Jayaprakash Narayan, Edwina Mountbatten, Albert Einstein, Aruna Asaf Ali, Vijaya Laxmi Pandit and Jagjivan Ram.

On January 15 this year, the PMML Society and Executive Council were reorganised, with former Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister Nripendra Mishra reappointed as chairperson for another five years. Several new members joined, including former Union Minister Smriti Irani, ex-NITI Aayog Vice-Chairman Rajiv Kumar, retired Army Lt General Syed Ata Hasnain, filmmaker Shekhar Kapur, and Sanskar Bharati’s Vasudev Kamath. The first annual general meeting of the newly formed PMML Society is set to take place in the coming weeks. Sources indicate that this issue is expected to be discussed as a continuation of previous deliberations. Those familiar with the matter believe that the communication sent to Sonia could influence future actions.

As part of its efforts to digitise its archives, the PMML has reached out to the families and offices of all past and present Prime Ministers, requesting donations of significant correspondence. So far, the grandson of former Prime Minister Charan Singh has responded, expressing the family's willingness to contribute documents and artefacts related to his life and tenure.