[INDOLOGY] Manuscript in Varanasi

[Elliot Stern]

Please note that the results in a Google search report that Sarasvati Bhavan Library is temporarily closed. See attached screen shot.


Best wishes,

Elliot

> On Feb 16, 2026, at 9:10 AM, Jean Michel DELIRE via INDOLOGY <indology at list.indology.info> wrote:
> 
> Thanks, Dominik, for this interesting document,
> 
> And thanks to all the other friends who took up their pen to advise me. Their answers range from going to the IGNCA with a USB flash drive to going to Banaras with the pilgrim's faith, which is literally making a journey of several thousand kms, staying there several days or weeks, while knowing it would be completely useless. Actually, nobody in Banaras answers my messages.
> About that, Dominik's recommendations are also to be pointed, especially the following :
> "1. In the first instance, I recommend that an information sheet should be prepared. This should be sent as part of a standard reply to all scholars who enquire at the IGNCA about manuscripts. The information sheet should state clearly that the participant libraries have retained the copyright of the films deposited in the IGNCA collection, and that scholars need to get written copyright permission from the individual libraries. The information sheet will include an up-to-date list of all the participant libraries together with their current names, addresses, phone and FAX numbers. The dissemination of this document will be an important aid to the scholars in contacting these institutions, which are located all over the world. It will be important to review this document periodically and keep it accurate and up-to-date."
> I have received an answer from the IGNCA with a list of the Banaras manuscripts of which they have copies - which gave me hope - but my specific questions about the addresses to which I should ask permission in Banaras never received any answer from the IGNCA. Dominik's request for an "up-to-date list of all the participant libraries together with their current names, addresses, phone and FAX numbers" seems thus to be a pious wish. My guess is that even the IGNCA doesn't have such a list and, so, is unable to help the scholars to ask for the permission they are requesting.
> That is why I asked for help and, believe me, I sent messages to all the addresses you gave me, with a very low rate of answers, unhappily. Even at the IGNCA, for which you gave me two addresses, one only was useful, and only up to a certain point of weariness, probably.
> Now, I will be in Delhi in a week, and I really would like to meet somebody responsible there. Mrs Chakarabarthy seems reactive, but I still don't know where to meet her. Can someone with recent experience advise me ?
> 
> Best regards,
> 
> Jean Michel Delire
> 
> 
> 
> 
> Le sam. 14 févr. 2026 à 19:43, Dominik Wujastyk <wujastyk at gmail.com <mailto:wujastyk at gmail.com>> a écrit :
>> In 1997, Dr Kapila Vatsyayan invited me to spend a month as a UNESCO consultant to the IGNCA.   I attach to this email pages 5-6 and 20-22 of my final report that specifically addressed the issue of copyright and making copies of MSS for scholars.  
>> 
>> Best,
>> Dominik
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> --
>> Dominik Wujastyk, Professor Emeritus, Classical Indian History
>> University of Alberta
>> 
>> "The University of Alberta is committed to the pursuit of truth, 
>> the advancement of learning, and the dissemination of knowledge 
>> through teaching, research and other scholarly and creative activities and service."
>> -- Collective Agreement <https://www.ualberta.ca/human-resources-health-safety-environment/media-library/my-employment/agreements/2020-2024-collective-agreement---working-version.pdf> 3.01
>> 
>> 
>> 
> 
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Elliot M. Stern
552 South 48th Street
Philadelphia, PA 19143-2029
emstern1948 at gmail.com
267-240-8418



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