Shimla, September 8 (Daily Kiran) : The Deputy Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh, Mukesh Agnihotri, announced on Tuesday that the first phase of digitizing approximately 1.7 million rare and valuable documents in the state’s archives has been successfully completed.
This initiative aims to preserve the state’s documentary heritage for the long term, making historical records readily accessible to the public, researchers, and historians. Agnihotri highlighted that the Himachal Pradesh State Archives houses over 30,000 historical records dating back to 1807, alongside rare books, gazetteers, settlement reports, manuscripts, and other significant documents.
Researchers, historians, and academics from across India and abroad regularly utilize these records for their studies and research. The Deputy Chief Minister noted that, with the support of the Central Ministry of Culture, the ‘Knowledge Bharat Mission’ is currently conducting a ‘National Manuscript Survey’ aimed at identifying, documenting, and cataloging rare and ancient manuscripts present in the state.
He explained that the manuscripts identified during the survey are being digitized through a cluster center established at the Himachal State Museum in Shimla under the ‘National Digitization Campaign.’
Agnihotri further stated that a modern digital archive portal will soon be developed in collaboration with the Information Technology Department to provide easy online access to the digitized records. The fully searchable digital data created under this digitization program will be entrusted to the IT department for hosting, management, maintenance, and future upgrades.
This portal will soon be dedicated to scholars, researchers, historians, academics, and the general public, offering secure, simple, and comprehensive online access to Himachal Pradesh’s historical and cultural heritage. It will also facilitate research, academic studies, documentation, and the dissemination of historical knowledge.
The Deputy Chief Minister added that digital copies of rare and ancient manuscripts identified during the National Manuscript Survey will also be securely stored in the Himachal Pradesh State Archives. This will ease access to significant manuscripts for researchers in India and abroad. He emphasized that digital preservation will help protect valuable records from physical deterioration, ensuring their availability for future generations.
Agnihotri described this initiative as a crucial step towards giving Himachal Pradesh’s history a robust digital identity, aiding in the preservation of the state’s rich documentary heritage and making it more accessible to future generations, researchers, and the public.
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