National Archives of India Marks 135th Anniversary
The National Archives of India (NAI) celebrated its 135th Foundation Day on March 11, 2025, with a grand exhibition titled “Indian Heritage through Architecture.” Union Minister of Culture and Tourism, Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, inaugurated the event, which showcased India’s rich architectural history and cultural legacy. The exhibition featured a variety of architectural styles and historical periods, highlighting the evolution of Indian heritage.
Exhibition Highlights India’s Architectural Diversity
The exhibition “Indian Heritage through Architecture” provided a comprehensive overview of India’s architectural marvels, spanning from the ancient Indus Valley Civilization to medieval temples, Mughal monuments, and colonial-era structures. Each display illustrated the spiritual, cultural, and historical narratives embedded in these structures. Visitors could explore thematic clusters that categorized the sites, allowing for a deeper understanding of their significance. The exhibition also included original documents from the NAI’s archival repository, such as government files, private papers of notable figures, archaeological records, UNESCO documents, and rare books from the NAI Library.
Minister Shekhawat’s Inaugural Address
During the inauguration, Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat praised the National Archives of India for its efforts in organizing the exhibition and preserving the nation’s documentary heritage. He highlighted the NAI’s ambitious digitization program, which aims to conserve over six lakh pages monthly, digitizing thousands of documents daily. This initiative has led to the launch of the ‘Gyan Bharatam Mission,’ designed to enhance public access to India’s vast knowledge repository. Shekhawat emphasized the importance of these efforts in making historical documents available to a wider audience.
Launch of New Publication
As part of the celebrations, the National Archives of India also unveiled a new book titled ‘Thumb Printed: Champaran, Indigo Peasants Speak to Gandhi Volume III.’ This volume features 423 testimonies, including contributions from 143 principal testators, among whom five were women and eleven were minors. The book focuses on the historic Champaran Satyagraha, providing valuable insights into the struggles of indigo farmers and their interactions with Mahatma Gandhi.
A Legacy of Preservation and Access
Established on March 11, 1891, as the Imperial Record Department in Kolkata, the National Archives of India has evolved into a crucial institution for preserving the nation’s history. The current building, designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens, was completed in 1926 after the capital moved to Delhi. Today, the NAI holds over 34 crore pages of public records, including maps, treaties, rare manuscripts, and government gazettes. The archives also play a vital role in implementing the Public Records Act of 1993 and the Public Record Rules of 1997. The 135th Foundation Day celebrations underscored the NAI’s commitment to safeguarding India’s documentary heritage for future generations through ongoing digitization and public outreach efforts.
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