Indian Libraries and Archives

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A researcher’s experience in 2011

A researcher of pre 1800 military history,who was not connected with an academic institution, in 2011 wrote "I did visit the Madras Archives ...with little clue as to where to go. There was no Index and no one to help barring a few students of history who were wrestling with their own difficulties. All the archives at Madras were stacked high and one could not reach any of them except through a request put into the Librarian!! This could take up to a 24 - 48 hour period --- and one came out from there feeling quite dusty, suffocated, coughing and sneezing".[1] Regarding the Maharashtra State Archives he wrote "To my many queries to them, I did get replies which were primarily to become certified to be able to use the Archives. There was, however, no reply as to whether there was an index to the contents of the Archives. In my correspondence with them over an extended 6 months it became clear that there were no researchers who would be able to handle any requests for people who could not physically access the Archives and so were not able browse through relevant documents".[2]

External Links

  • London School of Economics’ Archives Made Easy India gives details, written by Erica Wald in 2006-2007, of
  • Asiatic Society (Calcutta)
  • National Archives of India
  • Tamil Nadu State Archives
  • West Bengal State Archives

References

  1. By email to User:Maureene dated 23 August 2011
  2. By email to User:Maureene dated 21 August 2011