The Naga Archives and Research Centre (NARC): Digitising an Indigenous Movement
The Naga Archives and Research Centre (NARC), a repository of historical documents on the Naga political movement and armed struggle, is in the process of being digitised with support from The Edinburgh Futures Institute. The archives contain a library collection of historical material relating to the Naga fight for independence from the Indian state, the world’s longest running civil war.
The digitisation process involves 40,000 pages of documents collected from political and religious events, consultations and large public gatherings across the Naga region over a period of almost a century; these materials include local publications, souvenirs, and photographs of 50 Naga leaders. Amongst the archive are unique ‘prophecy files’, materials sharing indigenous knowledge that foretells future events through dreams, visions, and prayer.
The project is led by Dr. Arkotong Longkumer, Lecturer in Religious Studies at University of Edinburgh’s School of Divinity. Dr Longkumer explains the importance of preserving and digitising the Naga Archives:
“This archive helps us understand both how knowledge is negotiated and how national futures are understood, especially in moments of uncertainty and crisis.”