Tassadaque Hussain, Deputy Director of National Archives of India, visited the city to receive a valuable collection of 2,500 books on behalf of National Archives of India’s Bhubaneswar Record Centre. In a freewheeling chat with Chaitali Shome of Orissa Post, he shed light on the issues faced by archives across the country
As deputy director of National Archives, what are your plans for Odisha?
Our main focus is to get records for central government offices and union territories. We have state archives for each state. Our policy is same for all the state i.e. gather more records. Lalatendu Mohapatra of Odisha Archives is doing a great job in obtaining historical records. The state will soon be richer by many important records and documents.
Why are some local records still not available in Odisha State Archives?
The National address of records got shifted from Kolkata to Delhi. We have Residency records at National Archives and there are British Empire records too. Sambalpur Residency records are also available and many digital copies are also available at National Archives. However, we need a scholar to identify the states records and shift it. Nevertheless, the truth is that we have a dearth of scholars as far as archives are concerned.
How would you address the issue of dearth of scholars in archives of states?
As a committed archivist, I can say that it’s possible. However, at National Archives, we facilitate the scholars to use archives. We have a department where we impart training to interested candidates on record management, conservation and a post master degree which will help them to manage archives.
Maharaja Ranjit Singh had bequeathed the Koh-I-Noor diamond to Jagannath Temple, Puri. When will the microfilm, which contains the will, be available at State Archives?
We can look into the matter when the head of the National Archives (Odisha State) gives us a formal application or any scholar approaches us. The above mentioned records are of great pride to the state and we are making sure that it will be handed over to the state soon. AbhilekhPatal is one website where 27 lakh records can be accessed online. This is just a beginning and soon we will upgrade it. Even one can pay online and avail records.
Presently, scholars and researchers from Odisha have to go to Delhi for their work. Can we have a full-fledged facility at Bhubaneswar with all necessary amenities?
Yes. Until now, National Archives hasn’t received any demands from State archives. Hence, if there are any such suggestions, we will work on it. We have Gilgit manuscript which is as old as 5th-6th century AD based on Buddhist community. We will also make an effort to avail all the detailed list of the papers pertaining to Odisha at National Archives, Delhi. We are planning to help out Odisha with every possible amenity to help scholars and researchers of the state.