Venkatasubbiah Siddhartha Papers

Material is arranged into eight series.

Series 1: Correspondence. Contains 11 sub-series, each with a year range. Each sub-series roughly aligns with place of work of V Siddhartha, and correspondence within that time period is kept within the sub-series. For details on places of work, please see biographical/historical note. One series of correspondence with Satish Dhawan (Series 11) is kept separately, preserving original order and arrangement of V Siddhartha. Files arranged chronologically, undated files at the end of each section.

Series 2: Talks, Writings, Published Letters and Presentations. Tone of the material in this series indicates published material, drafts of publications, or intent to publish for a larger audience. Contains three sub-series, each divided by approximate places of work. Sub-Series 1 is material created during time in graduate school to first set of positions leading up to work at ISRO. Sub-Series 2 is material created during time in the Ministry of Defence and related agencies, up to retirement. Sub-Series 3 is material created after retirement. Files arranged chronologically, undated files at the end of each section.

Series 3: Conferences, Seminars and Workshops - Invites and Notes. Tone of material in this series indicates professional invitations to V Siddhartha, and 'personal' notes written by V Siddhartha at these professional gatherings. Contains three sub-series. Sub-Series 1: Material created during time in the Ministry of Defence and related agencies, up to retirement. Includes invitations, and notes written at conferences, seminars and workshops. Sub-Series 2: Material created after retirement. Sub-Series 3: Material in relation to Centre for Air Power Studies, which V Siddhartha was associated with post retirement. Files arranged chronologically, undated files at the end of each section.

Series 4: Notes, memos and reviews. Tone of material in this series indicates notes, memos and reviews written by V Siddhartha, mostly without an intent to publish or for a larger audience, and outside of particular professional gatherings. Contains three sub-series. Sub-series 1 is material created from earliest found up to retirement (2004). Sub-series 2 is material created after retirement, and to date. Sub-series 3 is V Siddhartha's review of other's research. Files arranged chronologically, undated files at the end of each section.

Series 5: United Nations (UN) Resolution 1540. V Siddhartha was a representative as part of the UN 1540 resolution implementation in 2008-2009, and these files are kept separately in this series. Sub-series 1 is administration, research and personal notes. Most of this material is not intended for a larger audience, and some of it may be copies of material found at other archives. Sub-series 2 contains presentations made by V Siddhartha about the 1540 resolution, with an intent to share with a larger audience. Files arranged chronologically, undated files at the end of each section.

Series 6: Collection of writings by associates. V Siddhartha has been prolific in collecting the writings and works of other associates, many of which are not available at other archives and not publicly available. These have been kept in this distinct series. Sub-series 1-5 indicates drafts of writings or unpublished material. Sub-series 1-4 arranged by writings by/about close associates: Satish Dhawan, Roddam Narasimha, Ashok Parthasarathi. Sub-series 5 has the same tone, but is not arranged by any specific author. Sub-series 6 contains copies of published material that is rare to find at other centres in India, and has been kept for its archival value and need for access in this region. Across all series, files arranged chronologically, undated files at the end of each section.

Series 7: Government of India - rare publications, memos and reports. Sub-series 1 is for rare publications - published material that is less likely to be found elsewhere. Sub-series 2 contains memos and reports from the Government of India, and most of it is not intended for a larger audience when created. Material access is aligned with the Public Records Act of India. Files arranged chronologically, undated files at the end of each section.

Series 8: Personal and Biographical. V Siddhartha kept distinct files for his work promotion and administration, and this is kept in sub-series 1. Sub-series 2 includes rare correspondence of V Siddhartha's father, H Venkatasubbiah, who was also a distinguished public personality. Sub-series 3 contains personal correspondence of V Siddhartha (he kept distinct files marked 'personal' and this sub-series tries to preserve that original intent of arrangement). V Siddhartha also maintained extensive correspondence with his father, and this is kept separately in Sub-Series 4. Other family members' correspondence is in Sub-Series 5. All files arranged chronologically, undated files at the end of each section.