Gujarat Vidyapith to Share Replicas of Morarji Desai's Prestigious Awards with Prime Ministers' Museum
In a significant cultural and historical collaboration, the Gujarat Vidyapith, founded by Mahatma Gandhi, has agreed to share replicas of the highest civilian awards of India and Pakistan—the Bharat Ratna and the Nishan-e-Pakistan—awarded to the late Prime Minister Morarji Desai. These replicas will be displayed at the Prime Ministers' Museum and Library (PMML) in Delhi, as part of a Memorandum of Understanding signed between the two institutions in 2024.
Details of the Memorandum of Understanding
The MoU was signed on July 15, 2024, between Vice-Chancellor Dr. Harshad Patel of Gujarat Vidyapith and the then director of PMML, Sanjiv N. Sahai. This agreement, valid for five years, establishes a collaborative relationship that allows mutual access to research facilities and digital resources, subject to institutional policies. The initiative aims to enrich the PMML's collection, particularly for the section on Morarji Desai, which was noted to have scanty material during a visit by the V-C.
Historical Significance of the Awards
Morarji Desai, who served as Prime Minister from 1977 to 1979, is the only Indian prime minister to receive the Nishan-e-Pakistan, awarded on May 18, 1991, for promoting good neighbourliness and cooperative relations in South Asia. He was also honored with the Bharat Ratna in March 1991 by President R. Venkataraman. The original awards are displayed in a dedicated gallery at Gujarat Vidyapith, where Desai served as Chancellor from 1963 until his death in 1995.
Custodianship and Replica Creation
Gujarat Vidyapith is the sole custodian of Desai's personal effects, including awards, state gifts, letters, and books, as per his will dated May 4, 1991. Vice-Chancellor Patel emphasized that the institution is bound by this will and will only provide replicas of the medals and citations, not the originals. The process of creating and sharing these replicas is expected to take 2-3 months, and it requires approval from the Vidyapith's governing council.
Enhancing Public Access and Museum Collections
Dr. Patel highlighted that while the Vidyapith's museum is open to visitors, footfalls are lower compared to the PMML, making this collaboration crucial for wider public engagement. The PMML has requested replicas of the awards along with some papers of national importance. Additionally, Gujarat Vidyapith plans to classify and share letters from Desai's collection, which includes over 60,000 reading materials in its library.
Background on Morarji Desai's Legacy
Desai's prime ministership followed the Emergency, leading a Janata Party government with allies like the Jana Sangh (now BJP). His tenure focused on normalizing India-Pakistan relations, with Atal Bihari Vajpayee as External Affairs Minister. The awards reflect his efforts in diplomacy, with the Nishan-e-Pakistan presented in Mumbai by Pakistan's then-president Ghulam Ishaq Khan.
Gujarat Vidyapith's Museum Network
The institution runs five museums and galleries, including the Tribal Museum (1962), Sanskruti Sangrahalaya (1977), Morarji Desai gallery (2003), Gandhi Manpatra Khand (2024), and Sardar Patel gallery (2025). This collaboration with PMML underscores its role in preserving and sharing India's historical heritage.
