National Archives of India

ON THE OCCASION OF N.M. JOSHI'S BIRTH ANNIVERSARY:

Narayan Malhar Joshi, popularly known as N.M. Joshi was a pioneering trade union leader, social reformer, and parliamentarian who played a crucial role in the development of the labour movement in India. He founded the All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC) in 1920 and worked tirelessly for the welfare and rights of industrial workers.

A strong advocate of labour legislation, social justice, and workers' education, Joshi represented India at several international labour conferences and contributed significantly to shaping labour policies in the country. His efforts laid the foundation for organised trade unionism in modern India.

presents a copy of a letter dated 31 December 1940 from N.M. Joshi, Member of the Central Legislative Assembly, concerning the Provincial Rules governing the treatment of detenus under the Defence of India Act. In the letter, Joshi requested a copy of the rules following a resolution he had moved in the Central Legislative Assembly on 15 December 1940, highlighting concerns relating to the administration and treatment of political detainees.

Source: NAI, Home, Political, I, 1940, Fn. No. 24-5-40



PMO India
Ministry of Culture, Government of India
Gajendra Singh Shekhawat
Rao Inderjit Singh

: India and Its Native Princes

India and Its Native Princes: Travels in Central India and in the Presidencies of Bombay and Bengal (Bickers & Son, London, 1882) by Louis Rousselet is a fascinating travel narrative that records the author’s journeys through princely states and major regions of India during the late nineteenth century.

Combining detailed observation with vivid description, Rousselet portrays royal courts, architectural monuments, local customs, and everyday life across Central India, Bombay, and Bengal. The book is particularly valuable for its firsthand accounts of princely states and their rulers, offering insights into the political and cultural landscape of India under British paramountcy.

Louis Rousselet (1845–1929) was a French traveller, photographer, and writer best known for his extensive travels in India between 1864 and 1868. His writings and photographs provided European audiences with detailed accounts of Indian society, architecture, and princely states, making him one of the notable travel chroniclers of colonial India.

Accompanied by illustrations based on the author’s sketches and photographs, the narrative captures both the grandeur and diversity of the subcontinent. While reflecting the perspectives of a European traveller of its era, the work remains an important source for understanding how India’s people, institutions, and heritage were perceived and documented in the nineteenth century.

Week: 76
Published By: Bickers & Son, London, 1882
Author: Louis Rousselet



PMO India
Ministry of Culture, Government of India
Gajendra Singh Shekhawat
Rao Inderjit Singh

The Swatantra Party was established on 4 June 1959 under the leadership of veteran freedom fighter and statesman C. Rajagopalachari. Formed as an alternative to the socialist economic policies pursued by the Congress government under Jawaharlal Nehru, the party championed principles of individual liberty, free enterprise, private initiative, and limited government intervention in economic affairs. It emerged as one of India's most prominent advocates of classical liberalism in the post-independence period.

presents a glimpse of a letter dated 29 June 1959 from N.G. Ranga, M.P. and Convener, to K.M. Munshi regarding the formation of a new opposition political party, proposed to be named the Swatantra Party on the suggestion of C. Rajagopalachari. In the letter, Ranga conveyed his good wishes for the party's future and emphasised its importance for the preservation of democratic values, stating:

"We trust that your organisation will consider the formation of such a party as being in the highest national interest and essential for the survival of democracy and our Constitution."

Source: NAI, Swatantra Party Papers, 1959, Fn. No. 1



PMO India
Ministry of Culture, Government of India
Gajendra Singh Shekhawat
Rao Inderjit Singh

Commonly known as the Mountbatten Plan, the 3 June Plan was announced on 3 June 1947 as the official framework for the transfer of power from British rule and the creation of two independent dominions—India and Pakistan. Introduced by Lord Mountbatten, the last Viceroy of India, the plan outlined the process for Partition and sought to facilitate a swift transition of power amid escalating communal tensions and unrest.

presents a glimpse of a press clipping from The Daily Gazette, dated 4 June 1947, titled “The Great Betrayal,” reflecting contemporary reactions to the Mountbatten Plan—the framework announced for the transfer of power and the Partition of British India into the independent dominions of India and Pakistan.

Source: Press Comments on 3rd June Plan, 1947, Fn. No. 17



PMO India
Ministry of Culture, Government of India
Gajendra Singh Shekhawat
Rao Inderjit Singh

presents an Office Order dated 11 May 1977 issued by P. I. Jacob, Deputy Election Commissioner, Election Commission of India, regarding the merger of four national political parties — the Indian National Congress (Organisation), Bharatiya Jana Sangh, Socialist Party, and Bharatiya Lok Dal — into a single political entity known as the Janata Party.

The document reflects a significant moment in India’s democratic and political history.

