Kashmir’s manuscripts to get new lease of life

Srinagar, Mar 27:  In a significant move towards safeguarding Kashmir's rich cultural legacy, the Indian Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) today inaugurated the first-ever conservation centre to preserve manuscripts in Srinagar.

In this regard, INTACH Kashmir Chapter organised an awareness workshop on Wednesday focusing on manuscript conservation and preservation.

The event aimed to educate and engage the community about the significance of safeguarding invaluable manuscripts, which serve as a written record of the region's past. The workshop focussed on protecting manuscripts from various threats including environmental, biological and other deteriorative factors. People from different walks of life participated in the awareness programme.

Convener of INTACH Saleem Beg told Greater Kashmir that the centre’s primary objective of digitising and conserving invaluable manuscripts, particularly those housed in private collections.

“Manuscripts contain a wealth of knowledge spanning various fields such as literature, science, religion, and philosophy. Without proper conservation efforts, this knowledge may be lost forever due to degradation over time, “he said.

Beg said that Kashmir has a treasure of manuscripts, with an estimated 50,000 manuscripts held in private collections and an additional 10,000 under governmental custody.

"The newly established centre seeks to address the pressing need for preserving these historical documents, which serve as a repository of the region's cultural heritage," he said.

He said that the importance of raising awareness about the conservation facility among the public is a must.

"We have a comprehensive approach which includes digitisation, preservation, repair, and conservation of manuscripts under expert guidance," he said.

Highlighting the significance of documentary heritage embedded in these manuscripts, Beg stressed the necessity of tangible steps to ensure their preservation for future generations.

Conservator of Manuscripts at INTACH Imran Ahmad said that 100-year-old manuscripts with illuminated work like Naqshi have been conserved here.

“The Centre provides conservation services under the National Mission for Manuscripts, like cleaning of manuscripts, repair and restoration of damaged manuscripts, making archival boxes made of acid-free mount boards for better storage of manuscripts and organizing training programs on basic manuscript care and handling,” he said.

One of the key objectives of the workshop was to bridge the gap in understanding among custodians of manuscripts regarding their historical and cultural significance, as well as the urgent need for preservation.

The workshop also included training programs on basic manuscript care and handling, empowering participants with the knowledge and skills necessary to contribute to ongoing conservation efforts.