Rare Manuscripts Steal the Show at Indian Language Festival Book Exhibition

In the series of the Indian Language Festival, a rare manuscript book exhibition was organized at the Public Library in Kota. The exhibition showcased rare books that became the center of attraction.

On this occasion, Dr. Deepak Kumar Shrivastav, the Regional Library Director, mentioned that a manuscript or Matrakagrantha is a special handwritten script. It is also known by names like Hastapati, Lipigrantha, etc.

Program coordinator Shashi Jain stated that in English, these manuscripts are popularly known as Manuscript or MS and MSS. In Hindi, they are recognized as 'Pandulipi,' 'Hastalekh,' 'Hastalipi,' etc.

A participant, Komal, mentioned that it is believed that the study of Sanskrit by foreigners began in the early 16th century. The popularity of manuscript study is acknowledged towards the end of the 17th century and the beginning of the 18th century. During that period, various organizations in India studied and preserved Matrakagranthas.

Senior reader Bigul Jain expressed gratitude, emphasizing that the term 'Pandulipi' refers to a document handwritten by one or more individuals, such as a handwritten letter. Materials reproduced through printing or any other method from another document are not considered 'Pandulipi.'