Digital Gateway to India's History Opens at PMML
In a significant boost for historical research and public access to India's rich heritage, the Prime Ministers' Museum and Library (PMML) has launched its digital archives platform. This development comes just days after the Jawaharlal Nehru Memorial Fund made a vast collection of documents related to India's first prime minister available online.
A Treasure Trove of Historical Documents
The PMML, operating as an autonomous institution under the Ministry of Culture, houses one of the world's largest collections of rare archival materials. The institution's holdings are staggering, comprising over 25 million documents belonging to more than 1,300 individuals and organisations that have shaped modern India.
These invaluable records include personal papers, correspondence, speeches, diaries, and newspaper articles that researchers and scholars regularly consult for studying modern and contemporary Indian history. The announcement, made by the Ministry of Culture on Sunday, marks a major step forward in expanding access to these vast archival resources.
Remote Access Revolutionizes Research
The PMML has created a dedicated IT platform to facilitate remote access to these digital archives. Registered scholars can now submit online requests to view specific archival documents without needing to physically visit the PMML premises at the Teen Murti campus.
Once requests are approved, the requested materials will be securely made available on the scholar's desktop for viewing purposes only. This system represents a significant advancement in making India's historical records more accessible to researchers across the country and around the world.
Ashwani Lohani, Director of PMML, emphasized that this initiative reflects the institution's unwavering commitment to promoting high-quality research and strengthening the study of modern and contemporary India by enhancing ease of access to archival materials.
Nehru Archives Launch Precedes PMML Digital Initiative
The PMML's digital launch follows closely on the heels of the Jawaharlal Nehru Memorial Fund's (JNMF) launch of the Nehru Archive. Last week, the JNMF, a non-profit trust headed by Congress leader Sonia Gandhi, launched the digital archive to mark the first prime minister's 136th birth anniversary.
In the first phase, the Selected Works of Jawaharlal Nehru have been made available online, with an entire set of 100 volumes containing 35,000 documents available for free download. The digital archive aims to be the authoritative resource on Nehru and also includes the first prime minister's speeches.
Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh, a trustee of the JNMF, announced that the second phase would entail efforts to locate letters written to Nehru. While the Selected Works contain many letters written by Nehru to various eminent personalities, the next phase would focus on locating correspondence received by him.
The comprehensive digitisation project at PMML, announced a couple of years ago, has already seen a substantial portion of frequently accessed material digitised, uploaded, and made available. This parallel development of digital archives at both institutions represents a watershed moment for historical research and public access to India's documentary heritage.
