An early monsoon has hit the city of Mumbai, flooding roads and leading to an absolute state of chaos. People struggle to get from point A to point B with traffic jams amidst water logging and public transport stands still. With the torrential monsoon comes severe humidity, a not so friendly reminder that some of the most priceless works of art, rare manuscripts are at jeopardy. Works of art on paper are at severe risk of deteriorating without appropriate attention, proper care and conservation. Manuscripts are not just pieces of paper but documentations of history, which while should be digitised, also need to be stored and preserved. They are irreplaceable.
Over the years, several enthusiasts have collected exquisite works of paper. Pages of history that are illuminated with colour, beautifully hand drawn and vividly narrated. Be it mythological tales, eminent research, narratives of history unfolding, epic battles or eloquent verses of poems.
Governments and organsations are finally coming to a realisation that if not preserved we stand to lose some of the most important pages of information, treasure troves of knowledge. The Mythic Society in Bengaluru for example has taken up the monumental task of digitising ancient palm leaf manuscripts. The leaves offer information on the evolution of literature and science amongst other things. Similar efforts have been made in the An Giang Province of Vietnam where the Khmer palm leaf scripture is considered sacred. Over a hundred years ago the Khmer monks began transcribing scriptures from Buddhism onto dried palm leaves. A laborious, tedious process. These pearls of wisdom are sacred works on Buddhist philosophy as well as traditional knowledge in a cornucopia of fields. Today, the palm leafs are being carefully restored, translated and digitsed to be preserved but also made accessible.
Last month the Indira Gandhi National Centre for Arts (IGNCA) released a publication titled, ‘Pandulipi evam Samikshit Patha-Sampadan’. This book aims to be an encyclopedia for the preservation and interpretation of India’s manuscript heritage. The IGNCA has been working tirelessly to educate and engage the youth of the nation in the conservation and care of such rare works of art. This also includes preserving manuscripts from countries besides India such as Thailand and Vietnam. The institution also runs a course on manuscript reading which educates and engages people in the traditional knowledge systems and their vital use today.
The launch of the book comes shortly after the Government of India announced the Gyan Bharatam’ initiative. A whopping ₹482.85 crore budget has been allotted up until 2031 to conduct nationwide surveys, conserve age old manuscripts be it from government libraries and archives to private repositories. Following which, these would be made accessible to a wider audience through the establishment of the National Digital Manuscripts Library.
While bringing this to life in a country as wide and culturally diverse as India would be a mammoth of a task, there are States and regions within the country that have already begun their quest.
For example, Kashmir, a region known for its verdant landscape and ethereal beauty has also been a hub for paper making historically. Several manuscripts over the centuries and decades were produced using the exemplary quality of paper, handmade in the region. Understanding the harsh weather conditions as well as the uncertain political conflicts, the government of India in collaboration with the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) Jammu set up the National Manuscript Centre in Srinagar. The aim and hope of which is that not only governments but private collectors come forward and document their beautiful collections.
Bibliophiles see beauty and rarity and are appreciative of the brilliant, laborious work that has gone into producing these pieces of art. Manuscripts have travelled near and far often finding respite with collectors living miles away from their place of creation. Today, many of these priceless works, living repositories of knowledge and art are seen in auctions. The upcoming sale by Olympia Auctions in the United Kingdom features a number of rare works of art. Priceless gems for those who value but integral pieces of history that should be appreciated by all. One such piece is a beautifully illustrated page from the Persian manuscript copy of Firdausi’s Shahnama. Written in 1630, the ‘Trial by Fire of Siyavush’ is exquisitely narrated using a range of colours and vivid brush strokes using the sub imperial Mughal style, one adopted later by Rajput and Maratha courts. The shades of pigments derived from rare and natural sources intact, the black ink and shimmering gold ruled margins still as captivating.
Perhaps the paper has been so meticulously preserved as it has been owned by some of the most respectable and noteworthy bibliophiles.
Nicholas Shaw of Olympia states that, ‘despite an often adversarial relationship between the British and the Indians there was also, amongst some, an immense curiosity and respect for the richness of Indian culture.’
Would these works of art have stood the test of time if collectors did not value or appreciate them? I still recall opening a cupboard in an age-old library in my hometown Bhavnagar and finding paper turning to powder and dust. History reduced to smithereens.
In order to preserve manuscripts, many organisations are now using technology such as Waferfiche, which is a patented semiconductor embedding digitsed images in a waterproof and fireproof environment. While preservation is at the helm so is exhibition and display. Last year, the Libraries Commission in Riyadh organised a Saudi Manuscripts Exhibition in order to narrate 1200 years of human history. Welcoming visitors from across the globe including cultural enthusiasts, researchers and scholars, the exhibition displayed more than 2,000 rare manuscripts. Access such as this leads to appreciation.
While book clubs have become a sort of trend in the last few years, perhaps it is time to have a club which explores and collects ancient manuscripts. Priceless works of art that can never be replicated.