The aim of this project is to create an archive of documents of
socio-historical relevance to historians, anthropologists,
sociologists and linguists. Most of the documents identified for
digitisation are destined to disappear in the near future given
both the very humid climate of southern India and neglected
condition in which they are stored. These documents, recorded on
paper, palm-leaves and copper plates, provide a rare and unique
opportunity to glimpse a variety of aspects of social history of
village life in the more remote parts of the Tamil region at a
time when new power structures and social identities were being
forged both with and against local traditional feudal systems
and British colonial legislations. The documents are scattered
in the homes of Tamil villagers, especially the descendants of
traditional power holders, who are unaware of the importance
such documents can have for understanding social history. Though
unaware of the scholarly value, the document holders are not
prepared to part