The Pathetic State of J&K's Historical Archives

Yet another example of public indifference exposing the shallow character of people around

Bird droppings, dust, moths ruining historical documents in archives deptt

Asifa Amin Koul (Kashmir Times)

Srinagar: Heaps of dust, bird droppings and fodder for moths and silver
fish. This is how Kashmir’s rare and historical documents are deteriorating in
the dilapidated building of Archives department. But the deplorable condition of
the building as well as the key documents housed in it fails to hook the
attention of the helmsmen.

Over the years bird droppings have also posed a big threat to these unique and
rare documents and manuscripts of Maharaja Hari Singh’s time. Pigeons, without
seeking anybody’s permission, make an easy entry through the broken ceiling of
the repository wing of the building and do not mind easing on these historical
documents without any hesitation.

Established during the Maharaja’s rule, the key documents housed in the Archive
building include Maharaja’s confidential records, state department records,
military records, ex-governor records and the famous Glancy Commission report. How these precious documents have been preserved so far can be well gauged by the fact that many pages of the Glancy commission have faded away. Likewise, some of the documents in various shelves in the halls of the building are moth- eaten. Reliable sources told The Kashmir times that no combing, documentation and cataloging of these documents have been done so far. “There is a complete mess here. The documents of Records section can be seen in Finance section and those of latter in the Revenue section,” sources said.

They added that no official has been assigned the job of looking after the
Records section. Interestingly, the vacant post of the superintendent of records
section has not been filled so far. Sources said that the unbearable stink of
bird droppings coupled with damp and dark rooms of the building of the Archives
department repulse the employees of the department not to talk of researches.
Such is the condition of the rooms housing the key documents that the employees prefer to wear surgical masks before entering into the rooms.

The main source of light in these poorly lit and suffocating rooms is few
windows and the broken ceilings. Though there are some lamps, they hardly make any difference as they barely glow due to low voltage. “The employees refuse to go inside as the rooms are suffocating, stinky and the documents are dust-laden. Touch any document, hands get dirty with bird droppings and dust. These are posing a serious health risk by causing allergic reactions,” the sources said adding that the suffocation inside the rooms or halls gets worse during summers.

To eradicate insect infestation for preservation of documents, the department has no fumigation chambers. It has been learnt that the only fumigation chamber procured way back in early 1960s is not functioning properly. When contacted director Archives department, Khursheed Ahmad Qadri, said, “For some time we are doing some repairing and modification of the building to assuage the problems that we face in preservation of these precious documents. We have also sent a proposal to the government for undertaking renovation of the building without touching its original heritage sanctity. We want to preserve it as a heritage building.”