Procedural formalities delaying transfer of record from J&K
*Proper documentation, digitization still pending
Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, May 20: Created five and half years back, the Union Territory of Ladakh still doesn’t have full access to its archival material and artifacts, which continue to remain in the repositories of Department of Archives, Archaeology and Museum of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. This is mainly because of inordinate delay in completion of procedural formalities and for want of proper documentation and digitization.
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After the creation of both the Union Territories on October 31, 2019 following the passage of Jammu and Kashmir Reorganization Act by the Parliament, apportionment of assets, liabilities and manpower was started between the administration of both the UTs as per the provisions of the law.
“While majority of the assets and liabilities have been apportioned, the transfer of archives and artifacts pertaining to the Union Territory of Ladakh is still pending even after the lapse of five and half years. The delay is primarily due to the procedural formalities, which are taking undue long time”, official sources told EXCELSIOR, adding “due to this, the Union Territory of Ladakh remains without full access to essential archival materials necessary for governance, research and historical reference”.
They further said, “the delay is notwithstanding the fact that archives and artifacts of Ladakh UT have already been identified by a committee constituted on the directions of Union Ministry of Home Affairs”, adding “majority of the archives and artifacts of Ladakh are lying in the repository of Archives, Archeology and Museum Department at Srinagar and some in Jammu”.
According to the sources, as desired by the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Ladakh Union Territory wants proper documentation, digitization and videography of archival record as well as artifacts before their shifting as per the laid down procedure. In this regard, the Ladakh UT has approached the Islamic University of Science and Technology, Awantipora but the formal Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) is yet to be signed between the Ladakh administration and varsity.
Expressing inability to specify time-frame for shifting of archival record and artifacts to Ladakh, sources said, “even after proper documentation, digitization and videography a long protocol will have to be followed like obtaining certain No Objection Certificates (NOCs)”, adding “while copies of the digitized archival record will also remain in Srinagar and Jammu repositories of Department of Archives, Archaeology and Museums for research purposes, all the artifacts will be transported to Ladakh and housed there in a modern repository at Leh the superstructure of which has already been constructed”.
“It is not understandable as to why the Department of Archives, Archaeology and Museum ignored the archival record of Ladakh while carrying out digitization exercise of J&K record. Had this been done the delay being faced now could have been easily avoided”, sources said.
It is pertinent to mention here that the issue of transfer of valuable cultural assets such as art, artifacts and archival records to the UT of Ladakh was also discussed between the J&K and Ladakh administration a number of times and certain timelines were also fixed. But exercise continues to remain incomplete till date.
Archives play an important role in helping cultures and communities preserve their identity. Within archives are primary sources that can help a person or group learn about their history and shared experiences. Personal papers, photos and official records all help tell the story of where people have come from.
Similarly, artifacts are important because they can provide evidence about the cultural, economic, historical, religious and social aspects of society. They can also reflect a culture’s values, motivations, aesthetic taste and rhetorical decisions. Artifacts can also express human experience and motivations that may not be available in verbal discourse.
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