New Delhi | December 19, 2025
A major political controversy has erupted over documents linked to India’s first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, with the Union Government demanding the return of what it calls a vital part of the nation’s documentary heritage. Union Minister for Culture and Tourism Gajendra Singh Shekhawat has publicly appealed to former Congress president Sonia Gandhi to return a large collection of Nehru-era documents taken from the Prime Ministers’ Museum and Library (PMML) in 2008.
Documents Described as National Heritage
Addressing the issue, Shekhawat stated that between 1971 and 1992, nearly four lakh documents related to Jawaharlal Nehru were handed over to PMML on nine different occasions for preservation, research, and public access. These documents, he stressed, were entrusted to the institution for safeguarding the nation’s history, not as private property or gifts.
“The documents form an inseparable part of India’s documentary legacy and must remain in a public institution,” the minister said, urging Sonia Gandhi to ensure their immediate return in the interest of transparency and historical integrity.
51 Boxes Taken in 2008
According to the Culture Ministry, in 2008, the Gandhi family retrieved 51 boxes containing nearly 21,000 documents from PMML. The transfer was carried out through due process, and official records and catalogues of the documents are still available with the institution.
However, Shekhawat questioned why the documents have not been returned even after repeated official requests. He revealed that PMML has sent several letters to Sonia Gandhi’s office seeking the return of the papers, including reminders dated January 28, 2025, and July 3, 2025, but has received no response so far.
No Documents Missing, Says Government
Responding to opposition criticism, the minister clarified that no Nehru-related documents are “missing”, as the government is aware of their location. However, he emphasized that retaining them outside a public archive undermines academic access and institutional autonomy.
“The issue is not about loss, but about rightful custody,” he said.
Role of Sonia Gandhi’s Representative
The ministry further disclosed that on April 29, 2008, M.V. Rajan, acting as Sonia Gandhi’s representative, formally requested the return of Nehru’s private family letters and notes. Subsequently, all 51 cartons were sent to Sonia Gandhi.
Despite continuous correspondence over the years, PMML has not succeeded in securing their return.
Historians Voice Concern
PMML Society member and historian Rizwan Kadri has also weighed in, expressing hope that Sonia Gandhi will voluntarily return the collections. Kadri revealed that during his tenure, researchers faced difficulties accessing even donated collections, including the papers of Edwina Mountbatten, which were reportedly under private custody.
Kadri stated that in 2024, for the first time, official minutes of the PMML Society acknowledged that nine separate collections were taken away in 2008, when Sonia Gandhi was the Society’s president. Repeated requests, including appeals to Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi, failed to elicit a response until the matter was raised publicly.
Call for Institutional Integrity
The controversy has reignited a broader debate over the ownership, access, and preservation of historical records related to India’s national leaders. The government maintains that such documents must remain with autonomous public institutions to ensure scholarly research, transparency, and preservation of national memory.
With the issue now firmly in the public domain, political observers believe the pressure is mounting on Sonia Gandhi to respond and take a decision that could have lasting implications for how India preserves its historical legacy.
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