ஆவண விவரிப்பு│Archive description
Nalayini Indran (நளாயினி இந்திரன்) was born in Puloly, Point Pedro, Sri Lanka. Before marriage, Nalayini Kanapathippillai (நளாயினி கணபதிப்பிள்ளை) worked at the National Archives of Sri Lanka from 1991-1995. She got married in 1995 and migrated to London, England. She worked as an assistant archivist at the National Archives of Sri Lanka. She was the only Tamil who worked at the archive side at the National Archives of Sri Lanka. She shares her memories and experience about her life back home, National Archives of Sri Lanka, archive and library in North-East of Sri Lanka – the Tamil areas. Importance of documentation and archiving for Tamils, administrative records, historical documents. Community archives in Diaspora.
Title: Nalayini Indran: Tamil archivist in Sri Lanka in the 1990s
Creator: DsporA Tamil Archive
Subject: Tamil women at the National Archive of Sri Lanka.
Contributor – an oral history: Nalayini Indran. London, UK. Episode 1 and 2: 20.08.2020. Episode 3: 28.12.2020.
Contributor – interviewer: Baheerathy Kumarendiran. Oslo, Norway.
Contributor – the logger: Baheerathy Kumarendiran. Oslo, Norway. 01.01.2021.
Last updated log: Baheerathy Kumarendiran. Oslo, Norway. 03.03.2021.
Format: Audio (mobile)
Type: Oral history
Identifier: Episode 1 – https://open.spotify.com/episode/2utpKaK0kf6oMEHpBdlP0x
Episode 2 – https://open.spotify.com/episode/2ThGPcuPa5YIbJPMc9JiZ2
Episode 3 – https://open.spotify.com/episode/5vCxRUHvO7apg7poxzUlPU
Language: Tamil
Rights: DsporA Tamil Archive and the narrator have shared copyright to the oral history interview.
Relation: Cite this oral history archival material according to the appropriate referencing style.
Reference code: 530.0_20_02-10
வாய்மொழி வரலாறு பதிவு│Oral History log (PDF)
Note: Time codes in this log starts at oral history interviewee´s answer.
1:3 (20.08.2020. 01:25:40)
| 00:00:00 | Start part 1 |
| 00:00:06 | Introduction |
| 00:00:12 | Personalia. Nalayini Indran – நளாயினி இந்திரன். Born in 1965. Studied Tamil special. Jaffna university. 1991-1995 assistant archivist. National Archives of Sri Lanka. Married and migrated to London. Studied MA information management. Works as a senior librarian. |
| 00:01:35 | Life back home. Before the 1980s. Close-to-nature lifestyle. Born in Puloly, Vadamaradchi. Many books at home. Parents encouraged reading books. Didn´t go to the library. Now started to write stories about life back home. |
| 00:02:54 | From the 1980s ethnic conflict. Valuable experience. Didn’t give up education. Developed. |
| 00:03:30 | Education. Interested in reading. Had good marks. Interested in the Tamil language. Parents encouraged. Did Arts. Tamil special at university. Wrote many articles and stories. |
| 00:04:53 | Hobbies. Nature. Friends and family. Lots of time in reading and writing. |
| 00:05:46 | Marriage. 1995. |
| 00:06:03 | Job at National Archives of Sri Lanka. War environment. Difficulties and sufferings. Completed university 1989. Applied for the job of an assistant archivist. |
| 00:07:15 | Applied for the job. Father´s tradition to collect. பெட்டகம் – “Pettakam” – wooden storage locker at home. Collect books, manuscript, documents. Interest and familiar with history and preservation. |
| 00:08:53 | 1990. Colombo. Attended interview. Return to Jaffna. Difficult transport. |
| 00:09:45 | Appointment letter. |
| 00:11:24 | 1991 started the job at the National Archives of Sri Lanka |
| 00:12:03 | First experience at the job. Different situation. First time at a big organisation. Enthusiastic. No other Tamils. Only Singhalese. Fitted in easily. New experience. |
| 00:13:22 | As the only Tamil. Difficult situation. Couldn´t talk in Tamil. Learnt to read and write Singhalese. Included me friendly. Didn’t feel lonely. |
| 00:14:58 | Handling the documents. Visited all repositories. Workshops. Many Tamils approached. Research purposes. Helped as possible. Approached Tamils were noted. Restrictions. Caution and observation. |
| 00:18:36 | Tamils and archive. An unclear term for Tamils. Many unused documents. Not only books. Also administrative records. |
| 00:20:16 | No reach among Tamils. No publicity from the government side. Government servants in Tamil areas. Didn´t emphasis importance. No functionality at Tamils areas. |
| 00:21:23 | Before Jaffna library burn. Many manuscripts, palm leaf and documents. |
| 00:21:42 | Administrative records. Government agents – “Katcheri” – கச்சேரி. Records rooms. In charge of lack of knowledge. No awareness and routines. No proper archive knowledge is given or followed up. |
| 00:21:58 | “Katcheri” – கச்சேரி. Like state secretory. Government agent at every district. GA office – Government agent office. Administrative records at “Katcheri”. Every “Katcheri – கச்சேரி with a records room. |
