British Library in India

Digitisation of records and relationship building

Partners

• British Library (BL)
• National Archives of India
• National Library of India
• Chhatrapati Sivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalay (CSMVS)

Aims

• To digitise a selection of nineteenth century India Office records held at the British Library
• To renew and build links with leading Indian institutions

Project details

Digitising key documents
The British Library’s South Asian collections and holdings of the India Office Records are of international significance and are consulted by researchers from all over the world.

A pilot project is planned to digitise a selection of the nineteenth century records from the India Office. This information will be accessible to the Indian academic community as well as the wider Indian public and UK Indian diaspora.

Stronger links with Indian institutions
BL colleagues visited a number of important institutions in New Delhi, Kolkata and Mumbai in November 2008 to renew and build links on behalf of the World Collections Programme partners.

Academic researchers from seven leading Indian universities and research institutions attended discussions and workshops. Key research trends in India and opportunities for collaborative research were discussed.

The Secretary to the Ministry of Culture and the Deputy Chairman of the University Grants Commission gave a favourable response to the role of the World Collections Programme and the purpose of the visit.

British representatives in India, the Research Councils UK office and the British Council also support the programme and will assist with further visits from the British Library and other partners.