STUDENTS OF HISTORY DEPARTMENT, MAHARAJA COLLEGE ON EDUCATIONAL TOUR TO THE BIHAR ARCHIVES

Ara (RNI) The students of the History Department, Maharaja College, a constituent unit of the Veer Kuer Singh University (VKSU) made an educational tour of Bihar Archives and the Patna Museum under the guidance of the Head of the Department, Dr. Mohammad Niaz Hussain, Assistant Professor, Arun Kumar Rai, Dr. Rajesh Kumar Singh, Dr. Kamlesh Singh, Dr. Amritanshu.

Speaking on the occasion, Principal, Maharaja College, Prof. Alok Kumar explained the purpose of the educational tour to a total of 38 Postgraduate students and flagged them off to the destination. Department Head Dr. Mohammad Niaz Hussain said that the purpose of this tour is to introduce the students to the sources and methods of historical research beyond the classroom curriculum. Patna Archives is a major historical institution not only of Bihar but of the whole of India where rare manuscripts, government records and historical documents are preserved. These documents provide in-depth information about the administrative, social and cultural history of the region. Patna Museum, which has a special place not only in India but in the whole of Asia, is famous for its rich collection of archaeological relics. It has a collection of rare historical objects from the prehistoric period to the colonial period. Through direct observation of both these institutions, students will develop a deep understanding of the subject of history and will also create awareness towards the preservation of historical heritage. By vising Bihar Archives, the students saw various primary and secondary sources first-hand. All the departmental teachers contributed significantly in developing the students’ understanding about the role of sources in the creation of history.

Archivist Dr. Bharti Sharma while welcoming the students elaborated on the origin of archives, its history and its importance. She said that archives are the memoirs of the government. It is a guide for the administrator and a mirror for the society which is very important for the cultural, political, economic and social consciousness of the future generation. She further said that the Civil Secretariat Records Room was established in Ranchi in 1914 which was shifted to Patna in 1915 AD.

Director of the Archives, Dr. Faisal Abdullah, while emphasizing on objective research, told the students that Bihar Archives is playing an important role in the research work of the researchers along with cooperating in the administrative work of the government by preserving, publishing, organizing exhibitions and seminars of records.

Along with this, a group of students went to visit the Bihar Museum with their teachers. The students were very excited to see the physical remains from ancient times to modern times. Shipra Kumari, Neha Kumari, Hari Shankar Kumar, Akash Kumar, Uttam Kumar Soni, Chandan Kumar, Ravi Prakash, Sahin Sultana, Vikas Kumar, Rahul Kumar, Preeti Gupta and others students played a commendable role in making the entire programme successful.