Sat Oct 11 11:26:21 UTC 2025: Okay, here’s a summary of the provided text, followed by a rewritten version as a news article for The Hindu:
**Summary:**
The Prime Ministers Museum and Library (PMML), formerly the Nehru Memorial Museum and Library, houses an extensive oral history project. Initiated in 1966, the project initially focused on interviewing individuals connected to Indian leaders and significant political events. It has since expanded to cover broader aspects of national development, including economy, foreign policy, art, culture, and sports. The PMML has conducted nearly 1372 interviews, with 988 transcribed and available in book form. These transcripts serve as a valuable resource for researchers and historians, complementing other archival materials. The collection includes interviews with prominent Indian figures, scientists, and international personalities. The PMML continues to expand its collection with plans to interview more notable individuals. The collection provides insights into major historical events and movements.
**News Article:**
**The Hindu: National**
**PMML’s Oral History Project: A Rich Tapestry of Voices Chronicles India’s Past**
**By The Hindu Bureau**
**New Delhi, October 11, 2025:** The Prime Ministers Museum and Library (PMML) is emerging as a vital resource for historians and researchers, thanks to its extensive oral history project. Launched in 1966 as part of the then-Nehru Memorial Museum and Library, the initiative aimed to capture the recollections of those connected to Indian leaders and pivotal moments in the nation’s history.
Over the years, the project’s scope has broadened considerably. “In the oral history project of the PMML, the emphasis in the beginning was on the recollections of men and women who came into contact with India’s great leaders or were connected with important political events or movements either as participants or as witnesses. Gradually, the oral history canvas expanded to include subjects concerning the overall national development including economy, foreign policy, art and culture, sports, institution building, etc,” said an official. The PMML’s oral history division now encompasses subjects ranging from economic development and foreign policy to art, culture, and sports.
To date, the PMML boasts nearly 1372 interviews, with 988 transcribed and compiled into book form. These transcripts are available for consultation in the Reading Room of the Manuscripts Section of the PMML.
The collection features a diverse range of voices, including those of Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan, Acharya J.B. Kripalani, scientists like S. Chandrasekhar and Prof. Satyen Bose, and international figures such as Louis Mountbatten and Mrs. Martin Luther King. Recent additions include interviews with former Kerala and Karnataka Governor T.N. Chaturvedi and former Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi.
“The list of persons to be interviewed is being revised continually and we have some big and important names lined up,” said Dr. Ravi Mishra, Joint Director of the PMML.
The oral histories offer unique insights into events such as the Partition of Bengal, the First World War, Satyagraha campaigns, social reform movements, and the events leading to the partition of India. While PMML recognizes that oral history alone may not be sufficient as a source for research, but when combined with other archival sources, it gives a solid foundation. This makes the PMML a must visit destination for history students.
First Piper 