Archival body NAI catalogs Indian diaspora records in Oman

The Indian embassy in Muscat, along with the National Archives of India (NAI), has completed archiving historical documents of the Indian diaspora living in the Middle Eastern country.

Thirty-two Gujarati families, with a history in Oman spanning up to 250 years, contributed to the project titled “The Oman Collection – Archival Heritage of the Indian Community in Oman.”

“By documenting and preserving the history of the Indian community in Oman, we are rekindling a vital part of our shared heritage and fostering a deeper engagement with our diaspora,” Indian ambassador Amit Narang said.

The digitization project covered records from families including Ratansi Purshotam, Khimji Ramdas, Haridas Nensey, Bhanji Haridas Mundrawalla, Naraindas and Shanta Toprani, and Maganlal Manji Vyas.

The special digitization and oral history project, the first overseas venture of its kind by the NAI, was conducted at the embassy premises from 19-27 May.

“This is the first time that we have collected and digitized the private archives of diaspora documents from abroad. This marks a historic milestone for the NAI and a significant step towards preserving the rich heritage and narratives of the diverse overseas Indian community,” Arun Singhal, director general of NAI, said.

Oman hosts about 700,000 Indians, with ties between the two nations stretching back at least 5,000 years, according to the embassy.

Since the late 18th century, merchant families from Mandvi in Gujarat’s Surat district and other parts of the state have settled in Sur, Muttrah and Muscat.

Today, they are integral to Omani society, with many having taken Omani citizenship while maintaining strong ties with India.

More than 7,000 documents in English, Arabic, Gujarati, and Hindi, including diaries, account books, ledgers, and telegrams, were digitized under the project.

The oldest document dates back to 1838, with most from the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

The digitized documents will be uploaded on ‘Abhilekh Patal’, the digital portal of the NAI, the embassy added.

Anil Khimji, director of the Khimji Ramdas group, said: “The archiving of the historical documents will preserve our history and showcase the enduring bonds between India and Oman”.