Chizokho Vero
Kohima | February 18
In a welcome move, the state’s department of Border Affairs has set up a library at the commissioner’s office here today, creating an asset for the people of the state. Dedicating the library at a function held here at the commissioner’s office, Chief Secretary Lalthara, IAS said the record repository houses much information, which will be a real asset for the people of Nagaland.
“It is a wealth of the people,” he said and stressed on the need to keep the records in a systematic manner, the trend of which is still lacking in many departments. Lalthara was hopeful that the record repository will serve any department and research scholars. “We have made a humble beginning,” said H.K. Khulu, IAS, Principal Secretary for Border Affairs & Commissioner Nagaland. It will be a treasure for Nagas, he said.
The documents including maps and books were collected from various published and unpublished sources, especially from the foreign proceedings of the Government of India preserved in the National Archives, New Delhi, West Bengal State Archives, Kolkata, National Library, Kolkata and in the Assam State Archives, Guwahati.
The department said the collection conveniently brings together a number of rare and scattered documents. It will prove to be an indispensable reference tool both for academic scholars and for readers who have interests in understanding the socio-political history of the Nagas in particular, and the north east India in general during the pre and post- colonial ‘rule and record’ of the British imperial period. The department acknowledged the support and contributions made by various individuals and groups at various levels through which the library has finally come into reality.
“We are confident that in days to come this repository of the department of Border Affairs, Government of Nagaland will be a source of insight and inspiration for posterity of this state in particular in understanding their past history in its true perspective and the people in general,” the department said.
