Chandigarh, 31 Dec. 2024: Panjab University (PU) plans to re-engage with the family of former Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh regarding his 2018 commitment to donate his personal book collection to the university. The collection, which includes 3,500 books, photographs, and paintings, is intended for display in a three-storey building that has stood empty since the donation proposal was made.
Arun Kumar Grover, former vice-chancellor of PU, recalled that Dr. Singh had expressed interest in donating his books and memorabilia in a letter to the university. The library was meant to replicate Singh’s personal collection, with the Chandigarh College of Architecture (CCA) entrusted with the design of the space. This announcement came before Dr. Singh’s visit to deliver the inaugural Prof SB Rangnekar Memorial Lecture on April 11, 2018, at the university’s economics department.
Grover shared, “During the lecture, his wife mentioned that Dr. Singh was somewhat reluctant to part with his books. We catalogued the collection, but my tenure ended before we could finalize the donation. It is now up to the current administration to follow through.”
He also noted the potential impact of the Prime Ministers Museum and Library Society at Teen Murti Bhawan in New Delhi, which may house Dr. Singh’s belongings. “There was an earlier proposal for a similar museum at PU, which would have displayed the personal items of Dr. Singh and IK Gujral, but it did not materialize,” Grover added. “The decision now rests with the family.”
The designated building, Guru Teg Bahadur Bhawan, which was meant to house the library, is situated within PU’s Institute of Social Science Education and Research (ISSER). Despite its ambitious design, the building has remained vacant for six years, presenting a sense of abandonment.
PU’s current Vice-Chancellor, Renu Vig, confirmed the university’s intention to reach out to Dr. Singh’s family again. “It’s too soon for us to proceed. We have extended condolences to the family and plan to make our case soon, showcasing how much Dr. Singh meant to the university community,” Vig said.
She added that if the family ultimately declines the offer, PU will explore other uses for the building.
Additionally, PU is exploring the possibility of renaming a campus facility in honor of the former PM, a move that aligns with the university’s previous decision to rename the Fine Arts Museum after alumnus BN Goswamy, who passed away in 2023. While the final location has not been determined, a likely candidate for renaming is one of the university’s auditoriums.
