Kolkata, January 29, 2024

 

Prasanta Chandra Mahalanobis Memorial Museum & Archives (PCMMM&A) of the Indian Statistical Institute in collaboration with the National Archives of India, Ministry of Culture, Govt. of India organised a two-day stakeholders’ meeting on "Archives in Action" which started today at Indian Statistical Institute, Kolkata.

 

The programme was inaugurated with the ceremonial lighting of the lamp, symbolising the positive and collaborative spirit of the gathering. Prof. Dhurjati Prasad Sengupta, Chair, PCMMM&A Committee, delivered the opening remarks, emphasising the vital role of stakeholder participation in preserving institutional history and advancing future archival efforts.

 

Shri Arun Singhal, Director General, National Archives of India (NAI) and Chief Guest delivered an impactful inaugural address, underscoring the pivotal role of institutional archives in preserving the nation’s history and culture. He emphasised that documentary heritage is not only essential for understanding our past but also for shaping our present and future. Shri Singhal further outlined the National Archives of India’s ongoing efforts to safeguard and promote India’s documentary legacy, highlighting its importance as a valuable educational resource for generations to come.

 

Dr. Debanjan Chakrabarti, Director, British Council, East & North East India, addressed the gathering, emphasizing the crucial role archives play in preserving and disseminating knowledge. He underscored the importance of archives in advancing education and research across generations.

 

In her presidential address, Prof. Sanghamitra Bandyopadhyay, Director, ISI, highlighted the institution’s ongoing commitment to innovation, collaboration, and excellence. She emphasised the crucial role of preserving documents in safeguarding our collective history and cultural heritage. Prof. Bandyopadhyay also extended her heartfelt gratitude to all stakeholders for their enthusiastic participation and steadfast support, acknowledging their vital contributions to the success of the event.

 

Dr. Kishor Chandra Satpathy, In-charge, PCMMM&A and Organising Secretary, provided an insightful overview of the meeting’s objectives, stressing the significance of archives in nation building. He highlighted the importance of collaborative dialogue in strengthening archival practices and ensuring their continued relevance.

 

Shri Avik Kr. Das, PCMMM&A, ISI, concluded the programme with a heartfelt vote of thanks to the attendees, speakers, and organizing team for their contributions in making the event a success.

 

This meeting aimed to unite key stakeholders from across the country to tackle the pressing issues and challenges facing archives in India. Through this programme, we seek to foster a collaborative dialogue among archivists, policymakers, researchers, and other relevant parties. This offers an opportunity to share best practices, identify common challenges, and explore innovative solutions that will enhance the preservation, accessibility and utilization of archival resources, ultimately benefiting society as a whole.

 

The meeting is attended by over 60 archivists from 15 States, representing prominent institutions such as the National Archives of India, Tripura State Archives; Odisha State Archives; West Bengal State Archives; Punjab State Archives; Sir J C Bose Trust; Indian Institute of Astrophysics; SCTR-Jadavpur University; India Foundation for the Arts; Indian Museum; Centre for Studies in Social Sciences; Bose Institute; CEPT Archives of Ahmedabad; SBI Museum & Archives; Asiatic Society, Kolkata; Lalbhai Dalpatbhai Museum of Ahmedabad; French Institute of Pondicherry; Cooch Behar Archive; Victoria Memorial Hall; Calcutta University; CARC-Nalanda University; CBSL Group and many more.

*********************

 

SSS/29.1.25/….

(Release ID: 2097324) Visitor Counter : 54