What do private letters and autobiographies tell us about an individual? How are these sources different from official accounts?

I. Private letters and autobiographies tell us about an individual:

(i) They tell us in which language letters and autobiographies had been written. After reading the letters and autobiographies we come to know about the language level or standard of that individual. It also tell us about the style used by that man. These letters tell us about to whom he has written and who has replied him or her letters. The writings between the individual or that person and any governmental or other institution tell us about the relations between two persons or an individual and government or an agency or an organisation.

(ii) Autobiographies are generally depict about life story of that individual. We come to know about his birth place, name of the parents, date of birth, his or her family background or status, about his education and educational institutions. Autobiography also tell us about interest and hobby of that person.

(iii) We also come to know about his interest or taste, preferences, problems, up and downs he or she has faced during his or her life, events related with individuals life etc.

(iv) Individual letters which have been written by great leaders such as by Dr. Rajendra Prasad, Pt. Jawahar Lai Nehru, Sardar Ballabhbhai Patel, Mahatma Gandhi, Sardar Bhagat Singh, Dr. B. R. Ambedkar, definitely all these individual letters are very authentic and important sources of history of that time and about their programmes, ideas, philosophy etc. Our great leaders have written individual letters to heads of other countries, political organisations, leaders and so on. Definitely they give us a clear picture about their attitude and thoughts about international events, revolutions movements and so on.

II. Difference between individual or private letters and autobiographies from official accounts:

(i) Definitely official accounts are prepare by some commission or special officers or surveyers appointed by government with specific aims or objections to submit reports or to maintain records for a specific purpose and period. All Government descriptions or accounts are maintain secracy. They kept as secret records. Generally these records cannot by published completely without the written permission of government.

(ii) Generally private letters are published with the permission of an individual. Similarly autography may be written and published side by side if an individual desires so. However if an individual desires to maintain secracy about his private letter or autobiography it is upto concern individual.The contents or truthfulness of facts mention in private letters and autobiographies totally depend on individual honesty, impartiality and his liking to write all descriptions with truth.

For Example, Mahatma Gandhi was a man of very high standard. He has written his all personal weaknesses in his autobiography.We should keep in mind that all individuals not as great as our father of nation was.

(iii) Every historian had a duty to consult private letter, autobiography as well as official accounts very carefully with a rational thinking.