CENDIT Papers
Content Description
Archival material related to the work of the Centre for Development of Instructional Technology (CENDIT), an experimental AV media organisation based in New Delhi. The collection includes printed items such as training manuals, brochures, newsletters, audio-visual education guides, symposium proceedings, internal journals (Nigah, Clips), and technical booklets on low-cost printing and video production. Dated between 1974 and 1998, these materials document CENDIT’s engagement with community media, development communication, video advocacy, and alternative education. Also part of the collection are 98 black-and-white photographic contact sheets from 1972 to 1980 depicting video training sessions, documentation work, field activities, group workshops, equipment repair and demonstrations, and public screenings. These images reflect the collaborative working practices, technical innovations and field conditions typical of CENDIT’s work with media technology in India.
Dates
- Creation: 1972-1998
Creator
- Advanced Media Production. AMP (Processing Archivist, Organization)
Conditions Governing Access
Work in progress. When processed, collection will be open for access unless mentioned in specific folders.
Conditions Governing Use
Work in progress. Not available for use. Copyright may not have been assigned to Archives, National Centre for Biological Sciences. The Archives at NCBS makes no representation that it is the copyright owner in all of its collections. The user must obtain all necessary rights and clearances before use of material. For details, see https://archives.ncbs.res.in/access
Biographical / Historical
CENDIT was founded in 1972 in New Delhi as a research and production collective focused on instructional technology and development communication. It engaged with issues such as rural education, family welfare, women’s literacy, and participatory video. It was among the earliest groups in India to use portable video as a tool for development, working in both hardware and content. Through its publications and training programmes, CENDIT worked with grassroots organisations, educators, filmmakers, and health workers to experiment with alternative media strategies outside state-controlled or commercial frameworks. It was closed down in 2006.
Full Extent
3 Linear Feet
Language of Materials
English
Hindi
Arrangement
The collection is divided into two series:
Series 1: Publications and Manuals (1974–1998)
Sub-series 1: Journals and Newsletters
Nigah Journal 1, 2 and 3, Apr 1974 - Jul 1975.
Clips Number 0 - Alternative Video and Television ; Clips Number 2 - Cultural Identity, 1992
Clips Number 3 - Advocacy Video; Clips Number 4 - Invitations, 1993
Clips Number 5 - New Technologies and the Democratisation of Audiovisual Communication, 1994
Clips Number 8 - Organizing for Democratic Media ; Clips Number 9 - Fighting for the Right to Communicate, 1995
Clips Number 10 - Designing a Legal Framework ; Clips Number 11 - Special , 1996
Communication Resources Network Newsletter - Issues 1 to 5, 1996
Videoscape Newsletter 1 and 2, 1994
Sub-series 2: Guides, Handbooks and Catalogues
A Guide to Audio Visual Resources for Adult Education, 1990
Seeing and Showing ourselves - A guide to using small format videotapes as a participatory tool for development, 1998
A Resource guide to Audiovisual Communication materials on Development issues, 1986
Low cost printing for development, 1, 2 and 3, 1982
Communication Resources Network, June 1996
Catalogue of Films on The Environment
A select list of CENDIT films, January 1987
Jaag Sakhi, 1986
An Inventory of Audiovisual Communication Materials on Development Issues, October 1984
Sub-series 3: Reports and Proposals
Project in Family Planning Communication Vol 1 and 2, 1974
Urban Community Media in India - A review, 1990
Women and Media in Development; Reports of South Asian Regional Workshops; 1986, 1987, 1989, 1992, 1993
Report of Phase I of the Project in Family Planning communication for rural young married couples, 1974
Reports from the Village, 1978
CENDIT Video Production workshop, July 1984
A report on the Training Programme on Communication and Development, Jan-June 1989
An Alternative system for Broadcasting in India, 1977
CENDIT Video Workshop Reports, 1984 and 1992
Schedules of CENDIT workshops, 1985
20 Training Programme Report, 1991
Sub-series 4: Brochures
72 - 78 In Retrospect - CENDIT, 1978.
The First 16 years (1972 - 1988), 1988.
Catalysts of Change, 1988
CENDIT Centre For Development of Instructional Technology, mid 1970s
Nuevas tecnologi`as y democratizacio`n de la communicaci`on audiovisual (in Spanish)
Series 2 : Contact Sheets (1970 - mid1980s)
98 Contact sheets showing Events, Workshops and Community Projects
Physical Location
Archives at AMP, New Delhi
Processing Information
Processed as part of NCBS PAST 2025-26. Grantee Name: Advanced Media Production, Grant Title: History of Media Technology from a Jungle of Meaning. For details, see https://archives.ncbs.res.in/past
- Title
- CENDIT Papers
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the Archives at NCBS Repository
National Centre for Biological Sciences - Tata Institute of Fundamental Research
Bangalore Karnataka 560065 India
+9180 6717 6010
+9180 6717 6011
archives@ncbs.res.in
