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The Print
15-07-2025
- Business
- The Print
Narasimha Rao reason why coalition govts perform better than majority govts, says Naidu
'India witnessed coalition governments from 1989 to 2014. Because of economic reforms, coalition governments were able to produce better results that governments with clear majority were not able to produce,' Naidu said. But the rise of Narendra Modi as Prime Minister marked a 'turning point,' restoring not just political stability, but also a 'renewed sense of national pride,' he added, delivering a lecture on the life and legacy of Rao at the Prime Minister's Museum and Library (PMML). New Delhi: Successive coalition governments in India, which lasted for over two decades until 2014, were able to produce 'better results' than the preceding majority governments, largely due to the economic reforms introduced by P.V. Narasimha Rao as Prime Minister, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu said Tuesday. In his lecture, delivered as part of the Prime Ministers' Lecture Series organised by the PMML (formerly Nehru Memorial Museum and Library), Naidu invoked Rao's qualities as a polyglot to briefly wade into a political hot potato—the language row in Maharashtra. 'He (Rao) was a scholar fluent in 17 languages. Now we are talking why we should learn Hindi. He learnt 17 languages. That is how he became a great man,' Naidu said, describing Rao as the 'Deng Xiaoping of India' for his role in the 1991 economic liberalisation, which marked a shift from India's earlier socialist model. Former principal secretary to PM Modi Nripendra Misra also described Rao, who was awarded (posthumously) India's highest civilian award Bharat Ratna in 2024, in similar terms in his introductory remarks at the event. 'He (Rao) was heading a minority government. To bring in bold reforms, political consensus is required. He managed to bring it due to his political acumen. To bring all in one platform was his greatest achievement,' Naidu said, drawing applause from a packed auditorium. The TDP supremo's remarks on Rao were largely confined to his role in unshackling the Indian economy, steering clear of any reference to the political circumstances, particularly his falling-out with Gandhi family, that led to him slipping into near-oblivion after his term as Prime Minister ended in 1996. A significant portion of Naidu's nearly 30-minute address focused on the achievements of Modi. The TDP is a key coalition partner in the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA), led by the BJP, which fell short of securing a simple majority in the 2024 general election. Under Modi, India is taking strides on the world stage with 'confidence, clarity of purpose and bold decision making,' Naidu said. He also made it a point to recall Atal Bihari Vajpayee's role in transforming India's physical infrastructure and telecom sector. India, said Naidu, was primed to become an economic superpower, even surpassing the US and China, if it weds political stability with sound public policy. 'Hard work is no longer relevant, smart work is,' Naidu said, making a strong pitch for quantum computing. As CM, Naidu has taken up an ambitious project of developing a 'quantum city' in Amaravati. It is designed to include startups, MNCs, academia and research laboratories and will feature a building housing India's largest quantum computer, which, Naidu said, will arrive by 1 January, 2026. 'We are in inspiring times. The next 20 years are very crucial for India … With Modi at the helm of leadership, we will become the number one economy. It will happen through unity, hard work and a shared sense of purpose,' Naidu said. (Edited by Amrtansh Arora) Also Read: 'This secret will perish with me' — when Narasimha Rao was asked if India delayed nuclear test
Indian Express
24-06-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
As Govt decides to legally contest Sonia Gandhi's claim to Nehru's papers, a key question: what are Private Papers of public figures, and who can see them?
The annual general meeting (AGM) of the Prime Ministers' Museum and Library (PMML) Society has decided to take legal action to ensure that Congress leader Sonia Gandhi returns the Private Papers of Jawaharlal Nehru that she took away from the museum in 2008. Last year's PMML AGM had discussed in detail the reclaiming by Sonia of 51 cartons of donated Nehru Papers when the UPA was in power and she was chairperson of what was at the time known as the Nehru Memorial Museum and Library (NMML) Society. These papers, part of the Private Collection of India's first Prime Minister, had been donated to the museum by his family earlier. In 2008, Sonia had also barred access to several sets of these papers. Sources told The Indian Express that a broad consensus had emerged in Monday's (June 23) AGM chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi that Nehru's papers were a 'national treasure and should be handed back to the museum as its rightful place to preserve his legacy'. Last year, the PMML had decided that it would not permit future donors of Private Papers of eminent personalities to impose indefinite conditions on the declassification of such material. How private are the 'Private Collections' of eminent public personalities? What rules govern the declassification of correspondence involving occupants of high government office? Who is responsible for declassifying access to such papers? The Jawaharlal Nehru Papers were the first set of Private Papers obtained by NMML, which was set up in memory of the first Prime Minister. These papers, relating to both the pre-Independence and post-Independence periods, were transferred to NMML in several batches from 1971 onward. The transfer was facilitated by the Jawaharlal Nehru Memorial Fund (JNMF) on behalf of Nehru's legal heir, Indira Gandhi, who apparently remained the owner of these documents until her death in October 1984. Subsequently, a substantial collection of Nehru's Papers from the post-1946 period were handed over to NMML by Sonia Gandhi. Yes. The PMML has the largest