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Raza Library, Rampur Rampur Raza Library, has been declared as an Institution of National Importance with effect from 1st July, 1975. (The Plan schemes of the library for the 5th Five Year Plan have already been received and sent to the Planning Commission for approval. There is a Plan provision for Rs. 2 lakhs for the year 1975-76. Out of this a sum of Rs. 1 lakh, has so far been sanctioned on an ad-hoc basis for the maintenance of the library). The development schemes of the Library are being formulated.
Central Library, Town Hall, Bombay This is one of the three libraries which are at present authoris- ed to receive books and newspapers published in the country under the Delivery of Books and Newspapers (Public libraries) Act, 1954 as amended in 1956. The Central Government is assisting this Library to the extent of two thirds of the nonrecurring expenditure and half of the recurring expenditure on the DBA Section of the Library.
During the year 1975-76 a sum of Rs. 1.5 lakh is being received to cover the recurring as well as non-recurring expenditure of the above D.B.A Section.
Delhi Public Library Delhi Public Library consists of Central Library, 4, Branch libraries, 7 Sub-Branches, 8 Community Libraries, 16 Deposit Stations and 5 Mobile Library Vans serving 57 areas in the Union Territory once a week. Among its special services may be mentioned a Gramophone Records Library, a Braille Library for the Blind, a Library for the inmates of the Central Jail, Tihar, and Hospital Libraries in Hindu Rao Hospital, G.B. Pant Hospital, and All India Institute of Medical Sciences. The Library is thus Providing library service at 98 points in the Union Territory of Delhi.
During the period under report 17,246 volumes were added to the Library upto 30th September, 1975 raising the net bookstock to 5,21,303 out of which 2,89,439 were in Hindi, 1,31,488 in English, 65,737 in Urdu 26,643 in Punjab,1,958 in Sindhi, 520 in Bengali and 5,518 in Braille.
The registered membership of the Library stood at 1,05,033 on 30th September, 1975. The total number of books issued during the period was 10.30.559. About 26,880 adults, and 4,179 children participated in the cultural activities (e.g lectures,
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discussions, dramas, film shows and television viewing etc.) organised by the Library. The Library had 2,219 gramophone records which were borrowed about 18,049 times up to 30th September, 1975.
Central Reference Library, Calcutta
Publications The Central Reference Library had been publishing since the last quarter of 1957 the Indian National Bibliography which is a classified record of all current Indian publications published in major languages and in English. During the period under review 7 monthly issues of the Indian National Bibliography in roman script for the period October, 1974 to April 1975 have been published. The printing of the annual volume 1973 is in progress and it is likely to be published by January, 1976.
Apart from the roman script issues of the Indian National Bibligraphy the Central Reference Library has been compiling the language fascicules of the said bibligraphy in respective language scripts in order to help the development of regional languages and the official language. The printing of the language bibliographies is being done by the respective State Governments. It has been possible to publish the following language bibliographies during the period under review:
(i) Desiya Grantha Suchi, Malayalam Vibhag (in Malayalam Script),. 1973 and 1974.
(ii) Rashtriya Grantha Suchi, Gujarati Vibhag (in Gujarati Script), July 1973 to December, 1973 (16 monthly issues).
(iii) Rashtriya Grantha Suchi, Marathi Vibhag (in Marathi script), 1968.
The printing of the annual volumes 1965, 1966, 1967 and 1971 of the Rashtriya Grantha Suchi, Hindi Vibhag (in Hindi script) is in progress.
Sale of Publications The Indian National Bibliography is being subscribed for by a large number of universities, libraries and research institutions throughout India and abroad. The sale, is handled by the Library so that scholars and students may get each periodical issue in time. The bibliography earns a lot of foreign exchange. During the period from April to November, 1975 the total sale proceeds have come to, nearly Rs. 79,000/- of which about Rs. 48,000/ is in foreign exchange. The sale proceeds are likely to exceed Rs. 1 lakh at the end of the year. In order to increase the sale
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proceeds particularly the receipt in foreign exchange, a scheme for the reorganisation of printing and sale of the publications of the Central Reference Library has been submitted to the Government of India for inclusion in the Fifth Five Year Plan.
Fifth Five Year Plan The following three schemes have been proposed for implementation during the Fifth Five Year Plan. The total outlay will come to about rupees ten lakhs.
(i) Library Development.-Compilation, editing, printing and sale of the Indian National Bibliography and other publications (The scheme was sanctioned in the 2nd Plan period)-Rs. 6,85,000
(ii) Compilation of Index Indiana-an index to the arti- cles appearing in current Indian periodicals published in major Indian languages. This will be a periodical publication (monthly and annual) just like the Indian National Bibliography (New Scheme)-Rs. 1,00,000.
