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West Bengal State Archives

Page history last edited by Paul Keenan 14 years ago

Date of tip:  September 2007

Source: Erica Wald, e.l.wald@lse.ac.uk

 

Archive: West Bengal State Archives, Bhowani Dutta Lane (for the 19th century records- NB 20th century records are kept at the Writer’s Building in central Kolkata) 

 

Location: 6 Bhowani Dutta Lane, Kolkata 700-007

 

How to get there: The archives are located on the lane next to Presidency College, on College Street.  If travelling by taxi, ask for Presidency College.  When facing the gates, turn right, and take the first lane on the left.  If taking the Metro, get off at either Mahatma Gandhi Road, or Central stop and make your way to Presidency College. 

 

Language: English, Bengali 

 

Getting started: If you are a foreign national, you will need a letter from your supervisor as well as a notarised letter of introduction from your embassy or consulate in Kolkata.  You will also need to bring a copy of your passport (with your visa), a passport-sized photograph of yourself and fill in a form. 

 

Opening Hours: 11am – 5pm

 

General working conditions: Decent lighting, though dim in parts of the reading room.  There is no internet access or telephone.  There is also no air-conditioning, however, there is a fan during the summer months.  

 

Consultation: Technically, no limit to number of daily requests.  However, the archivist will not allow you to request more than five records at one time.  No requests will be taken after about 3:30pm.

 

Policy on technology: No cameras or scanners allowed.  Laptops are allowed, with the warning that it is extremely dusty in the reading room (and apparently a previous researcher’s laptop broke down from the amount of dust). 

 

Photocopy policy: 50 paise per page.  However, photocopying takes a very long time, so it might not be worth it.  I was told that the current turn-around time was two months.

 

Particularities: There is no cafeteria.  Most researchers bring their own food.  However, there are a few restaurants on College Street, including the Indian Coffee House.  

 

Places to Stay: American researchers (or researchers with an affiliation with an American institution) can stay at the American Institute of Indian Studies Guest House.  The Guesthouse is located in Ballygunge, which is a bit of a distance from the archives, but is in a nice area.  AIIS also has free internet access (and meals included, if you so desire).

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