India shares 70 archival documents from 1793 to 1953 with Oman, in a rare exchange
- In Reports
- 04:53 PM, Feb 24, 2024
- Myind Staff
India shared 70 selected archival documents with Oman as a gesture of goodwill. These documents, dating from 1793 to 1953, covered the entire British Raj period and were sourced from the National Archives of India. They held significant historic value, focusing on the southeastern coast of the Arabian Peninsula and areas of the Arabian Gulf.
Additionally, India's Ministry of Culture announced the gifting of 523 pages of copies of similar historical records to the National Records and Archives Authority of Oman.
The Director General of India’s Archives, Arun Singhal, handed over the originals and copies of these historic documents to NRAA Chairman Dr. Hamad Mohammed Al-Dhawyani.
During their two-day visit to Oman, a three-member delegation from India’s Archives, consisting of Deputy Director Dr. Sanjay Garg, Archivist Sadaf Fatima, and Director General Arun Singhal, engaged in various activities.
The delegation received exclusive presentations from officials in charge of different divisions of the NRAA, including the Electronic Records and Document Management Systems Section, Microfilm Department, Private Record Section, Access to Record Department, Electronic Storage, and the Conservation Section.
During their visit, the delegation also toured the Permanent Exhibition of Records and the Document Destruction Lab.
According to the Indian ministry, the purpose of the visit was to explore opportunities for bilateral cooperation in the field of archives.
The original documents handed over to Dr. Al-Dhawyani included records detailing the evolution of the Omani Flag until 1868, succession papers of Sayyid Faisal bin Turki as Oman's ruler following the death of Sultan Sayyid Turki in 1888, and details of the Sultan of Muscat and Oman's official visit to the Viceroy in India in 1937.
Additionally, the officials provided a copy of the Treaty of Friendship, Commerce, and Navigation between the Sultan of Muscat and Oman and the Republic of India, signed on March 15, 1953. The treaty is available in Arabic, English, and Hindi versions.
According to the Indian ministry, both sides finalized the draft of an Executive Programme of Cooperation during the Indian delegation's visit. The program will be submitted for approval by the competent authorities of both parties and formally signed soon.
Image source: PIB India
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