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INTACH

THE HERITAGE CLUB NEWSLETTER

JULY - SEPTEMBER 2021 VOL. 18 No. 3

Manuscript
treasure, Manuscript Masterpieces
Wonder beyond measure,
Historical glory,
Let‛s learn The word manuscript comes from the Latin words
their story! ‘manu’, meaning ‘by hand’, and ‘scriptus’, meaning ‘to
write’. Manuscripts in India were written across the
country; they were in many languages and scripts
and on a wide range of religious, philosophical,
historical, literary, and scientifi c subjects. The content
was in diff erent forms too, from text to mathematical
Hi Pen Friends, calculations and from maps to images!
Long, long time ago, there were no texts. It wasn’t just anyone’s job to write — there were
People communicated orally. People spread special Lipikars or scribes. They knew the beautiful and
information orally. Even histories were
documented orally. People passed on intricate art of writing. People used various materials
information from generation to generation to write on, including stone, tree bark, palm leaf, cloth,
as stories and that is how they knew their copper, gold, etc. However, there was a catch. Since
past.
these materials were all natural there was always a
However, this wasn‛t always the most
reliable form of documenting information fear of them eroding over time. Therefore, people
and soon people realised that it would often copied older texts when they began to get
be better if we started documenting damaged.
information in a more sustainable manner.
One where it can live on for longer. From the ancient to the medieval, manuscripts saw
These were manuscripts, the written a fascinating evolution. Let’s unravel the world of
word recorded in various forms — from Indian manuscripts!
inscriptions on a stone to elaborate
illustrated manuscripts. Kamal Preet, Class 8, Raksha Anusandhan Vidyalaya, Dehradun;
Shivang Dagar, Class 9 B, Gyan Bharti School, New Delhi; Kyati Thukral,
Class 8, Wetland International School, Makhu; Nidhi Hemant Virani, Illustration by Chitwan Sharma,
Class 9, Centre Point School, Katol Road, Nagpur Class 10, Raksha Anusandhan
CONTENTS Vidyalaya, Dehradun
Manuscript Masterpieces 1 GILGIT DISCOVERY MISSION MANUSCRIPT
Material Mastery 2
All About Writing 3 The Gilgit manuscripts are the oldest The Government of India
Ancient Timeline 4 established the National Mission
Vedic Wisdom 5 surviving manuscripts in India,
Exploring Epics 6 discovered in Kashmir. Some of them for Manuscripts under the Ministry
Amazing Arthashastra 7 can be found in the National Archives of Culture in 2003. Its purpose is to
Sangam Saga 8
Grammar Granthas 9 of India, in New Delhi, while others create a manuscripts resource base
Science of the Arts 10 are in Sri Pratap Singh Museum, so that
Buddhist Marvels 11 Srinagar. they can
Medieval Milestones 12
Sultanate Splendours 13 be easily
Divine Dialogues 14 accessed.
Mughal Biographies 15
Travel Trysts 16
Activities 4 U 17-18
Heritage News 19
Prize Winners; What’s Next? 20

INDIAN NA TIONAL TRUST FOR ART AND CUL TUR AL HERIT A G E

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