Telangana signs MoU with Iranian centre to preserve literary wealth

HYDERABAD: The Telangana State Archives and Research Institute, Hyderabad, on Wednesday entered into an MoU with the Noor International Microfilm Centre, Culture House of the Islamic Republic of Iran, New Delhi, for the repair, conservation, digitalization, and cataloguing of Urdu and Persian historical manuscripts and documents, which are a common heritage between India and Iran.

The MoU exchange ceremony took place in the presence of H.E. Dr. Ali Chegeni, the Honorable Iranian Ambassador, and IT & MA&UD Minister K.T. Rama Rao at T-Hub Phase 2.0 on September 7,2022.

The Hyderabad Deccan Institute houses more than 43 million documents, of which eighty percent of the records are in the classical Persian and Urdu languages, owing to their being the official languages of the erstwhile dynasties of the Hyderabad Deccan region. The records also include the original copies of GOs, gazettes etc. of unified Andhra Pradesh from 1956 to 2014.

The Telangana State Archives and Research Institute, one of India's top archives, includes a collection of historical documents dating back to 1406 A.D. that are related to the Bahmani, Qutb Shahi, Adil Shahi, and Mughal kingdoms that governed the area.

Both India and Iran have enjoyed a shared history which has influenced both cultures and civilisations. The documents housed in the Telangana State Archives are important historical artefacts of both countries. Hence, it is important to preserve this valuable joint heritage.

This initiative, carried out by the Noor International Microfilm Centre, which is housed in the Culture House of the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran in New Delhi, will bring millions of historical documents to life and give future generations a glimpse of the state's rich heritage. It will also be a useful resource for scholars from other nations who frequently work with Telangana State Archives to conduct research on Telangana's and India's mediaeval and modern histories.

According to the officials, the entire process will be carried out at no expense to the state and will be fully funded by the government of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

The ceremony was also attended by Dr. Jayesh Ranjan, Principal Secretary of ITE&C, Dr. Zareena Parveen, Director of State Archives & Research Institute, Dr. Mehdi Khajeh Piri, Director, Noor International Microfilm Centre, and Dr. E. Vishnu Vardhan Reddy, Special Secretary, Dept of Industries & Commerce.