Panaji: State govt on Thursday formed a committee of experts to identify and compile a priority list of historical records and documents on Goa that can be digitally acquired from public and private archives and libraries in Portugal.“It was one of the budget assurances of govt to acquire records related to Goa available in various archival repositories. In this regard, in the last fiscal year, we were able to receive certain files about Goa’s struggle for freedom available in Maharashtra archives, which will be uploaded on the department’s website by Nov 30,” director of archives, Balaji Shenoy, told TOI.Building on that effort this year, the department of archives received a response from the ministry of external affairs offering cooperation for the exchange of archival records from Portugal related to Goa. Director of NRI affairs, Anthony D’Souza, has been appointed as the liaison and nodal officer for the initiative.Shenoy said the Indian Mission in Lisbon recently held a video conference with authorities there to understand Goa govt’s requirements and to discuss a priority list for the acquisition of digital records. “The committee will prepare a list of documents that can be acquired from Portugal. These digitised records, once acquired, will be hosted on the website of the department,” he said.The committee includes Parag Porobo, professor of history at the D D Kosambi School of Social Sciences and Behavioural Studies; Remy Dias, professor of history at Govt College of Arts, Science and Commerce, Quepem; Anabelle Lobo, assistant professor at Dnyanprassarak Mandal’s College and Research Centre, Mapusa; and Sharmila Pais e Martins, associate professor at St Xavier’s College, Mapusa.The committee has been directed to submit its first list within one month of its constitution. Its tenure will be six months from the date the order is published in the gazette.
