To: [email protected]
From: "Mani M. Manivannan" DIGITALIZING TAMIL PALM-LEAF MANUSCRIPTS
One issue that is pertinent to Tamil.Net webmasters and readers is the
conservation and digitalization of the tens of thousands of surviving but
endangered palm-leaf Tamil manuscripts. Surveys indicate that approximately
one lakh of palm-leaf manuscripts (all written in archaic script which only
trained specialists can read) are lying mainly in public and private
repositories across Tamil Nadu which lack the resources to conserve them.
The Institute of Asian Studies (Chennai) has launched a 'Memory of India'
program with the objective of identifying, recording, conserving, and
publishing this treasure-trove of traditional knowledge in the form of a
searchable database of existing (but endangered) texts. Of the total, about
30,000 concern the traditional sciences including:
- Siddha, Ayurveda and Yunani medical tracts; The balance ~70,000 manuscripts are minor works of Tamil literature.
THE PROBLEM
These repositories contain a wealth of traditional knowledge and folk
wisdom. The contents are the birthright of every native Tamil speaker and,
indeed, have been recognized by UNESCO as an imperiled treasure of human
experience and knowledge. But the manuscripts are nearing the end of their
expected lifespan; many are already in a fragile or endangered condition.
Many thousands of these palm-leaf manuscripts are fading, crumbling from
age, eaten by white ants and threatened by gradual or abrupt destruction
before they can be digitally recorded and published. To make a long story
short, there is an urgent need to conserve these manuscripts and eventually
to digitalize their entire contents into a searchable database. The value
to Tamil people and to humanity at large could be very substantial,
even if only the medical texts alone are saved.
WHAT WE ARE DOING ABOUT THE PROBLEM
The Institute of Asian Studies (Chennai) is perhaps the only institute in
the region with a Department of Manuscriptology that is actively tackling
this daunting task. Indeed, the Department has already published the first
five volumes of a projected 25-volume Catalogue of Tamil Palm-leaf
Manuscripts.
But the work is painstakingly slow and few scholars remain who are able to
render this archaic Tamil script into modern Tamil and English. Moreover,
no concrete arrangemet has yet been made to digitalize this mine of
information and to realize its vast potential in a manner that is morally
responsible and yet commercially viable. A cumbersome microfilm camera
setup and team has to be sent to the repository sites where the
microfilming takes place with 3 microfilm copies then provided: to the
custodians of the repositories; to UNESCO; and to the Institute of Asian
Studies scholars who painstakingly render them into modern Tamil along with
textual criticism. This outdated procedure is in need of review and
overhaul.
OUR APPEAL FOR TECHNICAL ADVICE
The 'Memory of India' project needs to move with the times and take greater
advantage of current digital technology. The Institute of Asian Studies is
now preparing a proposal to present to UNESCO for partial funding of this
program. So right now is the time for Tamil language specialists to put
their heads together and agree -- or at least provide suggestions -- on how
best to digitalize this vast corpus of unpublished palm-leaf manuscripts.
Now we are being asked to present a workable plan to save and to digitalize
this corpus of texts. In particular, we are looking for answers to such
questions as:
What is the most efficient and economical way of achieving the
digitalization of this corpus of palm-leaf manuscripts?
Is microfilming the most cost-effective solution? Or is there a better,
digital solution that can replace the microfilming process?
Without advanced OCR software that can read archaic Tamil script, can the
manuscripts still be scanned and used digitally?
What hardware and software would serve the purpose best?
There are other issues of how to use this database once it is compiled, but
first we are faced with the need to meet a deadline and present a
comprehensive strategy. The IAS is applying for funding from UNESCO and the
deadline for funding period 1998-99 is fast approaching. We need to specify
the technical parameters and tell UNESCO how we plan to go about this
mission.
Tamil.Net webmasters can help in a very substantial way to propel this
project forward and ensure its success. Kindly advise us what digital
alternatives there are at present. Your input will certainly help to
influence the course of this massive undertaking.
We will gladly acknowledge your response and professional contribution.
sincerely,
Patrick
Date:Fri, 02 Jan 1998 08:02:23
X-Sender: [email protected] (Unverified)
Date: Fri, 2 Jan 1998 16:54:40 +0530
To: "Mani M. Manivannan"
From: Patrick Harrigan
Subject: Digitalizing Tamil palm-leaf manuscripts
Cc: George Hart
"Prof. Dr. Dieter.B. Kapp"
Malten Thomas
Institute of Asian Studies
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