Gujarat Vidyapith, founded by Mahatma Gandhi, will share replicas of former Prime Minister Morarji Desai’s Bharat Ratna and Nishan-e-Pakistan awards with the Prime Ministers’ Museum and Library in New Delhi. This initiative stems from a Memorandum of Understanding signed between the two institutions in 2024. The Morarji Desai Museum at Vidyapith, established in 2003, houses personal belongings, state gifts, and correspondence of the late Prime Minister, all donated as per his will.
Advaita Dave, Museum Coordinator at Gujarat Vidyapith, mentioned that Desai’s will specified donating all his belongings, including gifts, to Vidyapith. The museum’s collection includes Desai’s khadi clothes, personal diary, letters of felicitation, and various other items reflecting his personal and official life. Dave highlighted that the collection also features gifts from various countries and objects made from cattle horn.
The decision to share replicas was influenced by PMML Director Ashwani Lohani’s recent visit to Vidyapith to review the collection. This move aims to allow a broader audience to appreciate Desai’s achievements, particularly his contributions to Indo-Pak relations. Desai, the only Indian Prime Minister to receive Pakistan’s Nishan-e-Pakistan, was honored in 1991, shortly after being awarded the Bharat Ratna.
The process of preparing and transferring the replicas is expected to be finalized within three to four months, as per the Memorandum of Understanding. This collaboration also paves the way for joint research and digital resource sharing between the two institutions, ensuring that Desai’s legacy is preserved and accessible to scholars and the public.
In 2025, the Vidyapith museum welcomed nearly 3,000 visitors annually, mostly students. The partnership with PMML is anticipated to expand this outreach, highlighting Gujarat Vidyapith’s role as the guardian of one of India’s esteemed Prime Ministers’ legacies.
