Congress Inaugurates Manmohan Singh Memorial Library at Delhi Office on His Birth Anniversary

On the 93rd birth anniversary of Dr. Manmohan Singh, Congress Parliamentary Party president Sonia Gandhi inaugurated a library named after the former prime minister at the Congress headquarters in New Delhi on Friday. The inauguration was held at Indira Bhavan and witnessed the presence of Dr. Singh’s wife, Gursharan Kaur, and other family members. Also present were senior Congress leaders, including party chief Mallikarjun Kharge, Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, and General Secretary Jairam Ramesh. The event marked a tribute to Dr. Singh’s life, work, and enduring contributions to the nation.

The Dr. Manmohan Singh Research Centre and Library has a collection of around 1,200 books that chronicle the journey of India as a nation and the history of the Indian National Congress. The library is organized into distinct sections dedicated to prominent leaders of India and the Congress. Separate sections are devoted to Mahatma Gandhi and India’s first prime minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, reflecting their pivotal roles in shaping the country. Additionally, sections focus on Dr. Singh himself, Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi, Subhas Chandra Bose, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, and Maulana Abul Kalam Azad. Books on former prime ministers like P.V. Narasimha Rao and Atal Bihari Vajpayee are also included, demonstrating a broad representation of political leadership across party lines.

Rahul Gandhi, in a social media post, emphasized that the inauguration is more than a tribute to Dr. Singh’s legacy. He described Dr. Singh’s life and work as exemplifying simplicity, honesty, and dedication, serving as a beacon for future generations. Jairam Ramesh highlighted that the library inauguration underscores the party’s recognition of Dr. Singh’s contributions, reinforcing his role as a guiding figure for both the Congress and the nation.

The library houses not only biographies and selected works of Indian leaders but also key speeches, writings, and works of many freedom fighters. In addition, it contains books on diplomacy, international relations, and country-specific bilateral ties with India, reflecting the broader context of India’s engagement on the global stage. A notable feature of the library is its collection of “The Encyclopedia of the Indian National Congress,” which spans the party’s complete history since its founding in 1885. The encyclopedia includes commentaries, speeches, and minutes of Congress Working Committee meetings and was compiled by Abdul Moin Zaidi, a librarian from the party office, along with his wife Shahida Gufran Zaidi. Zaidi has also authored several books documenting the 139-year history of the party.

Moreover, the library preserves the manifestos of the Congress party from all general elections since 1951-52, providing a comprehensive view of the party’s evolving policies and priorities. It also contains historic photographs, such as those of Jawaharlal Nehru and V.K. Krishna Menon walking together, as well as images of the party’s founding leaders including A.O. Hume, Dadabhai Naoroji, and William Wedderburn. Several contemporary works by prominent leaders like P. Chidambaram, Shashi Tharoor, Mani Shankar Aiyar, Manish Tewari, and Salman Khurshid are also part of the collection, offering insight into modern political discourse.

Overall, the library serves as a repository of knowledge, history, and inspiration. It preserves the legacy of Dr. Manmohan Singh while offering a comprehensive record of India’s political and social journey, the Congress party’s evolution, and the contributions of numerous leaders who have shaped the nation. The facility is designed to educate, inspire, and provide a resource for scholars, party members, and the public interested in India’s rich political history.