(iii) Setting up of Book Exchange Centre (The scheme was sanctioned in the 4th Plan period) Rs. 2,15,000
Grants to Public Libraries Grant-in-aid under the scheme of financial assistance to volun- tary educational organisations working in the field of public libraries for the purchase of books, equipment and library furniture and also for the construction of library buildings on the recom- mendations of the State Governments/Union Territories Administration. Financial assistance is given on a sharing basis. The Central Government's share is 60% of the non-recurring expenditure for the purchase of books, furniture and equipment and 40% of the expenditure on construction of buildings for libraries, subject to a maximum of Rs. 30,000/-. This is a continuing Plan scheme and the allocation during the Fifth Plan is Rs. 80 lakhs.
Library of Tibetan Works and Archives, Dharamasala This library was set up by the Council of Religious Affairs of H. H. the Dalai Lama with the approval of the Ministry of External Affairs. The main objects of the Library are to acquire and conserve Tibetan books and manuscripts, to provide intensive reference services and to compile and publish bibliographies and documentation lists etc. This Department is paying grant for recurring and non-recurring expenditure on the basis of the report of the Review Committee which visited the Library in June 1975.
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T.M.S.S.M. Library, Thanjavur This library has a rich collection of over Rs. 40,000/- manus- cripts in Sanskrit, Marathi, Telugu, Tamil, Modi and other languages which cover a wide range of subjects such as Vedas and Vedanthic Philosophy, Fine Arts, Music, Sculpture and medicine. There is a Plan allocation of Rs. 20.00 lakhs for the development of this Library. So far ad-hoc grants of Rs. 1.00 lakh each have been paid during 1974-75 and 1975-76. Further a visiting committee has been proposed to assess its requirements etc.
Indian Council of World Affairs Library, Sapru House, New Delhi As a result of the division of the Library housed in the Sapru House between the Jawaharlal Nehru University and the Indian Council of World Affairs and considering the importance and the need of continuing and developing a library at the Sapru House it has been decided to, give assistance to this Library during the Fifth Plan period. There is a Plan allocation of Rs. 10.00 lakhs during the 5th Plan. An Expert Committee which was set up by this Department has submitted a report which is being examined in this Department. Pending finalisation of the report this Department has given an ad-hoc grant of R.S 75,000/- so far.
Establishment of Rural Library Centres After Mahavira One of the programmes included in the celebrations of the 2500th Anniversary of Bhagwan Mahavir's Nirvan relates to the establishment of Rural Library Centres after Bhagwan Mahavir, one in each State at a total cost of Rs. 6.00 lakhs. Library Centres are to be established in 20 major States. The scheme is being implemented through State Governments. The States which have conveyed the acceptance of the proposal are being given a non-recurring grant of Rs. 30,000/ (Rupees. 25,000,/- for building and Rs. 5,00,0/- for furniture). The Raja Ram Mohan Roy Library Foundation will supply books worth Rs. 10,000/to these centres.
National Archives of India The various activities of the National Archives, covered both under plan and non-plan items, are described below:
Accessions During the year under review, 7010 files and 24 bundles of the Viceroy's Executive Council, the Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India, Department of Food and Irrigation, the Department of Finance and the Ministries of Home Affairs, External Affairs, and Food and Agriculture, were accessioned. 123
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duplicate authenticated copies of Bills, assented to by the President of India in 1975 were also received for custody.
During the remaining part of the year, it is expected that 20,000 files from the Ministries of External Affairs and Defence will be received in the Department.
Under the programme of acquiring private papers of eminent Indians, the Department received some more papers belonging to the collection of Banarsidas Chaturvedi, Raja mahendra Pratap, Satyabhakta, and other papers relating to Punjab conspiracy case, Freedom Fighters, Trade Union Movement at Jamshedpur 1928-1953, Oaten Incident 1916, and letters of Gandhiji to B. C. Roy, and those of Rabindra Nath Tagore to President Wilson.
The Department has received as a gift about six hundred original documents in Persian and Rajasthani belonging to the Haldiya House of Jaipur. These documents throw light on the diplomatic relations between the States of Bharatpur, Alwar and Tonk with the Mughal Emperors and the Nawabs of Oudh.
About 50 documents in Persian and Urdu were gifted to the Department by Sayyid Muhammad Siyadat Naqvi, of Amroha. These documents relate to the Social and Economic conditions of Amroha, District Moradabad.
In addition, the acquisition of microfilm copies of records from abroad comprise 3 rolls of Baldwin Papers, 23 rolls of Ilbert papers, 30 microfiches of Despatches from the Secretary of State for India, 3 rolls of Kitchener Papers, 37 rolls of Guy Electwood Wilson Papers and one roll of Attlee Papers.
Record Management The Department completed appraisal of 32,634 files belonging to the Central India Agency and 12,000 more files of the same Agency are expected to be completed during the remaining part of the year. 2056 files of the Ministry of External Affairs, 385 files of the Cabinet Secretariat and 9438 files of the President's Secretariat were appraised by the officers of the National Archives of India at their respective record rooms.