| 00:23:54 | Visited the records room in “Katcheri”. Not preserved properly. |
| 00:24:19 | One of the tasks of an archivist. Contact government departments. Train archive routines. No such contact with North-East provinces. No-one provided follow up or training. War situation. |
| 00:26:00 | Archival activities/ system in Tamil areas. Ancient time. A big gap. Manuscript and palm leaf. Private individual collection. Collections at temples and related organisations. Comparison with Greek and other cultures. |
| 00:28:02 | Period of Tamil kingdom. Before Portuguese time. administrative structures. Record-keeping system. Identified terms such as அதிகாரி – “athikari” – officer, முதலியார் – “mudaliar”, கண்காணி – “kankani” – superintendent. Land registry and revenue systems. Gather information. |
| 00:30:52 | Colonial time. 1505 Portuguese. தோம்பு – “Thompu” – land registry system. Public registry. Portuguese destroyed when Dutches captured. |
| 00:32:24 | 1640s Dutches time. Re-implemented தோம்பு – “Thompu” system and systemised it. Centralised in Kandy. Centralised administrative offices in Galle and Colombo. Unsure about any centralisation in Jaffna or other places. For sure in Jaffna library. |
| 00:33:53 | 1796 British period. Total record management and archive system with modification. Custodian of official records. |
| 00:34:29 | 1803 British period. “Keeper of Dutch records” position. |
| 00:34:38 | 1901 Archivist chief secretary’s office in Colombo |
| 00:34:43 | 1947 “Department of Government archivists” position |
| 00:34:57 | Current Sri Lankan archive system |
| 00:35:21 | The daily routine at National Archives of Sri Lanka. Maintain documents. Indexing, guide, make available, give access, contact government departments, give training and workshop. |
| 00:36:00 | Grief. No work could be done in the Tamil area. |
| 00:36:23 | Visited Vavuniya “Katcheri”. Training in a Tamil area. |
| 00:37:40 | No category as Tamil documents at National Archives of Sri Lanka. But categorised as British records, Dutches records, published materials, confidential documents. Documents created in Tamil areas included. Many documents. But no wording as “Tamil documents”. |
| 00:38:56 | Foreign researchers. |
| 00:39:38 | Access for a foreigner. Declare the purpose of the approach. Guide foreigners. |
| 00:40:52 | Printed publication. Government cassettes. Sessional papers. Handsets. Administrative records. Audience. |
| 00:42:46 | Library in the National Archives of Sri Lanka. |
| 00:43:13 | Vavuniya “Katcheri”. One visited “Katcheri”. Only one visit. Encouraged my wish. Travelled alone. Important records. Records of people, displacements, lifestyle. Lack of importance. Lack of awareness. Lack of preservation. |
| 00:45:54 | Government training programs. Unsure to Tamil areas. |
| 00:47:30 | Tamil women. Carrier. Involvement. After 1950 Eelam Tamil literature. Expressed in writing. Feminism. |
| 00:48:37 | Father a lawyer. Mother a teacher. Mother strong women. Expressed equality in writing. |
| 00:49:28 | Only Tamil women in the National Archives of Sri Lanka. Interesting. Knowledge. Progressive thinking. Feminist workshop. TV and radio interviews. Article writing. Marriage proposals. Challenging time. Parents in Jaffna. Wartime. Emotional time. Critical time. Care from co-workers. |
| 00:52:07 | Challenges. Difficult to work in Colombo. Tamils were monitored. Arrests. Half family in Jaffna. Worries and depression. Concentrated on work and carrier. |
| 00:54:28 | Archive structure in Sri Lanka. Centralised in Colombo. Branch in Kandy. J.R Jayewardene archive. Private collection. No other archives. |
| 00:55:35 | (A pause. Emotional.) Busy time. Writing and work. The suffering of Tamils. Sorrow memory. Fear. Bombing and shelling. Not normal time. Unfortunate time. But I established myself. |
| 00:58:09 | Parents in Jaffna. A sister and a brother. Worries. Difficult communication. Letters. Moved to Colombo. |
| 00:59:56 | Tamils and books. Reading. No full potential. Textbook-reading. Exam reading. No full reach of reading-for-pleasure. |
| 01:01:48 | Tamils and library. Jaffna library. வாசிக சாலை – “Vasigasalai” – Public library. Village. Secondary school library. No regular contact. No regular visit to the library. |
| 01:03:49 | Structure of public libraries. Public libraries. Cities. National library services board. Library administration. Library at secondary schools. University libraries. Lack of promotion of reading. |
| 01:04:55 | Need organisations to promote reading. The UK. Library every 10 minutes distance. Reading part of life. Need similar opportunity in Tamil areas. Need libraries in a short distance. Part-of-a- family. Opportunities. Facilities. North-East. |
