Present state of the past

International Archives Day: K. Reji Kumar, director, Kerala State Archives, talks about efforts to preserve Kerala's rich legacy

June 09, 2012 01:28 pm | Updated July 12, 2016 01:38 am IST

Palm leaf manuscripts after restoration. Photo: Special Arrangement

Palm leaf manuscripts after restoration. Photo: Special Arrangement

World over, June 9 is observed as International Archives Day, a date with the past. Kerala State Archives (KSA) is taking steps for the preservation of archives in the State. One of the major ongoing projects of the KSA, which is celebrating its golden jubilee this year, is the digitisation of the Mathilakam Records that date as far back as 1304. Reji Kumar K., director, KSA, who will represent Kerala at a meet organised by Uttar Pradesh State Archives in Lucknow today, updates MetroPlus on the department's efforts to preserve our archival heritage. Excerpts from an interview…

On Mathilakam Records

Mathilakam Records are palm leaf scrolls (called churunas) that provide a wealth of information on the Sree Padmanabha Swamy temple, and the detailed history of the Kingdom of erstwhile Travancore as well, including its social, political, economic, and religious history. This is because Travancore was a temple-state and the administration of the state and the temple went hand in hand. These churunas are written in ancient scripts of Kerala such as Vattezhuthu, Kolezhuthu, and so on. Within the churunas there are neettus (royal orders), ozhukus (land records), treasury notices, taxation records, high court proceedings, boundary disputes between Travancore and neighbouring Kingdoms...

Process of digitisation

Transcribing the Mathilakam Records is a herculean task because it consists of over 3,000 churunas, with an average of 1,000 leaves in each! Digitisation is a time-consuming process that involves a number of steps. First, each leaf has to be scanned and then transliterated from whatever script it has been written in. Ancient scripts are difficult to transliterate and requires a lot of research. For it we use a software called Likitham that has been especially developed for us by C-Dit. States such as Maharastra and Tamil Nadu and the National Archives have already begun digitisation of their archives, but we are the ones doing it in full swing. Once the palm leafs are transliterated, then they are translated before they go for chemical treatment and the routine techniques of preservation. We take care to do reversible conservation with each leaf, which means that at any time we can retrieve the original.

Sourcing material

Most of the records with the Kerala State Archives (comprising churunas, bamboo splints, copper plates, paper records and microfilms) have been sourced from government offices and departments. As of now, there is no statutory rule to regulate the management and preservation of both public and private records, save for an archival policy resolution (1976). The Public Record Bill is pending with the Government, and only after it comes into force will we have some kind of law regarding the sourcing and preservation of records. Quite a number of private individuals, temples and private institutions have archival records and most don't know what to do with them or how to preserve them. These records are one of the best sources of local history.

Start young

One of our successful projects are the heritage clubs that we have helped set up in schools to get kids interested in archival and archaeological heritage. Right now we have some 150 clubs in schools across the State, through which we regularly conduct orientation and training programmes. As a result teachers and students are taking an active role in going out into their communities to search for archival records and material. Once they find something of value they let us know and later, we, in turn, give them a digitised copy of the same. These clubs are particularly successful in the Malabar area. The heritage clubs set up in Peruvallur Higher Secondary School, Malappuram, and Government UPS Parakkall, Thiruvananthapuram, are two of our success stories.

Challenges for preservation

There are many. Lack of funds, lack of awareness among the public, lack of manpower… But it's all changing. People and policy-makers are beginning to realise the importance of archival heritage.

New museums

As part of its pro-active role, Kerala State Archives is also in the process of setting up two museums in the city. One is a signature museum and the other one on the Freedom Struggle, with special emphasis to Kerala's contribution to it and the social and economic development of the nation. Says S. Raymond, executive director of Kerala Museums, and former director of State Archives who is in charge of the project: “We have collected over 600 signatures for the museum. One of the highlights will be the signatures of all the Maharajas of Travancore and Kochi, and British Administrators. There will also be signatures of modern personalities from various fields such as Mahatma Gandhi, Mother Teresa, Yesudas, and so on. It should be up and running in the next six months, and most probably will be on the Nalanda premises of KSA.”

The Freedom Struggle museum and memorial seems to be the one to watch out for. “It is set to come up in Vattiyoorkavu in a park that was once called the Congress Maidan (where at present the Central Polytechnic College functions). It was where the first anniversary meet of the Travancore State Congress was held in 1938. Despite a ban by the then Dewan Sir C.P. Ramaswami Iyer, over 10,000 people gathered there for a peaceful protest.” This museum is the first of its kind in South India, and will feature Kerala's history from the 1600s to post-Independence India. “One of the highlights is a 3-D display of Tirur Wagon tradegy.”

International Archives Day

The International Council on Archives (ICA) is dedicated to the effective management of records and the preservation, care and use of the world's archival heritage. At its international congress in Vienna in 2004, 2,000 participants adopted a resolution requesting the United Nations to create an International Archives Day on June 9, because on that day in 1948, ICA was created under the auspices of UNESCO.

International Archives Day is observed to raise awareness among people and decision-makers about the importance of and to reflect on the need for efficient preservation and conservation of archival heritage.

Source: >www.ica.org

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