Home / Education / Goa Archives Digitizes History, Oral Traditions
Goa Archives Digitizes History, Oral Traditions
10 Feb
Summary
- New archive to preserve Goa's history and oral traditions.
- Focus on village rituals, festivals, and elders' stories.
- Goa's archives department is India's oldest, founded in 1595.
The Goa government's archives department has initiated the Goa State Audio Visual Archives (GSAVA) to safeguard the state's historical records and oral traditions. This new entity plans to digitize audio-visual materials of historical significance and document the state's oral histories and cultural practices.
The GSAVA's scope includes recording village traditions, rituals, festivals, and the personal accounts of freedom fighters and village elders. This initiative, sanctioned in the 2025-26 budget, also proposes a research wing to ensure the authenticity of gathered information.
Goa's archives department boasts a long history, established in 1595 by historian Diogo do Couto. It holds records dating back to 1498, offering insights into European expansion and the Portuguese empire in Asia. The collection encompasses diverse documents, including those related to Goa's freedom struggle and local community records.
Additionally, a survey is underway to locate and digitize historical manuscripts and private collections across Goa, aligning with the Union government's 'Gyan Bharatam Mission'. A decision on making the digitized data available online will be made once sufficient material is collected.