Source: NAI, ECI, E.S.I., 1978, Fn. No. 56/27/78



PMO India
Ministry of Culture, Government of India
Gajendra Singh Shekhawat
Rao Inderjit Singh

: The Life and Times of Ernest Bevin

The Life and Times of Ernest Bevin (Heinemann, London, 1960) by Alan Bullock is a detailed political biography of Ernest Bevin, one of Britain’s most influential trade union leaders and statesmen of the 20th century. The book traces Bevin’s rise from modest beginnings to his leadership in the labour movement and his later role as Foreign Secretary during the post-Second World War era. Bullock combines political analysis with personal insight, examining Bevin’s influence on labour policy, wartime administration, and international diplomacy.

Alan Bullock (1914–2004) was a distinguished British historian and biographer best known for his works on modern European political figures. Renowned for his meticulous research and accessible prose, he authored influential biographies of leaders such as Hi**er and Ernest Bevin, contributing significantly to 20th-century historical scholarship.

Written with clarity and depth, the biography not only portrays Bevin’s character and leadership style but also situates his career within the broader social and political transformations of modern Britain. Thoroughly researched and balanced in approach, the work remains an important study of British political history and labour politics.

Week: 75
Published By: Heinemann, London, 1960
Author: Alan Bullock



PMO India
Ministry of Culture, Government of India
Gajendra Singh Shekhawat
Rao Inderjit Singh

ON THE OCCASION OF THE BIRTH ANNIVERSARY OF RAMANAND CHATTERJEE:

Ramananda Chatterjee was a noted journalist, editor, and nationalist intellectual who played a significant role in shaping modern Indian public opinion during the freedom movement. He is best remembered as the founder and editor of influential journals such as The Modern Review, Prabasi, and Vishal Bharat, which became important platforms for political debate, social reform, literature, and nationalist thought.

Through his writings and editorial leadership, Chatterjee promoted ideas of national awakening, education, cultural revival, and public discourse. Widely respected for his intellectual integrity and commitment to journalism, he contributed significantly to India’s socio-political and literary landscape in the early twentieth century.

remembers him by presenting a glimpse of the note, 'Great Usefulness of INDIANA' by Shri Ramanand Chatterjee in Modern Review, July 1938, published in Indiana- A Bibliographical Journal, New Series, Vol. 4, 1950.

Source: NAI, M/O Education, A2, 1950, Fn. No. 48-48_50KW



PMO India
Ministry of Culture, Government of India
Gajendra Singh Shekhawat
Rao Inderjit Singh

ON THE OCCASION OF JAWAHARLAL NEHRU'S DEATH ANNIVERSARY:

presents a letter dated 29 April 1947 from Jawaharlal Nehru to K. M. Cariappa reflecting upon the emotional and administrative challenges arising from the impending division of the Armed Forces during the Partition of India. The correspondence highlights the mutual sentiments and concerns shared during a defining moment in the nation’s history.

He expressed: "I should like to avoid it almost at any cost. Yet sometimes events are too powerful, and it is wise to let them have their course for a while...I am convinced that ultimately there will be a united and strong India."

Source: NAI, PA, K.M. Cariappa, Group: XXI, Part 1, Sn. No. 2



PMO India
Ministry of Culture, Government of India
Gajendra Singh Shekhawat
Rao Inderjit Singh

📜🤝 Institutional Visit to

Officials from the Institute of Secretariat Training & Management (ISTM), Department of Personnel & Training, visited the National Archives of India on 26 May 2026.

Welcomed by Ms Sadaf Akhtar, Archivist, the delegation toured the Research Room, Private Archives, Oriental Records Section, and Department Record Room. The officials gained insights into archival practices and viewed valuable records related to Bhagat Singh, Rajendra Prasad, A. P. J. Abdul Kalam, as well as Mughal-era documents including Akbar’s farmans and the Razmnama.

The visit provided an enriching understanding of archival preservation and documentary heritage.



PMO India
Ministry of Culture, Government of India
Gajendra Singh Shekhawat
Rao Inderjit Singh
Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT), Government of India

presents a Press Communiqué issued by the Press Information Bureau, Government of India, regarding the rights of Jana Gana Mana, declared as the National Anthem of India by the first President of India, Dr Rajendra Prasad. The communiqué records the transfer of the rights held by Visva-Bharati to the Government of India, ensuring that the people of the country may freely use and sing the National Anthem.

It further states: "...The Govt. of India desire that only the authorised version of the National Anthem should be used by the public or by publishers and gramophone-record manufacturing companies for distribution to the public."

Source: M/O Education, A2, 1951, Fn. No. 15-6/51-A2



PMO India
Ministry of Culture, Government of India
Gajendra Singh Shekhawat
Rao Inderjit Singh