Allahabad:

There is an urgent need for preservation and conservation of manuscripts, said former vice-chancellor of Central University of Orissa, Prof Surabhi Banerjee.

She was speaking during the inaugural session of the three-week workshop on manuscriptology & palaeography, organised by Central Library of Allahabad University and National Manuscript Mission, New Delhi, on Friday.

She shared her experience about the ignorance of the value of manuscripts in our society. She urged the AU administration to start a course in library and information science with thrust on manuscriptology & palaeography.

AU VC, Prof RL Hangloo, while delivering the presidential address, enlightened the audience by narrating the contribution of great scholars of Sanskrit and said that the Vedas, which we get to read today was first of all written by Vasuki, a scholar from Kashmir.

Dr NC Kar from National Mission for Manuscripts, Delhi, said that the mission seeks to unearth and preserve the vast manuscript wealth of India.

India possesses an estimate of five million manuscripts, probably the largest collection in the world. These cover a variety of themes, textures and aesthetics, scripts, languages, calligraphies, illuminations and illustrations. Together, they constitute the memory of India’s history, heritage and thought.

For the first time in history of AU, its annual calendar was released during the session. Dr BK Singh, coordinator of the workshop, proposed the vote of thanks.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News Home> City> Allahabad / TNN / May 20th, 2016