Directorate of Archaeology, Archives & Museums β Government of Madhya Pradesh
The Directorate of Archaeology, Archives & Museums (DAAM) is the nodal department of the Government of Madhya Pradesh for the protection, preservation, and dissemination of the archaeological, archival, and museum heritage of the state. Established to safeguard the rich cultural legacy of central India, the Department manages monuments, museums, archival repositories, and a growing digital library.
The MP Digital Library brings together three principal collections β manuscripts, rare books, and the Directorate's own publications β into a single freely searchable online repository, so that material scattered across the districts of Madhya Pradesh can be studied, taught and enjoyed from anywhere in the world.
The library is part of the national Gyan Bharatam Mission and contributes to the Ministry of Culture's broader effort to digitise and publicise India's documentary heritage.
The manuscript collection is the heart of the digital library. It ranges from the palm-leaf Jain sutras of Mandu to the Persian chronicles of Burhanpur, from the astronomy treatises of the Ujjain observatory to the Bundeli ballads of Orchha. Each manuscript is catalogued with its script, material, scribe, period, condition and palaeographic notes, and wherever the condition of the original permits, presented in full high-resolution scan.
Explore manuscripts βThe rare-books collection documents the administrative and diplomatic history of central India through scarce printed editions, bound farmans, revenue registers and durbar correspondence. These volumes are invaluable primary sources for economic and political historians working on the princely states and Mughal-period Malwa.
Explore rare books βBeyond preserving primary material, the Directorate is itself an active publisher. Its imprint β DAAM Press, Bhopal β issues descriptive catalogues, critical editions of inscriptions, archaeological excavation reports, research monographs and the Directorate's own annual report.
Explore publications βSafeguarding monuments, manuscripts and museum objects under the MP Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites Act.
Administering state-run museums and mounting exhibitions that bring the state's heritage to the public.
Maintaining and enlarging the state archives, cataloguing accessions and ensuring long-term preservation.
High-resolution scanning, OCR, metadata enrichment and online publication of the Directorate's holdings.
Commissioning scholarly editions, cataloguing projects and archaeological reports under the DAAM Press imprint.
Running training courses for heritage guides, teachers and researchers, and supporting academic collaborations.
