With the country celebrating the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav on the occasion of 75 years of its Independence it is necessary to look at the history of how the nation came into being. And doing that is the Union Ministry of Culture’s National Archives of India which on the occasion of its 132nd Foundation Day of Archives, has organised an archival exhibition “Instruments of Accession & Merger: The Journey of Integration”.

The exhibition was inaugurated by Meenakashi Lekhi, the Minister of State for Culture External Affairs yesterday. Speaking on the occasion, she said history is history and even though not everything may be likeable or agreeable about it but is still necessary to read and write our history to strengthen our roots and lay the foundation for the future.

Showcasing important information from the NAI records, , repositories, library collections the exhibition unfolds the drama and action of the unification and merger by signing of the Instrument of Accession and the implementation of the modalities of the Instrument of Merger. Included in the documents are those pertaining to Cooch Behar and Tripura from the east, Bajana and Kutch from the west, those of Kashmir from the north, of Mysore, Travancore, and Hyderabad from the south and of Bhopal from the central region.

There are numerous photographs, press clippings, private papers and related maps on display.

The show will remain open till May 10 except public holidays, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.