Archive Nepal: Shyam Chitrakar Collection
In this issue: Shyam Chitrakar Introduction, Project Update, Donor Gratitude, Project Timeline and More.
Introducing: Shyam Chitrakar
In a Kathmandu Post article, Mr. Shyam Chitrakar was aptly described as the 'Accidental Archiver,' a title that perfectly encapsulates his remarkable contributions to the documentation and preservation of Nepal's rich sports history.Â
Even at the age of 82, he retains the same passion and vigour that fuelled his career in the 1970s when he embarked on his journey as a young photographer. With no formal training but an unwavering love for sports, Shyam Chitrakar's lenses have diligently captured every significant national and international sporting event in Nepal, from the Inaugural First National Games in 1982 to the historic First South Asian Games in 1984.Â
His extensive collection comprises thousands of photographs and videos that meticulously chronicle half a century of Nepal's sporting legacy, constituting the largest sports archive in the country.
Unfortunately, due to a lack of support and proper archiving infrastructure, much of his invaluable work, including the original negatives, now languishes in dusty stacks, tucked away in a corner of his Bagbazar shop.Â
Some of these have suffered irreparable & irreversible damage over time.
Shyam Chitrakar & Archive Nepal Partnership
We realized the profound significance of Shyam Chitrakar's collection and the need for its digital preservation.
In October of 2022, we initiated contact with Shyam Dai, we signed an MOU, and got to work!
Phase 1 of our Project involved:
cataloging
rehousing to protect most of the negatives and,
digitization and digital preservation of 500 rare photographs
A work in progress… the meticulous task of archiving began after we hired our first paid Archive Assistant: Kominthal Thami.
Komin started scanning photos 1 by 1, preserving the essence of the original. With each scan, our objective was to safeguard these treasures for future generations and make them readily accessible through our platform.
Phase 1 COMPLETED! This marks our first step towards achieving a major milestone to create - Nepal’s 1st Digital Sports Archive
Our commitment to digitizing Shyam Dai's collection remains unwavering, and we envision multiple phases ahead. Most importantly, the Shyam Chitrakar Collection represents a monumental milestone in our broader mission—to create Nepal's very 1st Digital Sports Archive.Â
This Collection will serve as a sanctuary that preserves and showcases the trials, tribulations, and triumphs of Nepali athletes, offering a window into our sporting heritage that will endure for generations to come.
We are delighted to announce that additional 3000 photos, previously digitized by Shyam Dai will be available through our platform. This endeavour solidifies the ‘Shyam Chitrakar Collection’ as the single largest digital sports archive in Nepal.
In the words of Nelson Mandela, "Sport has the power to change the world. It has the power to inspire, to unite people in a way that little else does."
We share a similar aspiration, hoping that the Shyam Chitrakar collection will serve as a wellspring of inspiration for the generations to come, motivating them to carry the torch forward and achieve global excellence.Â
We believe that this collection will encourage individuals, corporations, and the government, to unite in supporting our athletes—the true gems of our nation. We aim to shed light on the critical importance of archiving as a means of preserving our history for prosperity.
VIEW OUR DONOR LIST HERE. Thank you for being in our corner!
Our heartfelt appreciation to our digital partner, Professional Education Consultancy, for generously sponsoring the scanner and external drive. Their support has been instrumental in making a significant impact, one scan at a time.
Shyam Chitrakar, as appeared on The Kathmandu Post