Endangering Indian Manuscripts
I while reading an article about manuscripts, recollected my grandmother’s narratives of interesting stories, riddles, puzzles, sayings in Tamil called Pazhramuzhi and also about Palm leaf writings. She was a genius, intelligent and of course woman with extraordinary memory. Infact, she learnt or gained knowledge only by listening as she was illiterate. She wanted to go to school and learn but as it was a taboo in those days, especially for girls. In order to please her, her father presented her with a palm leaf written OM on it. She preserved it for long. Her father that is my great grandfather use to recite Ramayam and other Maha kavyam all inscription written on palm leaf. These palm leaf were bundled up and was called a book in those days. The past of Indian culture can be traced in the ancient manuscripts. These manuscripts are the simple historical evidence that have great research value. It is estimated that India possesses more than five million manuscripts. Our ancesto...