Yale University launches South Asian Independence Movement project

Bangalore, Aug 14 (UNI) On the eve of the 60th anniversary of India's independence, the South Asian Studies Council (SASC) of the Whitney and Betty MacMillan Centre for International and Area Studies at Yale University has launched the South Asian Independence Movement (SAIM) project.

The SAIM project's mission is to preserve the broadest historical record of the independence struggle in colonial South Asia involving people in today's nations of Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, a press release said here today.

The mission has sought physical or digital artifacts and memorabilia such as letters, diary, speeches/lectures, unpublished poetry or short stories, albums/scrapbooks, photographs, films, videotapes and audiotapes or other objects or artifacts that might have relevance to events or persons involved in the independence movement. Personal recollections and narratives describing experiences from the period are also sought to enrich the published and archival record.

In addition, the SAIM Project aimed to supplement the scholarly and historic collections of the Yale University Library by filling key gaps in books and other archival materials collections related to the independence movement.

"These human insights are important to gather before they fade away because they can bring to life the published record of the era," said Mridu Rai, Associate Professor of History, Yale University. "We are asking people to help us write history by sharing with us their reflections along with any memorabilia they might possess relating to those momentous times." The current SAIM project community liaisons were Dr Barin Desai (India), A G Abbasi (Pakistan), Rahima Chaudhury (Bangladesh), and Nihal C de Lanerolle (Sri Lanka). SAIM and the Council would also call on a group of expert advisors for the project including Rajmohan Gandhi (University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign), D R Sardesai (University of California, Los Angeles), Ela Bhatt (Self-Employed Women's Association) and Shashi Tharoor (Afras Ventures) among others, the release said.

UNI