Our Libraries Are Colonial Archives: South Asian Collections in Western and Global North Libraries

Abstract

South Asian collections in the West have complex histories. Usually started at the time of colonial rule and built on practices of acquisition, they often involved the removal of manuscripts and books from the subcontinent with little or no compensation to the owners. This in turn created gaps in knowledge locally. While following the founding of the independent, post-colonial nation-states, acquisition practices changed, a culture of coloniality continued through book exchanges and the classification system rooted in Western frameworks of knowledge and colonial mindsets. Moreover, for scholars outside the physical libraries, there are barriers to access the collections. Looking at current library practices, and with University of Wisconsin-Madison’s collections as a case study, this article outlines some historical problematics and points towards new directions in working toward decolonising the library.