National Documentation Centre
National documentation Centre (NDC) is located in Islamabad at first floor of the Cabinet Block where Cabinet Division of which the centre is a part, is housed The organization was set up in 1974 in Lahore to meet some urgent requirements of the Government for documentation on various issues and for preservation of State Documents vide entry 20 in business allocated to Cabinet Division in Schedule II Rule 3(3) Rules of Business 1973. The functions of the NDC have evolved over a period of time in response to official requirements. Study and procurement of record of national importance to Pakistan from repositories abroad particularly those in the U.K. and those in the Provinces within the country, and collection and preservation of State Documents from the agencies of the Federal Government constitute the institutional profile of the NDC as an archival organization.
With the signing of an exchange agreement in 1975 with the India Office Library the NDC acquired the status of a special repository. Since then the duties of the NDC have been reviewed a number of times. In 1986 the NDC signed a further Memorandum of Understanding followed by another Memorandum of Understanding in 1988 with the British Library London that had by then assumed responsibility for the India Office Library and Records, renamed as Oriental and India Office Collections.
Microfilming equipment and microfilm reader printers are available at the Centre. A microfilming unit of NDC in London has been in operation since January. 1987. The doors of the Centre are open to scholars and researchers who can obtain copies of materials they are interested in at nominal cost.
Functions / Activities:
- To implement a broad-based acquisition policy so as to ensure the availability of a comprehensive repository of primary source materials on British rule in India and Indian nationalism in general and Muslim Politics and Pakistan movement in particular, under mutually acceptable arrangements with the British Library. London and other U.K. holders of these materials:
- To acquire copies of materials on subjects mentioned under number 1 and of other nationally important records held by Provincial Archives and other organizations established by the Provincial Governments in Pakistan;
- To acquire and maintain microfilms of nationally important record held by the Federal Ministries/Divisions and other offices of the Government of Pakistan
- To collect and to preserve State Documents such as original copies of international treaties and agreements, constitutional instruments etc.:
- To collect and to preserve reports of high level Commissions and Committees set up by the Government of Pakistan since 1947;
- To build up a library of monographs, theses, serials, Government and Semi-Government publications, reports and newspapers on all subjects outlined at number 1 and on the history and politics of Pakistan and its neighbours;
- To ensure access to, and use of, its collections (of non-classified material) by publishing suitably informative bibliographical aids;
- To provide a document—supply service;
- To sponsor feasible publication projects based on its collections;
- To play an appropriate role in the development of nationwide library, archive and information services in Pakistan.
Holdings of NDC:
A variety of research materials is available. Holdings lists comprising six volumes have been published and are on sale through the Department of Stationery and Forms and their sale outlets all over the country. A further series of lists is in preparation. A brief description of the collection as of spring 1993 is as follows:
CONTENT DESCRIPTION – LOCAL RECORDS ON MICROFILM IN PHOTO COPY OR ORIGINAL
Material on territorial issues such as:
Rann of Kutch dispute, 1947—70
Indus Waters dispute, 1952 – 81
Northern Areas, 1847—61
Anglo-Afghan relations, 1940—47
Pak Afghan relations, 1947—49
Pak Iran relations, 1947—62
Special Branch of Police Records on:
Khilafat / Hijrat Movement, 1919—30
All India Muslim League, 1933—47
All India Congress, 1933—47
Khudai Khidmatgar / Red Shirts, 1930—56
Khaksar Movement, 1937—47
Ahrar Movement, 1937–40
Secret Police Abstracts of Intelligence: Sind, 1940—47
Punjab, 1931—47
N.W.F.P., 1911—47
Baluchistan, 1939–40, 47
Tribal Cell Records on:
Administration and management of Tribal areas during British Rule, 1888–1947.
British Military operations in Tribal areas, 1892—1947
State Documents.
The Quaid-i-Azam Papers.
CONTENT DESCRIPTION OF RECORDS FROM THE INDIA OFFICE BRITISH LIBRARY AND OTHER SOURCES ABROAD
Information Department Records
Files on Political, Cultural and Social Organization, 1936—47
Cabinet Mission, 1946-47
Cripps Mission, 1942-43
Wavell Plan, 1944—46
Simla Conference, 1946
Formation of Interim Government. 1946-47.