collection of Private Papers in the country, which originally belonged to some 1,000 personalities of modern India, encompassing the entire spectrum of its leadership. In this priceless collection are the papers of Mahatma Gandhi, B R Ambedkar, Rajkumari Amrit Kaur, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, Bhikaji Cama, Chaudhary Charan Singh, and many others. Among its recent acquisitions are papers of former Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Shanta Kumar, which include letters written by him to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on One Nation, One Election, the abrogation of Article 370, and Indo-Pak relations, according to the PMML. There are also the papers of the legendary environmental activist Sundarlal Bahuguna, which were donated to PMML by his wife, Vimla Bahuguna, and papers pertaining to Hindi writer and author Yashpal, comprising correspondence pertaining to his revolutionary activities during the freedom struggle. The individual collections have come to PMML from families, institutions, universities, and other private donors. The papers are invaluable for an accurate appraisal of the lives and times of these personalities, and essential for an understanding of India's modern history and its landmark moments. This is what lies at the heart of repeated efforts to make them available to scholars and researchers. The custodians of the archives say there are essential differences between papers and correspondence that can be deemed personal, as opposed to Private Collections, even if they pertain to the same person. For instance, the correspondence of a President or a Prime Minister with other eminent personalities of the time, or with institutions, can be part of that person's Private Collection by virtue of these papers being owned by the person's family or other private individuals. However, correspondence and documents held in personal capacity are excluded from this set. Another set of papers can be classified as Official Records — these are held by various government departments and ministries, and could comprise letters, records, or file notings, etc. pertaining to the working of various central and state governments. When donors hand over Private Collections in their ownership to archives and museums, they do sometimes reach an understanding with the recipient institution, imposing conditions for their declassification and public access. Many of those who donated Private Collections to PMML set unspecified embargo conditions on public access to these papers — consequently, the institution holds these papers and conserves them, but it cannot make them public, and researchers cannot access them. It is in this context that the museum — which functions under the Ministry of Culture — decided that it will, under normal circumstances, permit only a five-year embargo from the date of receipt of any new papers. In rare cases, this window can remain shut for up to 10 years at most. PMML has also decided to open up several sets of Private Papers that have been lying in its custody for decades, pertaining to the first Speaker of Lok Sabha G D Mavalankar, Nehru's niece Nayantara Sahgal, and as many as 2.80 lakh pages pertaining to Nehru that were not claimed by Sonia Gandhi in 2008. The other organisation that acquires Private Collections in the country, the National Archives of India — which too, operates under the Culture Ministry — says it acquires only those papers which the donors agree to declassify. It is the norm to put all records in the public domain, unless in very rare cases, where the concerns may be pressing and pertain to security or sensitivity. The National Archives' Private Archives Section has in its custody a rich collection of private papers of eminent persons who have contributed in various fields of public life. These papers have been acquired mainly through donations and gifts from individuals and institutions around the world. The National Archives has papers pertaining to Mahatma Gandhi, Dr Rajendra Prasad, Dadabhai Naoroji, Purushottam Das Tandon, Maulana Azad, Minoo Masani, Sardar Patel and Keshav Dev Malviya among others. In the United States, the Library of Congress Manuscript Division holds Personal Papers and organizational records that are significant in American history. The National Archives and Records Administration is the official depository for US government records, like the National Archives of India here. In India, The Public Records Rules, 1997, cover the declassification of all kinds of records and correspondence. For official records, the Rules say that the responsibility for declassification rests with the respective organisations, and that records should ordinarily be declassified after 25 years. The definition of Public Records encompasses any records in relation to the central government, and any Ministry, department or office of the government — including the PMO and the President's Office. However, the 1997 Rules don't lay down sweeping powers for papers owned by private individuals and families, access to which is voluntary in nature — either by means of donation or sale of these documents in some cases. Several of these issues could be contested legally if the government does take the matter of the Nehru papers to court. This is an updated and edited version of an explainer that was first published on June 27, 2024. Divya A reports on travel, tourism, culture and social issues - not necessarily in that order - for The Indian Express. She's been a journalist for over a decade now, working with Khaleej Times and The Times of India, before settling down at Express. Besides writing/ editing news reports, she indulges her pen to write short stories. As Sanskriti Prabha Dutt Fellow for Excellence in Journalism, she is researching on the lives of the children of sex workers in India. ... Read More
New Indian Express
24-06-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Compile all legal battles, docus on Emergency: Modi at PMML meet
NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday suggested Prime Ministers Museum and Library (PMML) Society to prepare a compilation of all the legal battles and documents relating to the 'Emergency' and preserved them. He also stressed upon fresh initiatives including creation of a committee consisting of five persons from each state below the age of 35 years to bring out fresh ideas and perspectives on museums in the country. "Prime Minister advised that a compilation of all the legal battles and documents relating to the Emergency period may be prepared and preserved in light of the completion of 50 years after the Emergency," said culture ministry. Modi was chairing an annual general meeting of the PMML Society, which was also attended by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and other members. Union ministers Nirmala Sitharaman, Dharmendra Pradhan, Ashwini Vaishnaw and Gajendra Singh Shekhawat were also present. The government re-constituted the PMML Society early this year, with former Union Minister Smriti Irani and noted filmmaker Shekhar Kapur finding a place in PM helms the key decision-making body of the PMML as its president and the defence minister as vice-president. Modi also put forward a visionary concept of a 'Museum Map of India', aimed at providing a unified cultural and informational landscape of museums across the country. Underlining the importance of increased use of technology, he further suggested development of a comprehensive national database of all museums in the country, incorporating key metrics such as footfall and quality standards. He suggested regular workshops for those managing and operating museums, with a focus on capacity building and knowledge sharing. According to the ministry, PM also asked to engage top influencers and invite them to visit the museums including the officials of embassies to Indian museums to increase the awareness about the rich heritage preserved in Indian Museums. "During the meeting, Prime Minister emphasised that museums hold immense significance across the world and have the power to make us experience history. He underlined the need to make continuous efforts to generate public interest in museums and to enhance their prestige in society," said ministry's statement. Later, PM also planted a sapling of Kapur (Cinnamomum camphora) on the campus of Teen Murti House symbolizing growth, heritage, and sustainability. The PM also highlighted the importance of preserving and documenting the present in a systematic manner. He noted that by strengthening our current systems and records, we can ensure that future generations and researchers in particular will be able to study and understand this period without difficulty. Other Members of the PMML Society also shared their suggestions and insights for further enhancement of the Museum and Library. Besides Irani, newly appointed director of Prime Ministers Museum and Library (PMML) Ashwani Lohani and former Principal Secretary to Prime Minister Nripendra Mishra, who got another five-year term as the organisation's chairperson, also attended the meeting. There are many new entrants in the prestigious institution's society, including Irani, Kapur, former NITI Aayog Vice-chairman Rajiv Kumar, retired Army officer Syed Ata Hasnain and Sanskar Bharati's Vasudev Kamath. PMML is housed in Teen Murti Bhawan, which also hosts the Pradhanmantri Sangrahalaya.
News18
24-06-2025
- Politics
- News18
PM Modi Directs Compilation Of All Legal Records Related To Emergency
Last Updated: PM Modi said that systematic preservation of records can ensure that future generations and researchers will be able to study and understand the period without difficulty. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday directed that all legal records pertaining to the period of Emergency be prepared and preserved for posterity. While chairing a key meeting of the Prime Ministers' Museum and Library (PMML) Society in New Delhi, PM Modi suggested the development of a comprehensive national database of all museums in the country and said that a compilation of all legal battles relating to the Emergency period may be prepared and preserved in light of the completion of 50 years after the Emergency. He said that systematic preservation of these records can ensure that future generations and researchers in particular will be able to study and understand the period without difficulty. The government and the ruling BJP will on June 25 mark 50 years of imposition of Emergency by the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. In the meeting, the Prime Minister also put forth a concept of creating a "museum map of India" to provide a unified cultural and informational landscape of museums across the country. 'Underlining the importance of increased use of technology, the prime minister suggested development of a comprehensive national database of all museums in the country, incorporating key metrics such as footfall and quality standards," the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) said. The 47th annual general meeting (AGM) of the society took place at the Teen Murti Bhawan. The key decision-making body of the PMML is helmed by PM Modi as its president, and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh as the vice-president. Former Union minister Smriti Irani, former principal secretary to the prime minister, Nripendra Mishra, among others, also attended the meeting. 