JNMF Launches Nehru Archive; 100-Volume ‘Selected Works’ Goes Online in Phase One

The Jawaharlal Nehru Memorial Fund (JNMF), a non-profit trust run from the Teen Murti campus in New Delhi, has launched the Nehru Archive to commemorate the 136th birth anniversary of India’s first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru. The initiative marks a significant step toward making Nehru’s extensive works, correspondence, and speeches more widely accessible through digital means. The Nehru Archive is designed to serve as a comprehensive and authoritative resource on Nehru, preserving his intellectual and political legacy for researchers, students, historians, and the general public.

In the first phase, JNMF has made available online the ‘Selected Works of Jawaharlal Nehru’, a monumental collection spanning 100 volumes and containing over 35,000 documents. This first phase allows free access for downloading and reading, making it easier for scholars and enthusiasts to explore Nehru’s ideas, writings, and thought processes. These volumes compile letters, essays, speeches, and official documents authored by Nehru, reflecting his vision for India, his leadership style, and his engagement with domestic and international political issues.

Congress general secretary and JNMF trustee Jairam Ramesh, who oversaw the project, has outlined plans for a second phase of the digital archive. This next stage focuses on locating and including letters written to Nehru by prominent personalities from across the world. According to Ramesh, while the first phase highlights Nehru’s writings to eminent individuals, the second phase will emphasize correspondence addressed to him, thereby offering a fuller picture of his interactions and relationships.

The second phase is expected to include letters and exchanges with figures such as Rabindranath Tagore, Albert Einstein, Mahatma Gandhi, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, Rajendra Prasad, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, members of the Mountbatten family, and Winston Churchill. Many of the archives containing these correspondences have already been contacted, including organizations holding documents pertaining to Churchill, Mountbatten, and Einstein. By bringing these letters into the digital fold, the archive aims to provide insights into Nehru’s diplomacy, intellectual exchanges, and leadership in shaping India’s modern identity.

The Nehru Archive runs parallel to the Jawaharlal Nehru archives maintained by the Prime Ministers’ Museum & Library (PMML) at the same campus. While PMML preserves original documents and artifacts, the digital archive allows global accessibility and easier reference. The digital platform also includes Nehru’s speeches, further broadening the scope of the resource and enabling users to study his oratory, political philosophy, and public communication style in depth.

JNMF, headed by Congress leader Sonia Gandhi, initiated this project last year on November 14, signaling a long-term commitment to preserving and disseminating Nehru’s legacy. By leveraging modern digital technologies, the archive ensures that future generations can engage with primary sources directly, rather than relying solely on secondary interpretations. It also aligns with broader efforts to digitize historical and cultural archives across India, making them more accessible to students, researchers, and historians worldwide.

In summary, the Nehru Archive by JNMF represents a landmark initiative in Indian historical preservation, combining comprehensive documentation, user-friendly digital access, and a forward-looking plan to expand with incoming correspondence. The project not only celebrates Nehru’s 136th birth anniversary but also ensures his intellectual and political contributions remain accessible and relevant for contemporary and future audiences, bridging historical scholarship with modern technology.