Chandigarh, 31 Dec. 2024: Panjab University (PU) is set to initiate a renewed conversation with the family of former Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh regarding his pledge in 2018 to donate his personal book collection to the institution. The planned donation, which includes 3,500 books, photographs, and artwork, was meant to be showcased in a three-story building that has remained unused for the past six years.
Arun Kumar Grover, who served as PU’s vice-chancellor in 2018, recalled that Dr. Singh had written to the university, offering to donate his books and memorabilia. The intention was to create a library space designed to reflect Singh’s personal collection, with the Chandigarh College of Architecture (CCA) handling the interior design. This offer came shortly before Dr. Singh delivered the inaugural lecture for the Prof. SB Rangnekar Memorial Lecture at PU’s economics department on April 11, 2018.
“We cataloged the collection, but during the lecture, his wife mentioned that he was hesitant to part with his books,” Grover explained. “My tenure ended before we could finalize the donation, and it now falls to the current officials to address it.”
Grover also acknowledged the formation of the Prime Ministers Museum and Library Society at Teen Murti Bhawan in New Delhi, suggesting that Dr. Singh’s belongings might eventually be housed there. “A proposal to establish a Prime Minister’s Museum at PU, which would house the personal items of both Dr. Singh and former PM IK Gujral, did not move forward,” Grover added. “The decision now lies with Dr. Singh’s family.”
The designated building, Guru Teg Bahadur Bhawan, which was intended to house the collection, is located within PU’s Institute of Social Science Education and Research (ISSER). Despite its original purpose, the building has been largely unoccupied since the initial planning phase.
Current Vice-Chancellor Renu Vig noted that PU would approach Dr. Singh’s family again once the appropriate time arrives. “At this moment, it’s too early to proceed. We’ve extended our condolences and in the coming time, we’ll present our case to them, emphasizing the strong connection between Dr. Singh and the university,” Vig said. She added that if the family ultimately decides against donating the collection, the university would reconsider how to use the building.
Additionally, PU is considering renaming one of its facilities in recognition of Dr. Singh’s legacy. This move mirrors the recent renaming of PU’s Fine Arts Museum after alumnus BN Goswamy, who passed away in 2023. Though the exact building has not been decided, there is a possibility that one of the university’s auditoriums may be renamed in honor of Dr. Singh.
