Rare 11th century Sanskrit transcripts under threat

[Michael Witzel]

The following news story, transmitted by the Sanskrit list (Utah) maybe of
interest to list members. Read 'manuscripts' instead of 'transcripts' (palm
leaf and birch bark):

 =========================================================================
> Rare 11th century transcripts under threat


> 09th July 2000   18.57 IST
> Financial constraints and alleged apathy of the authorities concerned
> may lead to the loss of valuable 11th century transcripts and documents
> kept in the Kameshwar Singh Sanskrit University, the Mithila research
> institute and the Lalit Narain Mithila University in Darbhanga.
>
> Official sources here said these transcripts and documents, pertaining
> to different cultures all over the world, were given by the erstwhile
> 'Maharajadhiraj' of Darbhanga Kameshwar Singh.
>
> Fumigation of the valuable articles for preserving them has not been
> undertaken for the past several years, partly due to financial
> constraints being faced by these institutions, putting a question mark
> on the very existence of these articles.
>
> The transcripts, written on ''Bhojpatra and Tampatra'' and dating back
> to the 11th century, were collected by the erstwhile ruler of Darbhanga
> from different parts of the world for his library.
>
> It was he who established the Mithila research institute for
> development and higher research into the Sanskrit language. The
> foundation stone of this institute was laid by the first president of
> independent India Babu Rajendra Prasad on June 16, 1951.
>
> Due to the efforts of 'Maharajadhiraj', 14,000 rare transcripts and
> 29,000 rare books were collected for the institute library, also
> housing books on astrology, philosophy and other subjects.
>
> Ink prepared from the blood of buffaloes were used for Tamil version of
> the 'Durga Saptashati' and 'Vishnu Purana'.
>
> 'Bodh Mahayana' in 28 sections as also the Bhagwad Gita written on tree
> barks were among the rare collections in the maharaja's library.
>
> Similarly, Kameshwar Singh Darbhanga Sanskrit university's library and
> museum had also received historical treasure trove from the then
> Darbhanga ruler, including Shrimad Bhagwat Gita written by renowned
> litterateur Vidyapati, Tatavachintamani of the 11th century, Geet
> Govindam with illustrations and some other transcripts.
>
> Altogether 5562 transcripts written on 'Bhojpatra' and 'Talpatra'
> recording progress of different cultures were made available. Also
> 15000 rare books were given to this library.
>
> The Lalit Narain Mithila university houses the collections done by a
> former British prime minister, made possible by the efforts of the
> 'Maharajadhiraj'. Sources said the erstwhile ruler had provided 70,000
> rare books to the university library, which make it eligible for the
> status of a 'national library'.
> -UNI
========================================================
Michael Witzel
Department of Sanskrit & Indian Studies, Harvard University
2 Divinity Avenue, Cambridge MA 02138, USA

ph. 1- 617-496 2990 (also messages)
home page:  http://www.fas.harvard.edu/~witzel/mwpage.htm

Elect. Journ. of Vedic Studies:  http://www1.shore.net/~india/ejvs