Transfer of Power, 1947
Partition of Punjab and Bengal, 1947
Muslim League, 1941—47
Foreign Office Political, Intelligence Summary, 1944—47
Dismissal of Allah Bakhsh Ministry of Sindh, 1942—44
Files on prominent Indian personalities, i.e. Quaid-e-Azam, Liaquat Ali . Khan, Suharwardy, A. K. Fazal-ul-Haq, Feroz Khan Noon, Abual Kalam Azad, Nehru, and Gandhi.
Newspapers
Dawn, 1941—47
Civil and Military Gazette, 1939-40, 1947-48
Morning News, 1942—47
The Statesman, 1961—66
Hindustan Times, 1962—66
Native News Paper Reports:
Punjab, 1918—24
Bengal, 1876—1911
NWFP, 1869—1901
United Provinces, 1902—4
L/MIL Military Department Records, 1878—1949
Coast and Frontier Defences, 1885—95
Afghan War, 1878—80
Zhob Operations, 1884—96
Defence of India Plan, 1941—49
Staff Colleges, 1861—1939
Secret Military Despatches from India, 1906—35 (with gaps).
Black Mountain and Hazara Expedition, 1888—92
Proceedings of Commission for India, Indianisation, 1915—42
Partition of India and Armed Forces, 1946-47
Military Action in Tribal Areas, 1878—1946
L/PARL Parliamentary Branch Records
Indian Statutory (Simon) Commission Proceedings and Reports, 1927—30.
LIPO Viceroy’s Private Office Papers
High level appointments in Executive and Judiciary, 1919—47 (with gaps).
Important communications between Viceroy and Secretary of State, 1919—27.
Proceedings and Report of Hunter Committee in connection with disturbances, 1919.
Civil Disobedience Movement, 1930—35.
Private and Secret weekly letters between the Secretary of State and Viceroy, 1930-47.
Indian Round Table Conference, 1930—33
Statutory Commission, 1925—30
Constitutional Reforms, 1931—47
Government of India Act, 1935.
LIP&J Political and Judicial Department Records, 1931—1947
Governors’ FortnightlyRe-ports: Assam, 1937—47 Baluchistan, 1944—47.
Bengal, 1937—46
Behar, 1937—47
Central Provinces, 1937—47 Madras, 1937—47 NWFP, 1937—47
Orissa, 1937—47
Punjab, 1937—47
Sindh, 1937—47
United Provinces, 1937—47
Delhi, Ajmer & Coorg, 1941—48
Communal Riots at various places in India, 1931—47.
Shahid Gunj Mosque dispute, 1935—40.
Ahrar Ahmadiyya dispute Qadian, 1934—46.
Civil Disobedience Movement, 1932—34.
Confidential appreciation of Political situation in India, 1938-39.
Annual files on various political parties & issues, 1931—50.
Political & Economic situation in Afghanistan, 1943—46.
LIP &S Political and Judicial Department Records, 1837—1947
Political & Secret Home Correspondence, 1877—1903.
Political & Secret Letters & enclosures received from India, 1800—1884.
Collections to India: Political despatches, 1866 Secret letters received from various areas outside India, 1798—1880.
First World War, Khilafat and Pan-Islamisation, 1919—37.
Quarterly survey: Political and Constitutional position and British India, 1919—34 (with gaps).
Constitutional Reforms, 1924—47.
Fortnightly summary of events—Indian Princely States, 1930—47.
Internal and Political situation in Indian Princely States 1930—47.
Political and Secret Department Memoranda, 1837—1922.
Political agitation in Kashmir, 1931—47.
Consul of India: Minutes and dissent, Home Correspondence, 1858-1872.
British Policy towards Afghanistan, 1928—35.
L/WS War Staff papers, 1931—1949
Hyderabad affairs 1940—47 (with gaps).
India Political Situation, 1945—47.
Quarterly survey of the Political and Constitutional position in British India, 1943-44 (with gaps).
Indian national Army (INA), 1946-47.
Kashmir War, 1947—49.
Monthly appreciation reports – of the general situation in India, 1948-49.
Military Intelligence reports on Afghanistan and NWFP, 1935—45 (with gaps).
