The British Library and the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) have announced a framework agreement to enable both parties to work together to identify research priorities in India and the UK and work jointly on projects that support research in this field. The agreement seeks to build stronger bonds between Indian and UK-based research and Higher Education institutions.
Managed by a joint steering committee, both parties will meet on a regular basis to review progress of the agreement and agree on specific future research projects. Both organisations are visiting India next week to meet representatives from the government, National Archives, research funding agencies and leading academic institutions.
The AHRC has identified India as a country of priority for engagement in order to increase research opportunities in this field, contribute to greater understanding of India and British culture and history, and facilitate the study of Indian history in education institutions. The agreement with the British Library is designed to support these aims.
The British Library aims to transform research in this field by improving access to its South Asian collections and therefore facilitating new subject areas for scholarship. Part of the Library's vision is to digitise a critical mass of original source material that comprises the India Office Records (itself over 14 km of shelving).