| 01:06:56 | Before Jaffna library burn. Library facilities. சதாவதனி நூல் நிலையம் – “Sathavathani Noolnilaiyam”. Small libraries. Old books. Book donation. Didn´t reach everyone. I did not visit any small libraries. Home library. Bought books. No attraction and connection. Jaffna library. |
| 01:08:21 | வாசிக சாலை – “Vasigasalai” and பொது நூலகம் – “Pothu noolagam”. Description. சனசமூக நிலையம் – “Sana samooge nilayam” and வாசிக சாலை – “Vasigesalai”. Town council. GA office responsibility. Newspapers. Small books. India. Periodicals. அம்புலிமாமா – “Ampulimama”. No variety. No cooperation with schools. No promotion. Didn´t reach the public. |
| 01:09:30 | Private library. நூல் நிலையம் – “Noolnilaiyam”. Private initiative. |
| 01:09:52 | Burning of Jaffna library. Shock. Tensed day. No memory. Child. Connect now. Library experience in London. Created collections. A book like a baby. Job changes. Nostalgic. Sad. Loss of Jaffna library. Strike. Historical importance. |
| 01:12:16 | Jaffna library. Jaffna town. Distance. 22-25 miles. வடமராட்சி – Vadamaradchi. Other university students. Memory. Like funeral. |
| 01:13:28 | Impact. Big library. Loss. This is not the first. Didn´t give up. Share memory in London. Interviews. |
| 01:15:04 | Book interest. Chose job at archive and library. |
| 01:16:07 | Personal. Documentation activities. Back home. Father. Book collection. Grandfather. பெட்டகம் – “Pettakam”. Hereditary history. ஓலைச்சுவடி. – “oolai chuvadi” – palm-leaf manuscript. நளவெண்பா ஓலைச்சுவடி – Nalavenpaa oolai chuvadi – Nalavenpaa palm leaf manuscript. Donation to university and lecturers. Migration. Left behind. Father re-writing. I collected books. Left behind. Brought my writings. |
| 01:18:25 | Current archival activities. London. No such activities. Keeping my articles. Collecting books. |
| 01:18:53 | Articles. More than 10 short stories. Published. Newspaper articles. Tamil articles. Importance of records. National Archives of Sri Lanka publications. “Tamil newspapers of 19th century Sri Lanka and chronological list of 20th century Tamil newspapers at the National Archives of Sri Lanka” article. Tamil affairs. English article. “Sesquicenennial Commermorative Volume of the Royal Asiatic Society of Sri Lanka 1845-1995” book. Thank you. Assistant director. Motivated. Periodical articles. Feminism articles. Tamil literature. Topics. |
| 01:22:20 | 1995 married. Migration. |
| 01:22:53 | From archives to the library. Master degree. Three choices. Tamil. Archives. Library. Poor job opportunity. Volunteering work. Contacts. “Charted institution of Librarian and information professionals”. Library organisations. Guidance. |
| 01:25:04 | Importance. Record keeping and archiving. Ethnicity history. Collect and save. Awards and knowledge. Transfer. |
| 01:25:40 | End part 1 |
2:3 (20.08.2020. 00:04:14)
| 00:00:00 | Start part 2: additional |
| 00:00:02 | Souvenir. 1995 November. After migration. September 1995. National Archives of Sri Lanka publication. “Disaster planning for libraries and archives in Sri Lanka” article. Worldwide library disasters. Italy. Los Angeles. Unfortunate. Sri Lanka incident. Burning of Jaffna library. Not mentioned. |
| 00:01:48 | Job opportunity. Friendly. Visited homes. Included. Probationary period system. Difficult. Normally after 3 years. Permanent. Exams. No permanent. |
| 00:03:02 | Emphasis. Two things. Search for documents. Gather and collect. Research work. Use document at National Archives of Sri Lanka. Bring to the public. Sort manuscripts in Tamil areas. Systematic. Next generation. Own initiation. Responsibility. |
| 00:04:11 | End part 2: additional |
3:3 (28.12.2020. 00:07:37)
| 00:00:00 | Start part 3: additional |
| 00:00:15 | Emphasis. Tamil documentation and archiving. Worldwide awareness and activities. Record management. Administrative records. Next generation. Structure. Infrastructure. Necessity. Collective initiation. Diaspora. Tamil archive. Tamil community archives. Tamil centralised archives. Branches in every country. |
| 00:03:18 | Mr Navasothy – நவசோதி. Death. Another Tamil lady. Administrative side. |
| 00:04:46 | Advice. Community Archives. Reading. Articles. Books. Interpretation. Small community. Ethnicity. Women’s group. Variety. Spread activities. Systematize the activities. Opportunities. Jews. The UK. Jews museums and archives. |
| 00:06:44 | Tamil organisations. Administrative records. Much important. Next generation. Evidence. History. Preserve. Individual initiation. |
| 00:07:33 | End part 3: additional |
புதுப்பிப்பு│Update: 28.04.2023
புலம்பெயர் தமிழ் சுவடிகள் காப்பகங்கள் 