P— Proceedings and Consultations of the Government of India and the Presidencies and Provinces, 1702—1945. India Home Proceedings 1892—1910 (with gaps)
Q— Commissions Committees and Conference Records, 1895—1947 Proceedings of Indian Round Table’ Conference, 1930—33
R- Crown Representative Records, 1857—1947
Files of the office of the Viceroy relating to the Transfer of Power, 1947.
Internal Branch Proceedings, 1857—1911.
Princely State affairs, 1910—47.
Fortnightly reports on the political situation in princely states, 1929—47.
Civil Disobedience Movement in Princely States, 1930 33.
Bengal Government Fortnightly Reports, 1937—47.
Quit India Movement, 1942-43.
Files from the British Embassy in Kabul internal situation in Afghanistan, 1930—47.
Anglo Afghan Relations, 1917—47 (with gaps).
Partition Proceedings, 1947.
Cabinet Mission, 1945-46.
Retraction of Paramountcy Powers in the Indian States, 1942—47.
Muslim League agitation in the Punjab, 1946-47.
Files of the office of the PS to the Viceroy relating to the Transfer of Power, 1945—47.
Referendum in NWFP, 1947.
Punjab Disturbances, 1947.
Tribal Unrest in NWFP, 1919 – 47.
Russo-Afghan Relations, 1919–47 XVIII. Muslim agitation in Kashmir, 1931 47.
Congress activities in Princely States, 1931—47.
Political situation in Northern Areas, 1880—1947.
Kashmir Residency Files, 1906—31.
Operation in Waziristan, 1936-37.
V— Official Publications, 1700—1960
Legislative Assembly Debates, 1921—47
Proceedings of the Legislative Council of India, 1857—1872
Legislative Council Proceed-ings, 1927 29
The Imperial Gazetteer of India:
The Indian Empire: Descriptive, Historical, Economic, Administrative, Afghanistan and Nepal, Baluchistan, 1907
Provincial Series: Kashmir & Jammu, 1908-9 1908-9
Baluchistan District Gazetteers, 1911
Punjab District Gazetteers,1883-84
NWFP District Gazetteers, 1913-14
Sindh District Gazetteers, 1919
MSS EUR
PRIVATE PAPERS
Governors and Governors General of Fort William in Bengal,
Governors General and Viceroys of India
Warren Hastings, 1772—78
Northbrook, 1872—76
Lytton (1st Earl), 1876—80
Lansdowne, 1888—94
Elgin (9th Earl), 1894—98
Ampthi, 1904
Chelmsford, 1916—21
Reading, 1921—26
Linlithgow 1936—43
Mountbatten, 1947
ASSAM
Reid, 1937—42
Zetland, 1917—22
BENGAL
Reid 1938 and 1939 Grant, 1859 62
BIHAR
Mudie, 1943-44
BOMBAY
Elphinstone (13th Baron), 1853—60
Temple, 1877—80
CENTRAL PROVINCES
177 Temple, 1862-63, 1864—67
MADRAS
Ampthil, 1900—04
PUNJAB
Lawrence (John), 1859
Mudie (West Punjab), 1947—49
SINDH
Mudie, 1946-47
SENIOR OFFICE HOLDERS 1. Elliot (Henry), 1827—53
Middle-Ranking and Junior Office Holders Reade, 1821—85
Army Officers
Edwardes, 1847—62
Powel, 1837—1945
Secretaries of State for India
Wood, 1859—66
Cross, 1886—92
Hamilton, 1895—1903
Morley, 1905—10, 1911
Montague, 1917—22
Zetland, 1935—40
Parliamentary Under Secretaries
1. Montague, 1910—14
India and Burma Office Officials
INDIANS
1. Sorabji, 1882—1954
MISCELLANEOUS
Arther Collections, 1937—47
Marton Collection, 1930—47
Lyveden, 1857
Wellesly Papers, 1781—1805
However, it is a growing collection and additions are being made to it in consultation with an advisory committee composed of historians, scholars and archivists and headed by the Chairman of the Federal Public Service Commission. As _ a repository, NDC’s first priority is collection development. However, it pursues a modest publications programme. It publishes a newsletter on a regular basis. Other publications are based on listing, description and reproduction of official records.