PM Museum to Receive Copies of Morarji Desai’s Nishan-e-Pakistan, Bharat Ratna from Gujarat Vidyapith

The Prime Ministers' Museum and Library (PMML) is set to receive copies of former Prime Minister Morarji Desai’s prestigious civilian honours — the Nishan-e-Pakistan and the Bharat Ratna — from Gujarat Vidyapith as part of a formal collaboration between the two institutions.

According to officials, the transfer of copies is being carried out under a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed on July 15, 2024. The agreement was inked between Gujarat Vidyapith Vice-Chancellor Patel and the then director of PMML, Sanjiv N Sahai. The MoU is valid for a period of five years.

The agreement establishes a “collaborative relationship” aimed at promoting academic exchange, research cooperation, and preservation of archival materials linked to India’s political history. It allows both institutions access to each other’s research facilities, including digital archives and other scholarly resources, subject to their respective institutional policies and regulations.

Officials said that the copies of Morarji Desai’s honours will be displayed at the PM Museum to enrich its collection documenting the lives and contributions of India’s former Prime Ministers. Desai remains a unique figure in Indian history, being the only Indian Prime Minister to have received Pakistan’s highest civilian award, the Nishan-e-Pakistan, in recognition of his efforts to improve bilateral relations.

The collaboration is also expected to facilitate joint seminars, academic programs, and exchange of historical documents, strengthening efforts to preserve and showcase India’s democratic legacy.