'During the meeting, the prime minister emphasised that museums hold immense significance across the world and have the power to make us experience history. He underlined the need to make continuous efforts to generate public interest in museums and to enhance their prestige in society," the PMO said in a statement. PM Modi also suggested organising regular workshops for those managing and operating museums, with a focus on capacity building and knowledge sharing. The Prime Minister highlighted that with the creation of a museum on all prime ministers, "justice has been done to their legacy, including that of the first Prime Minister of India, Jawaharlal Nehru. This was not the case before 2014," it said. Modi said top "influencers" and officials from various embassies should be invited to visit the country's museums to raise awareness about the rich heritage preserved highlighted the importance of preserving and documenting the present systematically. Other members of the PMML Society shared their suggestions and insights for further enhancement of the museum and the library. The prime minister also planted a kapur (cinnamomum camphora) tree in the lawns of the Teen Murti House, symbolising growth, heritage and sustainability. On the eve of the 50th anniversary of the imposition of Emergency in India, BJP's think tank Dr Syama Prasad Mookerjee Research Foundation (SPMRF) has organised a mega event at Delhi's Prime Minister Museum and Library. This strictly by-invitation event will have a huge exhibition, with a series of stands chronicling the Emergency era and the fight against it and the formation of the first non-Congress government of Morarji Desai, News18 has learnt. The Centre has already instructed all states and Union Territories to undertake a year-long commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the Emergency's imposition as 'Constitution Murder Day' with a Mashal yatra launched from Delhi on June 25, which will end at Kartavya Path on March 21, 2026, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in attendance. (With inputs from agencies) First Published: June 24, 2025, 08:06 IST News india PM Modi Directs Compilation Of All Legal Records Related To Emergency
Indian Express
23-06-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Seeking return of Nehru papers, Prime Ministers Museum and Library decides on legal pursuit
At the annual general meeting Monday of the Prime Ministers Museum and Library (PMML) Society, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, a strong consensus emerged among members that the matter of Congress leader Sonia Gandhi taking away the Jawaharlal Nehru papers should be legally pursued, The Indian Express has learnt. Besides the Prime Minister who is the PMML Society president, the 47th AGM was attended by Union Ministers Rajnath Singh (vice-president), Nirmala Sitharaman, Dharmendra Pradhan, Ashwini Vaishnaw, Chairman Nripendra Mishra, and members including BJP leader Smriti Irani, adman-lyricist Prasoon Joshi, and PMML's new Director Ashwani Lohani. While the matter of Sonia Gandhi taking away a huge chunk of donated Nehru papers – in 51 cartons in 2008 – was discussed at length at the last AGM held in February 2024, the issue came up for discussion again Monday at the 90-minute meeting at Teen Murti Bhavan in New Delhi. Sources said a broad consensus emerged that the papers pertaining to the first Prime Minister are a 'national treasure and should be handed back to the museum as its rightful place to preserve his legacy'. At the 46th AGM last year, when the matter came up for discussion, it was decided by the members to seek a legal opinion regarding taking back donated papers. Consequently, in view of the legal opinion, for the first time, a letter was sent by the PMML administration to Sonia Gandhi's office earlier this year, seeking return of the papers for scholars and historians. This was the first time that the museum administration put on record, in an official communication to the Gandhi family, about Sonia Gandhi taking away part of the papers from the Nehru collection, which they had donated to the museum decades ago. Sources said no response had been received from Gandhi's office. In this regard, sources said it was discussed that the matter be pursued legally, contending that papers once donated or gifted cannot be taken back, and hence, they remain the organisation's property and should be handed back to its custody. A source said it was also put forth at the AGM that the matter pertained to 2008 (during the UPA rule), and the organisation was now seeking to course correct the administrative lacunae of the pre-2014 era by seeking further legal opinion in the matter and how it can be pursued further. The issue of Sonia Gandhi having reclaimed a part of the private papers donated by the Gandhi family was discussed in detail in the AGM held on February 13, 2024, chaired by Rajnath Singh, which was also attended by Sitharaman and Pradhan, among other members. There was a view among the members that those papers should be recalled, and a consensus was also reached to seek legal opinion on issues such as 'ownership, custodianship, copyright, and the use of these archival collections' since the papers were donated to the organisation by Indira Gandhi in 1971 (as heir of the Nehru papers) and subsequently by Sonia Gandhi, after Indira Gandhi's assassination. The matter came up for discussion at the 47th AGM as a follow-up to the deliberations of the last AGM. According to sources, the initial legal opinion indicates that the ownership of the papers lies with the museum, even as the matter needs to be pursued further on their return. On January 15 this year, the PMML society and executive council were reconstituted with former Principal Secretary to Prime Minister, Nripendra Mishra, getting another five-year term as the organisation's chairperson. There were several new entrants to the society including former Union Minister Smriti Irani, former NITI Aayog Vice-chairman Rajiv Kumar, retired Lt General Syed Ata Hasnain, filmmaker Shekhar Kapur and Sanskar Bharati's Vasudev Kamath. According to PMML records, the papers reclaimed by Sonia Gandhi in 2008 include letters exchanged between Nehru and Jayaprakash Narayan, Edwina Mountbatten, Albert Einstein, Aruna Asaf Ali, Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit and Babu Jagjivan Ram. At the AGM Monday, the Prime Minister also put forward the concept of creating a museum map of India, and suggested the development of a comprehensive national database of all museums in the country, according to a statement issued by the Ministry of Culture. A compilation of all legal battles relating to the Emergency period may be prepared and preserved in light of the completion of 50 years after the Emergency, Modi said, as June 25 this year marks 50 years of the Emergency.
