DIGITAL PRESERVATION OF TRADITIONAL INDIAN CHITRAKALA: ROLE OF COLLEGE LIBRARIES

Abstract [English]

India’s cultural heritage is one of the core strengths of the country. There are several Chitrakala including Madhubani, Warli, Pattachitra, Gond, Kalamkari, Phad, and miniature painting styles which represents artistic philosophy, wisdom. Nowadays, many of these creatives and historical traditions are being threatened due to modernization, environmental deterioration, documentations, rights, etc. These all are priceless assets of our country. Its high time to do the digital preservation of such culture / Chitrakala. Preservation doesn’t mean the digitization. It should be legacy content, long-term preservation, replica, disaster recovery, documentation, etc.
In the academic context, College libraries play a vital role to preserve the traditional Chitrkala. College Libraries can evolve from traditional information repositories into dynamic digital knowledge centers. College libraries may derive the mature methodology for the preservation and same may be treated as SoPs (set of protocols). There are five steps to execute the preservation
1) Identification of chitrakala (paintings, sketches, manuscripts, visual narratives, etc)
2) Identification and implementation of Institutional Repository (IR) using open-source platform including Mirroring, backup of IR
3) Digitization of Chitrakala
4) Metadata of each component including patent / design details, if any
5) Add-on documentation for each component and interlinking with relevant chitrakala. Teaching, research, and multidisciplinary studies would assist to execute this step which helps future generations become more culturally conscious.
The development of institutional repositories, digital archives, virtual exhibitions, and open access platforms, college libraries can significantly enhance the visibility, accessibility, and scholarly use of Chitrakala resources at both national and global levels.
There are also several challenges for the libraries to do the preservation work. Some of the major challenges are copyright management, technology identification, technical knowledge, budget constraints, specialized training, and support from departments, etc. Sustainable digital solutions, skills building, and legislative assistance are needed to address these problems. This paper highlights how college libraries may significantly contribute to cultural sustainability and knowledge continuity in the digital age by actively participating in the digital preservation of traditional Indian Chitrakala, thereby reaffirming their growing role as guardians of cultural legacy.