Tourism and Culture Minister Ashok Chandra Panda on Tuesday said State Government would soon take steps to make the Odisha State Archives more attractive and research-oriented and digitise all records. Attending a special function held at the State Archives on occasion of the International Archives Day, the Minister termed an archive as a living history of a nation. He inaugurated an archive kiosk, publication sale centre and a Nabakalebar-related exhibition and record preservation centre. Many Intellectuals, professionals and researchers were present.
Culture Director Sushil Kumar Das presided over the function. Noted researcher and former Chief Secretary Subas Pani and Utkal University Vice-Chancellor Dr Ashok Kumar Das opined that the State Archive should be conserved as wisdom centre for both students and researchers. Hence, the records available in archives should be made to the whole world through application of modern technology and craftsmanship.
The occasion marked release of two books, Part II of the ‘language-based Special State Formation’ and ‘Bhubaneswar: The Capital of Odessa’. The State Archives has now around six lakh documents and books. Students of History can get training in the newly-inaugurated conservation centre. In future, collection of news, data and writing on Nabakalebar and Rath Yatra would be published. State Archives Superintendent Dr Bhagyalipi Malla delivered welcome address. A seminar title ‘Nabakalebar’ was also organised on the occasion.