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Gujarat State
Archives
INTRODUCTION OF GUJARAT STATE
ARCHIVES
The State of
Gujarat was formed in the process of the
reorganization of the States, with effect
from 1st May, 1960. Although
Gujarat had no organized State Archives,
till ten years of bifurcation of Bombay
State. But it had been associated with the
Indian Historical Records Commission through
Universities. So the former Balvantrai
Mehta Ministry of Gujarat realized the
necessity of Archives department and took
decision in June 1964 to set up a separate
State Archives in Gujarat. The concept of
State Archives was, however, concretized in
December, 1971 when a separate Department of
Archives was set up.
After survey, appraisal and
classification of old records, State
Archives come to conclusion that Gujarat is
fortunately very rich in terms of Archival
wealth which maybe classified as under:
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(1) |
The
records of the former Princely States
lying within territory of Gujarat
State. |
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(2) |
The
records of British period lying in the
District offices within the Gujarat
State. |
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(3) |
The
Gujarat records lying in the
Maharashtra Archives at Mumbai & Pune. |
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(4) |
The
records relating to Gujarat lying in
the Goa State Archives at Panaji. |
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(5) |
Private
Records in possession of institutions
and individuals such as religious
trust, wakf properties, churches and
former Girasdar, Inamdars, Taluqudar,
Administrator and Scholars. |
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(6) |
Crown
Representative records in the National
Archives of India. |
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In order
to spread the Archival Activities and
Record Management in the State, three
circle offices with a record
repository at Vadodara, Rajkot and
Ahmedabad have been constituted.
Eight District Offices with Records
center at Jamnagar, Bhavnagar,
Porbandar, Junagadh, Mehsana, Godhra,
Nadiyad, Himatnagar and one Archival
Functional Building with
scientifically constructed Archival
Repository being as a Head and
Administrative office at Gandhinagar
have been constituted. The Detail Of
Head of Offices and addresses are
given in Annexure-I.
In order to spread the Archival
Activities and Record Management in
the State, the state Archives has
divided the whole Gujarat into three
circle offices for better Archival
Administration. Each circle &
District offices have been given the
charge of certain districts and
talukas for implementation of Archival
Policy Programme. Gradually, the
State Archives has started, separate
Eight district Record centres named as
District Record offices for effective
administration. |
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In order
to run State Archives more efficiently
the State Archives has following
advisory as well as statutory
constituted committees:- |
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(1) |
Gujarat
Archival Council headed by Hon. Chief
Secretary to Govt. of Gujarat. |
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(2) |
Regional
Records Survey Committee headed by
Hon. Minister of Sports, Youth and
Cultural Activities Department. |
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(3) |
District
Records Survey Committees for each
Districts headed by concerned District
Collectors. |
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(4) |
Records
Review Committee headed by Historian
for reviewing the destroyable records
appraised by trained staff of State
Archives. |
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(5) |
Records
Purchase Committee consisting of
official and non-official experts of
the various field of finance and
history. |
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HOLDING OF RECORDS AND THEIR FINDING
AIDS OF STATE ARCHIVES
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Gujarat
State Archives have been carved out
from several Princely States and
Political agencies of British India.
The former rulers and administrators
connected with the former Princely
administration and agencies of British
India, are in possession of a very old
and valuable records of archival
importance in form of files and
manuscripts. These records constitute
a part of historical and cultural
heritage of Gujarat and are very
useful for research and reference.
The records holdings of the Gujarat
State Archives are broadly divided
into two distinct series, viz., the
records of the former princely states
and the secretariat records. The
records of princely states comprise of
manuscripts / Books, volumes and
proceedings etc. from 1820 to 1947
A.D. These records also contains
information regarding administrative
set up of these states and their
relations with British Government.
After the integration of States these
records came under the custody of the
Revenue Department. After 1981 the
State Archives has took over the
charge of selected record offices as
stated in Annexure-I for better
preservation and conservation of
records. The Secretariat Records
comprised of proceedings and files for
the period of 1947 to 1960.
Under the provision of Gujarat
Historical Research Rules 1976, all
records which are 30 years old are
open for consultation for bonafide
researchers. Foreign Scholars are
required to produce letter of
introduction from their respective
embassies / High Commissions and also
from the Universities / Institutions.
And the permission should also be
taken from the Government of India &
State of Gujarat. All applications
for permission to consult the records
are to be addressed to the Director of
Archives and concerned Head of the
Offices of respective Record Offices. |
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