Preserving India's Ancient Leaf Manuscripts

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Preserving the very medium of history

"There are three types of palm-leaves that were commonly used for

writing. Namely, `Shritala' or `Talipot,' which grew in humid coastal

areas of south India, Ceylon, Malaysia, Andaman and Thailand. These

leaves were broad and long, the surface smooth and thin and more

flexible; `Palmyra,' which grew in dry climates like southern India."

 

SHRUTI ASOKA throws some light on the what and how of old documents,

while lamenting the lack of serious studies on the same.

 

 

 

It has become absolutely necessary to emphasise the need and

importance of the study of manuscripts that enshrine the vast

treasures of ancient India, in the form of her rich and valuable

literature in different branches of learning.

 

One may go as far as to say that manuscripts are the principal source

of our paleographical knowledge for the later period of Indian

history for which few epigraphical records are available.

Manuscripts, apart from the works, are found to throw important light

on different aspects of the social history of our country.

 

The beginning of the scientific study of investigation of manuscripts

in India was started in the year 1868-69 when the government took an

initiative in the matter and introduced a systematic and regular

search of manuscripts in different parts of India. As a result many

important manuscripts have been acquired both by government as well

as by private bodies.

 

 

A report of the work done in different parts of the country in this

connection was issued by the central government in 1878. It is a

matter of great regret that since then no other report of the type

has been compiled or published.

 

In February 2003 (after a span of 125 years), the Department of

Culture, Government of India launched a mission called the `National

Mission for Manuscripts' (NMM) inaugurated by the then Prime Minister

Atal Behari Vajpayee. Since then, 20 Manuscript Conservation Centres

(MCC) and Manuscript Resource Centres (MRC) have been identified all

over the country.

 

The INTACH Chitrakala Parishath Art Conservation Centre (ICKPAC),

Bangalore has held the responsibility of an MCC and the Oriental

Research Institute, Mysore, the MRC, for the Karnataka region. NMM's

main objective has been to recover, conserve and document as many

manuscripts as possible– both palm leaf and paper. In this

connection, ICKPAC held a six-day workshop in the `Preventive

Conservation of Manuscripts' (from October 25 to 30, 2004) at the B M

Prathishtana in Bangalore.

 

The workshop included various lectures and practical demonstrations

in the discipline and was attended by participants from various

Institutions and Religious Mutts that house innumerable manuscripts

in their possession, from all over the state.

 

Scholars stressed on the need for an in-depth study in the field of

manuscriptology. ".......It is however a pity that the study of

manuscripts does not appear to have received as much impetus and

encouragement as the study and investigation of other types of

antiquities in India. If manuscripts themselves cannot be saved, it

is absolutely important for us to preserve at least the contents and

record them for posterity," stressed Dr O P Agrawal, Director

General, Indian Council of Conservation Institutes (ICCI), Lucknow.

 

The trunk fibres of trees have been used in the papermaking industry,

prior to which cotton and linen rags were used. Cellulose forms the

 

fundamental building block for all types of natural fibres. They are

less resistant to degradation and to attack by chemicals or

atmospheric conditions. On the other hand lignin, in a plant is non-

fibrous and hydrophobic. It goes through oxidation and hydrolysis,

that is undesirable in papermaking. Over a period of time, it is this

component that passes acidity into the paper, causing it to yellow

and brittle. Certain kinds of inks used in writing are also known to

char the paper manuscripts.

 

Before the advent of paper, palm-leaves were used as writing material

since they grew in abundance in India and the South Asian countries.

It was cheap and easily available. It had a reasonably long life and

high durability and could be preserved for more than 500 years if

preserved by maintaining constant temperature and humidity.

 

Types of leaves used

 

There are three types of palm-leaves that were commonly used for

writing. Namely, `Shritala' or `Talipot,' which grew in humid coastal

areas of south India, Ceylon, Malaysia, Andaman and Thailand. These

leaves were broad and long, the surface smooth and thin and more

flexible; `Palmyra,' which grew in dry climates like southern India.

Its leaves are thick and not longer than two feet and `Lontar,' which

is a blend of Talipot and Palmyra and thrives in Burma and Thailand.

Its leaves are long, broad and thick. Writing was done by either

inscribing with a stylus, made of iron, steel, brass, bone or ivory

or written with ink on leaves using a bamboo pen or brush. For

inscribing, the leaves had to be seasoned and applied with a mixture

of vegetable juice and lamp soot for the clarity of letters.

 

After writing, the leaves were arranged and strung and placed between

two soft planks of mango or bamboo. Teak wood was also used to avoid

damage by insects. To hold the manuscript in position, one end of the

thread ran over the manuscript, thus binding a by fastening it to a

piece of palm-leaf with a rib.

 

Recent advances in technology have helped prevent manuscripts by way

of digitisation. The objective of digitising these documents is to

preserve the contents of the manuscripts for future research by way

of survey and documentation and building up an integrated library on

the national level. Digitisation helps throw light on earlier

conservation status, classification with date and province, treatment

required if any, etc. Microfilms were used early on in the last

decade but they seem have to been outdated in the recent times and

since archival materials were not used in this process, the longevity

was not promised.

 

It will not be an exaggeration to say that if learned bodies of the

country do not take specific measures to implement the investigation

of our rich cultural heritage, it will not be before long that all

these treasure repositories will be lost, irretrievably like those

that have been lost or destroy in the natural or human agencies.

 

Precautions

 

 

 

 

Keep documents away from direct sunlight; use artificial lighting

with UV filters.

 

Use sunscreens and curtains.

 

Humidity control keep the walls and roof water proof. Install de-

humidifiers.

 

Maintain good house keeping.

 

Keep rooms dust free.

 

Do not eat and drink in the same room where display is kept, as it

attracts rodents.

 

Do not keep bait in the room where the collection is displayed.

 

For detection of larvae, contact pest control. nInstall ventilators

and pedestal fans for movement of air.

 

Vacuum the room constantly.

 

Do not write on the documents with ballpoint pens.

 

Do not open the document more than 90 degrees.

 

If manuscripts are infested, segregate them from the rest of the

collection and fumigate.

 

Do not use untested materials in display of the collection and

fumigate.

 

Do not use untested materials in display.

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