Administration produces records

1.2.1 Administration produces records

Description

Quick Overview

The British administration emphasized the importance of written records, leading to a culture of documentation that included memos, reports, and preserved documents.

Standard

The section discusses how the British administration placed significant value on the act of recording information. They established record rooms in various administrative offices and institutions to ensure important documents were preserved, highlighting the burgeoning administrative culture that favored written communication. This culture evolved from calligraphic practices to printed records by the mid-nineteenth century.

Detailed

Administration Produces Records

The British administration viewed writing as crucial for governance and decision-making. Every instruction, policy, and agreement needed to be documented, allowing for analysis and debate. This belief fostered a culture rich in memos, reports, and notes.

To safeguard important records, the British set up dedicated record rooms in all administrative institutions—such as the village tahsildar’s office, the collectorate, and provincial secretariats—ensuring that communication and documentation could be preserved and referred to throughout time.

The archives still house correspondence between branches of government and reports prepared by district officials, illuminating administrative practices in the early nineteenth century. Remarkably, these documents were initially crafted by skilled calligraphists who ensured they were beautifully written.

The introduction of printing by the mid-nineteenth century revolutionized record-keeping, enabling multiple copies of departmental proceedings to be disseminated more efficiently. Also noteworthy is the location of the National Museum and National Archives in New Delhi, reflecting their significance in British administrative thought.

Key Concepts

  • Writing as Important: The British viewed writing as crucial for effective administration and communication.

  • Culture of Documentation: The British established a tradition of memos, reports, and documented processes.

  • Record Rooms: Specific areas dedicated to storing and preserving important administrative documents.

  • Shift to Printing: Transition from beautifully handwritten records to printed copies for easier distribution.

  • Importance of Archives: National Archives and museums reflect the value placed on preserving historical records.

Memory Aids

🎵 Rhymes Time

  • Memos and records in neat little stacks, Keeping our history right on track.

📖 Fascinating Stories

  • Once upon a time, the British believed that every decision needed a tale—written clearly in fine detail. They built record rooms like treasure chests, housing stories of governance, giving them their best.

🧠 Other Memory Gems

  • Write, Store, Share: Remembering the steps of how documents flow in government.

🎯 Super Acronyms

MAP

  • Memos
  • Agreements
  • Policies - key components of British documentation.

Examples

  • The establishment of record rooms in village tahsildar’s offices and law courts ensured that records were maintained.

  • The transition from calligraphic records to printed documents can be observed in government department proceedings.

Glossary of Terms

  • Term: Memos

    Definition:

    Brief written messages or notes used within organizations.

  • Term: Calligraphists

    Definition:

    Artists skilled in the art of beautiful handwriting.

  • Term: Record Rooms

    Definition:

    Designated storage areas in administrative offices for preserving documents.

  • Term: National Archives

    Definition:

    Institutions established to preserve important historical documents and records.

  • Term: Proceedings

    Definition:

    Official records of meetings or decisions made by government bodies.