The document proposes creating a local history repository for rural libraries in West Bengal using digital humanities approaches. It involves developing a collaborative database and website to archive and disseminate undocumented local histories. This would include oral histories, folklore, photographs, newspapers, government records, and more relating to specific communities. A pilot study was conducted in Sundarban region to test collecting archaeological items from a local museum and archiving them online with metadata. The goal is to involve communities to contribute additional historical information and personal collections through the libraries and website.

1. Digital Humanities for
Development of Local History
Repository : a proposal for rural
libraries of West Bengal
Moumita Ash
Jadavpur University
&
Dr. Pijushkanti Panigrahi
University of Calcutta

2. Digital Humanities
The digital humanities intersect with
computing and the disciplines of
humanities.
ICTK 12th July, 2012

3. Digital Humanities
Digital humanities – a combine approach
of knowledge conservation and knowledge
dissemination. There is also knowledge
mining approach to discover hidden
treasure of community memory.
ICTK 12th July, 2012

4. Example
• arts-humanities.net –a research and
teaching hub of in the digital arts and
humanities.
http://www.arts-humanities.net/project
236 projects on history but micro subjects
are focused than area based studies.
• UCL www.ucl.ac.uk/dh
ICTK 12th July, 2012

5. Local History Repository
Local history – micro level study of
unfolded, undocumented public history
which hidden in community memory or
neglected by main stream historical
research. The study is generally bounded
within small geographical area/smaller
communities.
ICTK 12th July, 2012

6. Why in library platform?
Library Potentialityo Information Centre of Local Community
o Community Users’ information need meet
point
o Scope to mining undocumented public
history by collecting information from
personal collection, scattered government
documents, oral history etc.
ICTK 12th July, 2012

7. Why in library platform?
o Resource Sharing network building with local
museums, art galleries, religious and
cultural institutions.
o Working as web reference & referral centre
o Organize Awareness Programmes at locality
using social networking site like face book,
blogging, twittering and also make band of
volunteers from community.
ICTK 12th July, 2012

8. Local History & Bengal
19th Century Bengal Renaissance created a
positive environment to recollect 6000 years
(from 4000 B.C. Stone Age Civilization to
Modern era) enrich local community
memories.
The Asiatic Society, Bangiya Sahitya Parisad
, zamindars (feudal lords), armature
researchers documented the treasure of
local history.
ICTK 12th July, 2012

9. Bengal to West Bengal
Indian independence brought sinister
fate for Bengal – ‘Partition’ and the tradition
of root seeking has lost.
ICTK 12th July, 2012

10. Why Rural Areas?
 Rural West Bengal is less affected than
urban areas by partitioned .
 Cultural overwhelming by globalization
is less, community origin is identifiable.
 Rural folk till now carry oral history
tradition and community culture.
 37,945 villages of West Bengal have
strong public network
ICTK 12th July, 2012

11. Objective of Proposal
• To create a collaborative database of local
history
• To make a prototype outline of nondocumentary community history archive of
oral history, folk lore, folk tales, origin of
communal rituals, fair, festivals.
• To develop website with open access web
gallery
• Use web tools to update local history by
interactive community participation.
ICTK 12th July, 2012

12. Digital Humanities & Local History Repository
 Advantages of web technology – no bar of
space & time.
 Free or very cheap public domain of web
archiving for digital items in web photo
gallery like flickr .
Example: New York public library local history
archival page
ICTK 12th July, 2012

13. Continued….
Digital Humanities & Local History
Repository
• YouTube may be used for archiving oral
history, documenting folklore, folk tales
• Wiki platform may be used for history
rediscover, regenerate, personal collection
sharing by people.
Example: Local Who’s Who Directory making.
ICTK 12th July, 2012

14. Continued….
Digital Humanities & Local History Repository
• Geographical tools like use of Google
maps in flickr to locate item’s geographical
area
• Using Social networking site like face book,
blog, online forum with email alarming
/digest facilities:
ICTK 12th July, 2012

15. Identified Items
Identified Items’ relevancy bounded for specific geographical
unit
• Timeline - presents a timeline of
significant dates from
settlement to the present.
• Painting by local artists
• Famous persons of the
community
• Digitized books on historical
memories
• Genealogy
• Folklore (Audio records)
• Oral History Interview
• Digital Images-People and
places of the locality, evolution
of the village, Historical
photographs, floods, well-known
local people, buildings,
streetscapes, geography,
animals, farming and much
more.
• Local News paper / Local
Newspaper Index, News paper
article about the locality & the
particular community history
• National Leading News Paper
Clippings about the locality or
community
ICTK 12th July, 2012

16. Continued…..
Identified Items’ relevancy bounded for specific
geographical unit
•
•
•
•
Local writers’ bibliography
Early schools, temples, etc.
Community Heritage
Family History sources
(may be from a particular
Time)
• Street directories, trade
directories
• Maps and Plans
• Relief and Disaster records
• Local Government
Records- circular, Notice,
Advertisement
• Pamphlets
• Local Society -about and
website listing
• Bibliography of local
authors
• Local indigenous
knowledge
ICTK 12th July, 2012

17. Outline for future follow up
• Step 1
Written documents documentation using
digital technology including manuscript also.
Example: Mangal kabya – Manasa mangal,
Dharma mangal etc., vaishnav literature
ICTK 12th July, 2012

18. ICTK 12th July, 2012

19. ICTK 12th July, 2012

20. Outline for future follow up
• Step 2
Compile the bibliography, Article indexing by
using library software like KOHA or any other
though Free and Open Source Software
(FOSS) is preferable due to customization,
easy data backup with preferable file format
and sharing facility without financial
hazards.
ICTK 12th July, 2012

21. Outline for future follow up
• Step3
Knowledge regeneration & Dissemination
– collaborative works
– ‘free’ resource sharing
– using free or very low cost web tools
– to digitize and free web dissemination
ICTK 12th July, 2012

22. Outline for future follow
up
• Step4
Archeological information
Local library units will tie knot with local
museums. This joint venture is - the
image of archaeological documents like
archeological monuments, coins,
inscriptions etc. should be archived at web
gallery with proper metadata.
ICTK 12th July, 2012

23. Sample Study
Pilot Study :
Experimental data primarily have collected from
Sundarban region of south 24 Pargana District,
West Bengal which is UNESCO world heritage site
also.
Archeological images, data have collected from
“Kundarali Purakirti Sangrahasala”- a local
registered museum.
Web gallery URL:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bengallocalhistory
ICTK 12th July, 2012

24. ICTK 12th July, 2012

25. Outline for future follow
up
• Step5
Unfolding Community Memory by
Videos on interview of artisans and brief
description of their work ,
Oral history, folklore, documentation of local
festivals, fair with proper bilingual subtitles as well
as share the bibliographical lists
Audio recordings of local music, lectures and
interviews of local Who’s who and archive of
community radio will need to be collect and archive
on web platform like YouTube.
ICTK 12th July, 2012

26. Conclusion
ICTK 12th July, 2012

27. ICTK 12th July, 2012

28. ICTK 12th July, 2012