Dr.

Mahendra Khadgawat – the

E-governance Initiator from
Bikaner
by :
DR. T.K. JAIN
AFTERSCHO☺OL
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Where there is a will – there is a way. In this era of privatisation, we have

some administrators, who are able to create administrative excellence in
government sector also. Their administrative capabilities enable them to
transform their organisations. One such personality is Dr. Mahendra
Khadgawat. Organisational transformation is the process of moving the
organisation towards a status of desired values, and instilling spirit of
rejuvenation, trust, collaboration, collective efforts across the organisation.
Transformational leaders are those leaders who are able to intill a new
vision in the entire organisation and who are able to give a new direction
to the entire organisation.
There are many administrators in India, who are credited for their
initiatives in e-governance. One such person is Dr. Mahendra Khadgawat.
He introduced E-Governance in Department of Archieves, where he
works. 5 years ago, when other government departments were suffering
from problems of reducing manpower, increasing workload and inability to
cope with rising public expectations, Dr. Mahendra was busy in
formulating a new vision for Archieves of Bikaner. He was soon able to
convince his higher authorities about importance of digitalisation of
archieves. He was the first in the country to introduce massive
digitalisation of archieves.

Hundreds of scholars in History and Archiology visit Bikaner every year to

get a glimpse of the office of The Rajasthan State Archives of Bikaner. It
has millions of hand written documents from the princely states of
Rajasthan and from Moghul period to pre-independence struggle. Dr.
Khadgawant has transformed this department and made it all in a very
systematic manner. Due to his initiatives, over 6 million documents have
been digitalised by the archieves. Many of these will now be available
online also. It is amazing to find ultramodern digitalisation equipments
and processes being used in this centre (many of these processes and
technologies have been used here for the first time in the entire country).

Change Management Model of Dr. Khadgawat

It is interesting to know about change management model adopted by Dr.
Khadgawat. He doesnt think about his limitations, but he always creates a
vision and looks at his resources to reach the vision. His team ha reduced
in number from 150 to less than 100, administrative hurdles are every
where, and public expectations are rising – with all these there is no if or
but for Dr. Khadgawat. For him digitalisation of Archieves is a passion and
he is able to instill the same spirit in his team. Working for 16 hours a day
is a usual habit for him and for his team – because there is a challenge –
the challenge to transform the Archieves of Bikaner.

Preserving Rare Documents

Archieves of Bikaner has over 300 rare documents. These documents were
once supposed to be kept in lockers only. Dr. Khadgawat pioneered the
concept of History for masses. He suggested that history should be for the
people to see and understand. He now prepares for starting a document
museum – where these rare documents will be put for public display so
that people can get an idea about history

Improving land Records

Thousands of old records relating to land were lying in the Rajasthan State
Archieves. Dr. Khadgawant introduced digitalisation of pattas (land
record) also. This type of initiative will improve land management system
and records.

Promoting National Integration and National Values

Archieves can be a source of building a national pride. Dr. Khadgawat has
a vision of starting a freedom struggle theatre and display centre.
Contribution of the leaders of freedom struggle will be displayed here.
When a person sees the freedom struggle movement, listens to interaction
with a leader who sacrificed his life for the nation and reads rare
documents relating to freedom struggle – it will create a rare blend for
instilling national values. It may soon happen in Bikaner. The exhibition
hall of Archieves has rare documents on display. Mr. Rahmat Ali and Mr.
Sunil Joshi explain the visitors about the details of the rare documents. A
person can listen to the voice of freedom fighters (through over 250 CD
compiled by this department) or see the handwritten documents of the
freedom fighter or see some rare photographs. Thus it is truly HISTROY
FOR THE MASSES

Support to Higher Education

An ultra modern research centre is being set up in Archieves Bikaner so
that scholars from across the globe can study archieves of Bikaner and
make their research. Dr. Khadgawat has cnceptualised a plan for
promoting higher education and research in history. He plans to organise
one national seminar of historians every year to enable scholars to discuss
the historical documents.

Developing Bikaner as a centre for Institutional Tourism

Bikaner is very popular tourist destination in Rajasthan for its sparkling

golden sand dunes, impressive red stone forts, marvelous havelis and
imposing palaces. Of all the attractions the one that tops the chart, is camel
safari in Bikaner. Bikaner is known for the best camel breeds in the world
and the extensive Camel Research & Breeding Farm in the world is
located here itself. It is owing to this that Bikaner is referred to as the
Camel Country. However this is just not it. There are many other attractive
spots in Bikaner known for the richness in historical records they hold. Of
those places the Rajasthan State Archives in Bikaner enjoys special repute.

Tourists want to see culture, heritage and rare collections. They know that
the Archieves of Bikaner has in store invaluable administrative record of
Mughal period and the record made during the administration of the
princely states of Rajasthan comprising of Farman, Mansur, Bahiat, Pattas,
Parwanas, Rukkas Chithia and so on. Thus, with the initiatives of Dr.
Khadgawat and his team, the archieves of Bikaner has converted into a
worth visiting spots and is counted among the top Museums and Galleries
in Rajasthan. Dr. Khadgawat visualises as a prime tourism spots in
Bikaner. It is his dream that a person visiting Bikaner must not return back
without visiting the Document museam of Archieves of Bikaner. There is a
logic in this vision. The department has completely transformed itself and
it holds some very invaluable administrative records of Mughal Period
such as Persian Farmans, Nishans, Manshurs, Akbarat, Vakil Report,
Arzdasht and Khatoot. It also contains interesting records that were created
during the administration of the Princely states of Rajasthan such as
Bahiat, Pattas, Parwanas, Rukkas, Chithiat and so on.
It is obviously one of the most learning centres of Bikaner and known for
displaying unmatched and truly priceless collection of records. The record
it holds is very significant to researchers all over the world. Besides, this
custodian of ancient records also offers amazing facilities like
microfilming, reference library and research rooms which help researchers
immensely.

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