Condition of State-run Archives and Museums By Abhimanyu Kalsotra

Abhimanyu Kalsotra is a
Research Wing Member
at Speaking Archaeologically.

Who doesn't like to cherish the rich heritage of a place where one was born? The very same quest led me to take up research on Ornaments of Dogras and what's better than Archives Department of state having files dating back to 300 years? But to my surprise I signed up for a fearful, traumatising and unforgettable experience. 

The Department of Archives, Archaeology & Museums of Jammu and Kashmir handles the Dogra Archives Department at the Mubarak Mandi Palace Complex. Mubarak Mandi Complex happens to be a heritage building but unfortunately, declared unsafe by INTACH. Still, the archive section holds more than 10 lakh files with meagre facilities. Records dating back to 1724 AD, land assessment reports, debates from Praja Sabha, proceedings of royal court, financial records, rare manuscripts in Dogri, Urdu, Persian, English, etc are kept here. Few important documents like Agreement on lease of Gilgit and Baltistan, Instrument of Accession with India are part of colossal archive section.

Mubarak Mandi Palatial Complex,
Jammu City

The repository is believed to be the oldest in India. It was set up by Maharaja Ranbir Singh (1830-85) as the Repository for Royal Records. It housed all the official documents of the erstwhile Duggar Kingdom. Maharaja Hari Singh (1895-1961) was crowned in 1925 as the ruler and he revamped the various departments of the state including the Royal Records Department and changed the name to Central Record Office. After joining the Union of India, the department followed the norm of naming the repository as Department of Archives.

While talking to the staff, I learnt that the last time files of various departments came to the section was in 1985 and then in 2000. After that the departments did not send any files due to lack of space at the repository. 

The building is divided into different rooms and Record Room 14 on the ground floor on the extreme right of the building succumbed down due to two earthquakes, fire in 1970, extreme weather and negligible maintenance. The area is still in shambles and is used as an illegal parking space by locals. This space is sealed but apparently, reptiles cannot read 'Do Not Enter' signs. Snakes often make their way up to the repository rooms from this space. The staff told that it is quite normal now but the despair on their faces spoke something else.  This not only risks their lives but also of the people and research scholars visiting the place.

Even in such circumstances, the staff tries their level best to run the department efficiently. They have put exhaust fans to keep the records dry. The ceilings of the most of the rooms have wooden beams and papier mâché which are on the verge of falling off. They try to keep minimal records in the large hall on the ground floor due to water seeping problems and keep the important records mostly on first floor. The records regarding Army Department already have been shifted to Kala Kendra near Bikram Chowk, Jammu but that is not a permanent solution as that place is also not water proof and temperature cannot be regulated.

The Dogra Art Museum, Mubarak Mandi Palatial Complex, Jammu City

There have been proposals for shifting the records to new places but nothing has materialised. The staff expects a clean space with modern facilities like water proof spaces, sealed almirahs, humidity and temperature regulators but what do we expect from the government which couldn't even preserve the documents regarding Article 370 and Instrument of Accession,  in which they took so much pride.

The condition of the Dogra Art Museum, located in the vicinity of Archives Department, in Mubarak Mandi Palace Complex, is still in a better place than the repository but it has got its own problems. Research scholars are often denied to record and document the objects housed at the museum. Lack of accession numbers and no photograph policy of the museum hinder the researchers to work on exquisite objects of Dogra Culture. Object Analysis and research serves to the publicity of the museum but it is not allowed. And in order to document an object, one needs to pay hefty amounts up to 2000 bucks and, of course, be ready to run from one desk to another with letters.
Political moves like abrogation of Article 370, 35A might serve few politicians but all we, concerned residents, want is 'actual development' and not just on paper and press. We expect that authorities pay heed to the cultural heritage of Jammu and Kashmir. If not make new agencies, make the existing ones work efficiently by allocation of funds and resources. Staff should also be well trained to accommodate the requests of research scholars. Awareness and involvement of stakeholders is also a key aspect of saving the cultural heritage.