Telangana State Archives building deteriorates, 43 million historical records at risk

The Telangana State Archives building on Osmania University campus is crumbling, with water seepage, cracks, and vegetation threatening its structural integrity. The institute preserves 43 million records, including a 1406 AD farman, while plans for a new building remain stalled.

Hyderabad: The Telangana State Archives and Research Institute building that houses the country’s second-oldest document is crumbling, raising concerns about the archives’ safety and preservation.

Located on the Osmania University campus, along Tarnaka main-road, the building has been neglected for several years. Cracks have appeared at several places in the building. In fact, the ceiling peeled off, exposing iron support beams in many places. Water seepage is clearly visible along several walls, and there is vegetation growth through the cracked walls both outside and inside the building.

---

The building, which was constructed with limestone and iron beams, launched by former Prime Minister late Lal Bahadur Shastri in 1965 has a separate block of a large stack area in two floors. Currently, approximately 43 million rare and historical records, including the country’s second oldest record-a farman of Firoz Shah Bahmani of the Bahmani Sultanate in the 14th century, are being preserved. The Farman, dating way back to May 14, 1406 AD, was handwritten in Persian language and was for granting land as ‘inam’ to Moulana Muhammad Qazi.

The records dating from 1406 -1950 are in classical Persian and Urdu, while the Hyderabad records from 1950 to 1956 are in English. There are some records, which are in Marathi script etc. Besides, a rare collection of 672 Manuscript books in Persian, Arabic and Urdu (classical languages) are being preserved.

While there are 43 million records, only 30 percent of them are being preserved in the compactors that prevent the records from fire, dust and theft. The remaining records, which are stored in steel almirahs and steel racks.

According to Archives department official sources, records in steel almirah and rack have high risk of getting damaged due to vehicular pollution as the Institute stands on the main road.

Further, the sources said construction of a new building with ground and two floors at an estimated cost of Rs.50 crore had been proposed long ago. “Although State government in principle agreed for a new building, which will come up behind the existing one, there has been no headway for a long time,” sources added.