Sikkim, July 22. - The rich and diverse
cultural heritage and history of Sikkim is finally all set
to be recorded for posterity. The prestigious Namgyal Institute
of Tibetology has started to collect rare photographs to add
to its databank of historical Sikkim photographs.
This collection will not only be of interest
to researchers and history students, but will also serve as
a permanent exhibition for the interested layman. Work on
locating, digitizing and documenting exiting photographs located
both in India and abroad have already begun.
Some photographs to be included in the image
bank are from the Williamson Photographic collection, dating
back to the 1930's, currently in the possession of the Museum
of Anthropology and Archaeology, Cambridge, UK. The Museum
has around 473 photos of Sikkim with captions. These photos
were collected by Frederick Williamson, who served as a British
political officer for Sikkim in the early 30`s. Other UK.
societies and Museums are also being contacted to allow their
collections to be digitized. `We have already scanned 300
photographs from private collections in Sikkim and 200 photos
from Williamson collection. I will go to the UK and Germany
in September to try and get the rest,` informed anthropologist
Ms Anna B Denzongpa, currently the research coordinator for
the project.
NIT officials said that the photographs would be digitized
using a high quality digital camera or a laptop computer with
a scanner on location, since most people would be reluctant
to lend rare photographs for the purpose.
NIT director Mr. Tashi Densapa said: `It's
a very good project. It will enhance both the work of the
Institute and our understanding of Sikkim's history. We want
to amass as many photographs as possible from sources. We
are in touch with local and international collectors.`
The department of information & public
relations and the culture department are also actively involved
in the project. The NIT project is receiving advice and training
from Mr. Mark Turin, project manager of the Digital Himalaya
Project, Museum of Anthropology and Archaeology, Cambridge,
UK.
Mr. Turin was here in January this year
to give a crash-course on how to set up such an archive. |
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