Kolkata (AsiaNews) - In an effort to preserve and tell the more than four centuries of history and evolution of Calcutta, the local government will set up a complete archive, full of rare photographs, text, sound recordings, manuscripts, maps and digital documents. On 4 March, the first Municipal "data bank" in India was presented to the public. The development of the project is managed in its entirety by the city council.
The archive will be called the Amal Home Digital Archive, a tribute to Amal Home, founder of the Calcutta Municipal Gazette. In fact the newspaper - in publication since 1924 - will provide most of the contents of the project.
The AHDA will offer insights on the struggle for India's independence through letters and speeches of personalities like Mahatma Gandhi, Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose and Rabindranath Tagore. The digitization of texts and photographs will be managed by Arun Roy, director of the monthly magazine Puroshree. The operation will cost 20 million rupees (about 290 800 euro).
"The available data - explains Roy Indian news agency IANS - dates back to the 17th century and narrates the society and economy of the time, British rule, the struggle for freedom and other topical issues in the history of India".
Another "pearl" that you can only find in the Calcutta archive is the original deed of sale with which the East India Company bought the villages of Sutanuti, Gobindapur and Kolikata, which later formed the current Calcutta.
The archive will also have contributions of researchers, editors and ordinary citizens. "Being the first Indian archive built by a local authority - emphasizes Roy - people from all over the country, who can provide historical or photographic data on the city have been involved ".