National Archives of India as the premier source of information for research on Indian History

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This article is based on my personal observation of being in the Research Room of the National Archives of India. Interaction with researchers encouraged me to dig into old records related to the researchers accessing records at National Archives of India. It reaffirmed many things which were only hearsay about both the Government policies and users of archival material. I could observe not only changing pattern in usage of records but also changing character of the users. The article covers the period 1947-2007 and so could not fully gauge the impact of Right to Information Act, 2005 on access to records and the changing pattern of users. What started off as a referral center for officials of British Indian Government has now become a premier source of information for citizens of this country. Records are information and information is power. Records in National Archives of India are being increasingly used by the citizens for their own empowerment. National Archives of India has been playing a significant role in creation of an empowered citizenry.

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