On the occasion of 133rd Foundation Day of National Archives of India  Shri Arjun Ram Meghwal inaugurated the   exhibition “Women and Nation Building: 1857 to the Republic” at National Archives of India, New Delhi today.

On the occasion Shri Arjun Ram Meghwal said it was the idea of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi to highlight unsung heroes of the freedom struggle  in which women   played an important part . He said that the  exhibition highlights the contributions of women in nation building  and freedom struggle from 1857 in an interesting manner. Citing examples of Durgawati Devi and Kasturba Gandhi ,Shri Arjun Ram Meghwal said that the exhibition throws light on important and unknown aspects of their contribution.

This exhibition is an endeavor to showcase the contribution of women in the process of nation building. Whether it was India’s struggle for freedom from the oppressive colonial rule, eradication of social evils such as child-marriage and untouchability, facilitating education of the female, or framing of the Constitution for Independent India – women had always been at the forefront and left their indelible footprints on the road from the first war of Indian independence to the proclamation of Indian Republic.

The Exhibition  presents a selection of original documents drawn from the attics of the archival repository, i.e., official files of the government, private papers of eminent personalities, as well as from the rich collection of rare books held in the NAI Library.

The Exhibition includes contributions of known, lesser-known as well as unknown and unsung women in the process of Indian nation building. This encompasses a journey of over 93 years, from 1857 to 1950. These women leaders came from variegated backgrounds and belonged to diversified professions. They were recognized as: freedom fighters, soldiers (INA), social reformers, educationists, and litterateurs.

The exhibition will remain open for public viewing till 30 April 2023 from 10: 30 am to 5:00pm on each day including Saturday, Sunday and National Holidays.

The National Archives of India is an attached office under the Ministry of Culture.  National Archives of India has at present in its repositories a collection of over 18.00 cr. pages of Public Records, which include files, volumes, maps, bills assented to by the President of India, treaties, rare manuscripts, oriental records, private papers, cartographic records, important collection of Gazettes and Gazetteers, Census records, assembly and parliament debates, proscribed literature, travel accounts etc. A major chunk of Oriental records is in Sanskrit, Persian, Odia, etc.

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NB/SK