Pranab asks researchers to identify historic areas of

Known for his love of history, President Pranab Mukherjee today asked scholars and researchers to help identify fresh areas of Rashtrapati Bhavan which had been witness to rare moments of history.
Receiving the first edition of coffee-table book titled "First Citizen: Pranab Mukherjee in Rashtrapati Bhavan" published by 'The Week', Mukherjee said his first attempt after becoming President was to restore Rashtrapati Bhavan to its original glory.
The book was released by former Union Minister Karan Singh in the presence of Philip Mathew, Managing Editor of 'The Week', BJP veteran M M Joshi, senior Congress leader Vyalar Ravi, eminent lawyer Soli Sorabji and senior editor H K Dua among other dignitaries.

The publication is a "select compilation" of the columns carried under "the First Citizen" by the magazine. It also carries rare pictures of the President with the family besides articles written by Mukherjee on Rabindranath Tagore, Swami Vivekananda and Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru.
Speaking on the occasion, the President said every room in the majestic building is a witness to historical moments like signing of Gandhi-Irwin accord on March 5, 1931, its Library where hundreds of rare books have now been catalogued and kept for researchers and scholars and the Ashoka Hall.
Mukherjee urged the researchers and scholars to come forward and help identify rooms and areas of the Victorian-era building which witnessed historical moments like negotiations which had taken place before the Partition of India so that they can be properly preserved for common people visiting Rashtrapati Bhavan.

Talking about the initiative, Mathew, a renowned journalist, said it was his dream to publish this coffee table book, which has come true today.
Recalling his association with the President, Mathew said Mukherjee was on the cover page of 'The Week' within months of its magazine's publication began in December 1982.