Samipya 2000 Vol 17 Ank 03 04

SR No.: 535817
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Bhartiben Shelat, R T Savalia
Publisher: Bholabhai Jeshingbhai Adhyayan Sanshodhan Vidyabhavan
Publication Year: 2000
Total Pages: 84
Language: Gujarati
Classification: Magazine, India_Samipya, & India
File Size: 8 MB

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cultural heritage. We all are very very thankful to this august educational institution for hosting these annual gatherings.
I am originally trained as a student in the field of epigraphy and numismatics. After joining the Gujarat Vidyapith in 1963 I got myself initiated in modern Indian history especially in the history of India's independence movement, for the birth of the Gujarat Vidyapith had taken place in the wake of non-cooperation movement under the guiding spirit of Mahatma Gandhiji in 1920. Thus this institute of higher academic learnings then and deemed university since 1965 offered me an opportunity to train students in their persue of the study of the freedom history of our mother land, for this was one of the three main thrust areas of the department of History and Culture headed by this speaker. The perusal of the contributions of the freedom fighters of Gujarat during independence struggle helped to further my knowledge of verbal tradition, as one of the sources of writing history, for the study of our freedom movement is far and wide based on Mukha-Shabda i.e. word-of-mouth of our freeodm fighters. With this little insight in the subject this speaker was enabled to build an Archival cell under the aegis of his department in 1983 and developed different level courses in Archival science leading to Ph.D. degree since 1984 for the first time at the university level. Very humbly I should say that for nearly three decades of unstinted work in the department with the help and cooperation of my colleagues, not only in the thrust areas but in historical conceptual research too, has helped in fetching for this department in the Gujarat Vidyapith a coveted upgraded special assistance programme (DSA) from the U.G.C. for five years in 1991.
With this little insight in the subject I would prefer a few words on the impact of oral sources at a juncture when we celebrate the 50th year of our independence. Though our very precious struggle mostly took place during this very century and when there is no paucity of both material evidences and written documents, the sources of writing histories of our freedom movement both at national and regional levels, are mostly verbal ones or preserved in words-of-mouth.
While venturing to present some of my results of investigation on the subject I seek your forbearance for recounting some of the points on the issue of this speech made earlier by my distinguished learned predecessors. Before I proceed with, let us join the bereaved families in paying our utmost homage to our departed distinguished fellow historians and archaeologists whose absence today has been felt by us all. Let those souls rest in peace for ever.
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(2114144 : MS21042, 2000-HIRT, 2009