ARCHIVES
National Archives of India To enable the National Archives of India to cater effectively to its responsibilities in all fields of Record Management and Archives Administration four new schemes, viz. (i) National Advisory Service for Preservation and Record Management ; (ii) Film Repository for Archival Microfilms ; (iii) Planning Cell for the National Archives of India; and (iv) Automated Information Storage and Retrieval of Records unit, were proposed to be added for the Sixth Five Year Plan in addition to the existing 13 schemes.
The foundation stone of Annexe to the National Archives of India, was laid on 27th September,1979.
International Archives Week was celebrated, on the advice of the International Council on Archives, by the Archives from October 23-29, 1979 at New Delhi and its Regional Offices at 'Bhopal, Jaipur and Pondicherry. A Commemorative Stamp was issued on this occasion. An Exhibition entitled 'Archives and the Child' and a Symposium on 'Access to Archives were organised during this week.
1,200 files from the Ministry of Works & Housing, 4 files from the Ministry of Railways and 95 authenticated copies of the Bills assented to by the President of India were received from the Ministry of Home Affairs for permanent Preservation.
Among the private papers acquired upto October 1979, the Department received, (i) Xerox copies of Kingysley-Martin Papers from Sussex University, U.K.; (ii) 9 publications in Hindi and Punjabi written by Pt. Naveen Chandra Rai and Smt. Hemanta Kumari Choudhuri during 1882-1932; (iii) Private Papers (1916-60) of late Jairamdas Daulat Ram and (iv) a Xerox copy of an article entitled "Account of the Revolution at Delhi" (1748-61) from India Office Library and Records, London.
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During the remaining period private papers of General Cariappa and Shri Bhimsen Sachar will be acquired.
The Department received from the India Office Library and Records, London, (i) 14 microfilm rolls belonging to Burdwan Factory Records (1774-79); (ii) 5 rolls of Broach Factory Records (1679-87) and (iii) 10 rolls of Ceylon Factory Records (1708-1802) in exchange for microfilms of records of their interest. Besides, one microfilm roll of records relating to internal affairs of India and Burma has been received from the National Archives and Records Services, Washington.
On the recommendations of the Historical Documents Purchase Committee, the Department acquired on payment 71 documents, 2 manuscripts and 13 printed books in Persian and Urdu.
Library The Library purchased 61 latest publications besides, acquiring, as usual, issues of Journals, Periodicals, Gazettes, Administration Reports and copies of the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha Debates.
Publications The Indian Archives.-Volume XXVII, No. 1 (January-June, 1978), and No. 2 (July-December, 1978) of the Journal Were published.
National Register of Private Records.-On the recommendations of the Indian Historical Records Commission, the National Archives has been compiling since 1972 volumes of descriptive lists of private papers with the cooperation of the State Archives ever since 1957-58. Ten, volumes of the series have since been compiled, cyclostyled and issued. Volume XI of the series is beIng compiled.
Other Publications.-The Department published its Annual Report for the year 1978 and Bulletin of Research Theses and Dissertation, Volume No. IX upto the period 1976 is being compiled. The Panjab University, Chandigarh, has published News Letter Volume I, entitled North-Western Frontier and British India 1839-42.
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Records and Archives Management The Department continued all out efforts to implement the Archival Policy Resolution issued by the Government of India in December, 1972. Progress is indicated in the Fifth Report of the Director of Archives on the implementation of Archival Policy Resolution during 1977-78. The Sixth Report for the year 1978-79 is being issued.
Compilation of Reference Media Reference media for original consultations of the Foreign (Secret) Department (1806, 1809-10); Finance (Planning Department) (1945-48) and of the private collections of P. K. Malaviya, Dadabhai Naoroji, B.D. Chaturvedi and Dr. Rajendra Prasad was completed. Descriptive listing of 2,515 documents of Haldiya family of Rajasthan and Inayat Jung Collections was also completed. The work is continuing. Part III of the Guide to Records of the Foreign Department including its bodies (1756-1954) was compiled.
Research and Reference During April-October, 1979, Research facilities in the National Archives of India were provided to 450 Indian and foreign Scholars. Besides, the Department attended to 61 search cases.
Reprography and Conservation of Records About 1,51,846 exposures of microfilm, 1,983 metres of positive printing, 7,297 Xerox copies and 1,726 enlargement prints were prepared on behalf of the scholars, institutions and government agencies. The Department laminated 47,758 sheets, repaired 42,904 sheets of records and 925 maps; 904. files, 726 books, 464 volumes, 94 registers and 400 booklets were bound.
Archival Training The Department continued its One Year Diploma Course in Archives Keeping Training and the Short Term Course in Management and Preservation of Records, besides providing necessary guidance to the trainees from Asian and African countries who visited this Department during this period.
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Regional Offices Record Centre, Jaipur.-The Department accessioned 9,173 files of the Controller of Insurance, Simla and 453 Census Publications. Under listing programme, 3,145 maps of Census Department were listed; under repair and preservation programme, 10,225 sheets of records were repaired and 24.136 were guarded.
Regional Office, Bhopal.-The Department acquired 101 books for its library. Subject lists of 2,242 files of the erstwhile Department of Home, Education and Lands, Judicial Epigraphy and Archaeology were prepared. 11,152 sheets of records and 73 maps were repaired, 2,066 sheets laminated and 83 maps mounted.
State Cell, Bhubaneswar.-The State Cell for Survey and listing of Private Papers for the National Register of Private Records Scheme started functioning with effect from 1st June, 1979.
Regional Office, Pondicherry.-The Pondicherry Administration having agreed to handing over its old records to the National Archives of India, a regional Centre of the Department started functioning from January 1, 1979. Separate staff of 18 members 'has been sanctioned by the Government of India for this centre. The posts are being filled.