Delhi Archives to digitise 4 crore papers

NewDelhi: The Delhi government on Thursday launched a project to digitise four crore pages of archival record.Delhi Archives has records from 1803 to 1990, including those of Bahadur Shah Zafar’s trial; firmans and sanads of Shah Alam II; Revolt of 1857; land acquisition records of Lutyens’ zone; rare photographs of freedom fighters, and old heritage and archaeological buildings of Delhi; 300-400 years old manuscripts on Ayurveda, medicine and religion; property registration records, etc. The aim is to give public access to the archival heritage at the click of a mouse. Once completed in 30 months and at a cost of Rs 25.4 crore, this will be one of the biggest digitised archives for researchers and academics.

This project, ‘digitisation and microfilming of archival records’, was inaugurated by deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia. The minister said that this was a first-of-its-kind initiative in Asia in which a large number of archival records will be digitised and microfilmed.

Sisodia added that Delhi Archives has about 10 crore pages of archival records and the government has decided to digitise four crore of them in the first phase. Established in 1972 with the sole aim to preserve the archival heritage of the city, Delhi Archives is responsible for preservation of the archives and making them available to scholars, the public and government officials for research and reference purposes.

“The project also aims to encourage appreciation of archival heritage by the public, and facilitating the public in accessing the archival records,” said Sisodia, who also holds the portfolio of art and culture.

Other important archival documents are telephone and other records of major heritage buildings such as the legislative assembly, Metcalf House, Ludlow Castle, and commissioner’s office. Several maps and plans of Delhi; gazette of governments of India, Punjab and Delhi; records of freedom fighters of Delhi; CID and Waqf board records; maintenance of internal security records; conviction records of Central Jail and Tihar; and property registration records from 1870-1990 are also archived here.