REPORT- Workshop II An Introduction to the National Archives of India: Two Introductory Sessions at the NAI for Semester V students of History Honours. Apropos the proposal ‘An introduction to the National Archives of India’for two Introductory sessions at the National Archives of India for Semester V students of History Honours, submitted to the Principal Dr. B. M. Saraf on 23 September, 2015 and, following her approval for the same this is to report that the aforementioned project was successfully completed on 12 & 13 October, 2015. The students attended two introductory sessions at the National Archives during 2.00 to 5.00 PM on both days. They were escorted to the National Archives by the under signed Dr. Meenakshi Khanna. The details of these sessions are as follows: Monday 12 October, 2015 20 students from History Honours Semester V attended the workshop. Detail of activity at the NAI: a. The participants were welcomed by Mr. S. Farid Ahmad, Assistant Director of Archives. He delivered a lecture introducing the history of Archives in India; the purpose, method and significance of archiving documents; repository of the NAI & its branches; and special courses delivered by the NAI to develop archival skills. The lecture was interspersed with questions from students. b. A visit to repository 1 for viewing documents in the archives of Private Collection including the prison diary of Shahid Bhagat Singh; viewing of the facsimile & original signed Constitution of the Republic of India. c. A special session on Oriental Records Collection of the NAI was conducted by Mr. Muzaffar Islam and Mr. Fayzan Ahmad. The students were allowed to examine several documents like a farman of Akbar, a hukm of Nur Jahan. The participants learned about the Mughal administrative and clerical skills, methods of recording, and contemporary relevance of land ownership documents from by-gone days, thus appreciating the significance of the archives. Two illustrated manuscripts written in Persian were also examined, namely, the Persian translation of the Mahabharata & the Shahnama of Firdausi. The students could handle the volumes physically and examine the textual calligraphy and paintings closely. The session closed with a visit of the records room of the Oriental Records Section. Tuesday 13 October, 2015 30 students from History Honours Semester V attended the workshop: Detail of the activity at the NAI: a. Smt. Bhattacharya delivered an illustrated talk on the meaning and methods of conservation and restoration of documents at the NAI. This was followed by a visit to the conservation laboratory where the students observed the stages involved in preserving documents. The students could walk up to the technical equipments like air compressor, vacuum fumigation chamber, de-acidifying plant, and observe the conservationists at work. 1

b. A visit to the reprography section introduced the participants to diverse ways in which document may be preserved and reproduced using microfilms, microfiches & digital techniques. c. The repositories of the archives which house the documents from the 18th century were visited and explored. d. The students also viewed the oldest manuscripts - Gilgit & palm leaf; as well as Sanskrit & Bangla manuscripts in the NAI. * The proposed visit to the Museum had to be deferred since the Museum was under renovation. Assessment The introductory sessions at the NAI were extremely informative for students who viewed and physically handled documents which are the material bases for writing history. They were introduced to various techniques used in conserving, restoring and preserving documents. The possibility of doing further studies and research in history has inspired some students; while some others may like to take up archiving as a profession. I would like to recommend a regular interaction for our students with the National Archives. This activity is appropriate for the final semester students of History Honours who would be keen to interact with the NAI with the purpose of developing vocational skills immediately after graduating from College. The NAI prefers history students as archives have an immediate relevance through their discipline.

Meenakshi Khanna Convener, Committee for Additional Skills Development Associate Professor Department of History Indraprastha College for Women University of Delhi.

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20 October, 2015