Archives Week starts
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, December 27 2024: The three-day 43rd Archives Week Celebration cum Record Exhibition kicked off today at Manipur State Archives Complex, Keishampat, Imphal.

The celebration cum exhibition organised by Manipur State Archives under the Department of Art & Culture is set to conclude on December 29 .

The event was graced by M Joy, IAS, Commissioner, Art & Culture as the chief guest; K Dinamani, Director, Art & Culture as the functional president and N Indramani, pioneer of Manipur State Archives (1982) as the guest of honour.

Addressing the gathering, N Indramani informed that a majority of the records displayed in the exhibition are "Puyas" (old Meitei manuscripts) gathered in 2024 .

He said that the records stored in the archives cannot be accessed easily.

Additionally, the records cannot be taken beyond the gates of the State Archives.

The same rule applies to the books in the Central Library.

Highlighting the value of these records, he maintained that once a record is lost, people should be aware that it would be impossible to replace them.

Speaking as the chief guest, M Joy stated that the historical records in the State Archives are a wealth of knowledge left behind by ancestors and called for their preservation.

Celebration of the annual Archives Week enlightens the public about the invaluable knowledge provided by such records to people including research scholars, teachers and students, he said.

Additionally, K Dinamani stressed on the close ties between the State Archives and film makers, research scholars, writers as well as historians.

Keeping up with technological advancements, the archives have been digitized.

Meanwhile records from 1925 to 1949 are currently undergoing digitization at Cheirap Court.

The process is nearing completion with more than 2 lakh records digitized.

Following this, the plan is to digitize the archives at Imphal West Revenue and Land Records, he shared.

Once these records are digitized, citizens can use their mobile phones to have easy access to the records.

The Art & Culture Director further informed that from 2025 they will start teaching Meetei Mayek as per the old scriptures.

Elaborating on this topic, K Dinamani referred to engravings found on surfaces like stones in remote hills and other areas.

Despite knowing that these inscriptions are in Meetei Mayek, people are unable to decipher or read them.

He pointed out that without the help of the few people who can still read this old Meetei Mayek, it will be lost to future generations.

As a result, this type of old Meetei Mayek will be taught from next year, he shared.

Additionally, he urged people with private possession of "Puyas" to display them in the State Archives or at least provide photocopies of the same for public viewing.

On the occasion, the Manipur State Archives also released the book "The Tour Diaries of Major HSTP Maxwell 1891 to 1892 and 1904 to 1905 (Part)" .

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