Preserving a Fading Archive: Public Perceptions and the Case for a National Digital Genealogical Repository in India

India's pilgrimage centres contain hereditary genealogical registers that record family relationships, places of origin, ritual visits, and other historical information. These registers are culturally important but remain materially vulnerable because they are maintained in dispersed, locally controlled collections. This study examines public perceptions of digitizing such records and evaluates support for a proposed National Digital Genealogical Repository (NDGR). The research uses a structured cross-sectional survey design with eight demographic variables, thirty-two five-point Likert statements organized into eight conceptual constructs, and three open-ended questions. For manuscript development, the numerical dataset and statistical outputs presented here are synthetic rather than observations collected from human participants; consequently, the findings should be treated as an analytical prototype and not as evidence of actual population attitudes. The synthetic analysis indicates high perceived heritage value (M = 3.68) and positive support for an NDGR (M = 3.49), alongside comparatively low awareness (M = 2.81). Awareness is positively associated with support (r = .43, R² = .185, p < .001), while privacy and trust show a weaker relationship with support (r = .28). The proposed governance model therefore emphasizes awareness, informed consent, security, community participation, recognition of hereditary genealogists, and strict limits on administrative use. The paper concludes that a future empirical study should replace the synthetic dataset with ethically collected primary observations before any substantive claims about public opinion are published.