jayakrishnan vu, post news network, Bhubaneswar, May 21: A rich treasure of timeless documents vies for the attention of the history enthusiasts at the National Archives in city. Some of its priceless possessions include the 16th century manuscript, titled ‘Rajabhoga Itihasam’, and the private papers of eminent freedom fighters from the state such as Surendra Dwivedy, Annapurna Maharana and Rama Devi among others.
Some of these documents, which number more than 70,000, reveal valuable information on Orissa’s history and can potentially change some of our existing beliefs. For instance, ‘Rajabhoga Itihasam’, a 16th century palm leaf manuscript, revealed the truth that the historical figure Kalapahad, notorious for the desecration of the divine idols in the Jagannath Temple and other temples in the state was a blue-blooded Afghan ruler and not a Brahmin who converted to Islam, as it had been previously thought. The document gave insights into the history of the kings of Orissa and their patronising of the state’s temples such as the Jagannath Temple by liberal grants and the gifting of land parcels.
This historical document also portrays the richness of the classical Oriya literature and language, which had been in use at that time, a fact later on approved by the National Language Committee, which accorded the classical language status to Oriya language, after considering its rich heritage.
Other collections include an album containing proofs of Indian stamps, manufactured in London in 1880, for use in the then British India’s capital Calcutta. Stamp papers were made from these designs, according to Dr Lalatendu Mahapatra, assistant director, Archives, Bhubaneswar Records Centre.
Some of the other rare books in the archives include the oldest surviving copies of the first Oriya drama “Babaji’, written by Jagan Mohan Lala.
National Archives in the city is one of the largest regional archives in India, with 12 states under its jurisdiction. It has a huge collection of valuable documents and papers pertaining to history, heritage and administration that can be accessed by researchers; earlier, these were only accessible to government officials, said archive sources.
Currently, the archive is going through a modernisation drive and is celebrating the 125th year of the National Archives of India by inviting eminent scholars to the city.
