Odisha to collect records from National Archives

The Government has decided to approach State Archives across the country and National Archives in New Delhi to collect archival records related to Odisha, said Tourism and Culture Minister Ashok Panda on Thursday.

Inaugurating the International Archives Day celebration here, Panda said this year, the State Archives will focus on digitisation of rare records of important events in Odisha history including Nabakalebara and natural calamities. While rare records are already available in the website of Odisha State Archives (www.odishaarchives.nic.in), the Government will now make them available through DVDs. The National Informatics Centre has been roped in for the purpose.

On the occasion, the Minister released a 1000-page book “Odisha Famine - Na’anka” that documents the catastrophic famine of 1865-1866.

Secretary of Culture Department Manoranjan Panigrahi said the book marks the 150th year of the famine. “It is a compilation of important records of causes and effects of the calamity, which is considered one of the darkest chapters in Odisha history. It also documents the developments that were initiated in the post-famine period,” he said.

Superintendent of the Archives Bhagyalipi Mala, who has also come out with an audio-visual documentation of the famine, said efforts are being made to make the book available for public soon. An art exhibition of 21 paintings and terracotta installation depicting the famine, created by artists Ramakanta Samantray, Smrutikant Rout and Sushant Panda, was also inaugurated.
Fuente:http://www.newindianexpress.com/states/odisha/Odisha-to-collect-records-from-National-Archives/2016/06/10/article3474761.ece