Following the implementation of the Archival Policy Resolution issued by the Government of India, the first Report of the Director of Archives, for 1972-73 is being sent for offset printing.
To facilitate evaluation of the fast growing records, the Department took steps to collect information about their archival assets from the various creating agencies who wish to transfer
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their records to the National Archives of India. A detailed study of the record management programme is under way.
Preparation of Reference Media During the period under review, Summary Inventories of the files of the Revenue Department and the Revenue Agriculture Department, Despatches from the Secretary of State from 1880-1921, Revenue (Home) Department 1864-1906 and P.W.D.Agriculture Despatches 1862 to the Secretary of State, and Foreign Secret Department consultation 1799- 1807, were completed. Subject listing of records of the Financial Department, Finance and Commerce Department and Finance Department 1876-1925, was completed. Further progress was made in the Descriptive listing of Persian Correspondence (1802, 1804 and 1805).
Descriptive listing of about 90 documents in Persian has also been completed. Subject listing of 3788 letters of Dr. Rajendra Prasad Collection, 14459 cuttings of news papers, 1908 miscellaneous papers, 6677 letters of Dadabhai Naoroji, 255 items of Banarsidas Chaturvedi papers, 54 letters of Gooroodas Banerjee papers and 760 letters of Srinivasa Sastri, has been completed.
In addition microfilms of 589 letters of Pherozeshah Mehta Papers, one roll of Attlee papers and 37 rolls of Guy Electwood Wilson papers were listed during the period.
Research and Reference Service During the period under review 425 Indians and Foreign scholars were provided with facilities for research among records relevant to their subjects of research. The average daily attendance in the research room was approximately 25.
Repairs and Reprography The programme of repair and rehabilitation of records in the custody of the National Archives of India was continued as before. During the period under review 71,705 sheets were repaired while 1442 volumes and 627 books were bound in the Department. It is expected that 35,900 sheet of records will be repaired and 1235 volumes will be bound during the remaining period of the financial year.
The Department continued to help outside agencies by way of repair and rehabilitation of old manuscripts of National importance. It may be mentioned in this connection that some manuscripts of Swami Daya Nand, a copy of Diwan-i-Ghalib and
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Guru Granth Sahib of Bhai Bano were repaired during this period.
Microfilming of records and reprographic service to scholars and other outside agencies were continued as usual. During this period 180821 exposures were taken. Other methods of photo-duplication, like positive printing, enlargements, Xerox copying were also carried on as required by the research scholars. It is expected that during the remaining period of the year 90,410 exposures will be taken by the Department.
"Towards, Freedom Project" The Unit continued to work in collaboration with the Indian Council of Historical Research and collect relevant material for the proposed publication of basic documents on transfer of power and partition of India, (1937-47). The research teams belonging to both the organisations met twice during the period on the 12th May and 26th August 1975, and reviewed progress of work, discussed research and operational problems and set programmes for future work.
The Unit proposes to complete collection of materials for the year 1937 from the aforesaid series of records and examine records in the custody of the Ministries of Home Affairs, External Affairs, Information & Broadcasting, the Intelligence Bureau by March 1976. It also proposes to examine non-current Public records in the archives offices and departments in the States, police records in the various regions of India and the records of the municipal and local bodies.
Publications Under Scheme 1 of the Publication Programme, printing of Fort William India House Correspondence, Vol. XVI and XVIII made further progress. Editing of Vol. XII of the same series was completed and it was sent to the press. Besides, the printing of volume of Index to Titles has also made further progress. Bulletin of Research Theses and Dissertations No. 7 will soon be published in a cyclostyled form.
National Register of Private Records During the period, the National Register, Vol. VI (1964-75) comprising material received from the States of Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Karnataka, Punjab,, Rajasthan, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh was completed and Vol. VII comprising (1965-66) material received from Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Karnataka, Orissa, Punjab, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu and Uttar
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Pradesh is expected to be completed by the end of the financial year.
Indian Historical Records Commission The agenda for the forthcoming Session of the I.H.R.C. to January, 1975. The work is being carried on to publish further the National Committee of Archivists Proceedings Volume IV (1961-73), Index to, the I.H.R.C. Proceedings Volumes from 1919-73, Resolutions of the IHRC-1949-73 and Index to Papers read at the IHRC Session, 1957-73.
The agenda for the forthcoming Session of the I.H.R.C. to be held in February 1976, is under preparation.
The Committee on Record Management, constituted by the Government of India on the recommendations of the I.H.R.C. visited Northern, Central, Western, Southern and Eastern zones and held discussions with Archivists, historians and administrators on the subject of Record Management.
The Committee on Records of National Importance constituted in 1975 by the Government of India on the recommendations of the I.H.R.C. submitted its report to the Secretary to the Government of India, Ministry of Education and Social Welfare, Department of Culture in October, 1975 for placing it before the Standing Committee of the I.H.R.C.