Question : OLD MANUSCRIPTS

(a) whether old manuscripts on ancient Indian History and Culture are stored in ”National Mission for Manuscripts”;

(b) if so, such manuscripts including those inscribed on “THALIOLA” (Palm or Coconut Leaves) are available and stored;

(c) whether such materials are available on website;

(d) if so, the details thereof ;

(e) whether there is a list of knowledge imparting data called ‘Vignana Nidhi- (Treasure of Knowledg

(e)’ in the National Mission for manuscripts;

(f) whether Arya Mansu Sree Moola Kalpam and 45 ‘Thaliola’ have been included in such a list; and

g) if so, the details of the other information available from these manuscripts from Kerala?

MINISTER OF THE STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF TOURISM & CULTURE (SMT. AMBIKA SONI)

(a) The National Mission for Manuscripts does not acquire or buy manuscripts. It persuades people to donate their manuscripts to Museums, Universities, Archives and reputed institutions having manuscripts libraries in their concerned areas. There are some old manuscripts donated by various Resource Centres and individuals from time to time, which are kept at the Mission’s Headquarter at New Delhi.

(b) Manuscripts on palm leaves (Thaliola) are available in manuscript repositories across the country, particularly in Southern and Eastern parts of India.

(c)&(d) The digitized copies of these manuscripts are not available on the website of the Mission. However, catalogue details of various palm leaf manuscripts can be found from the national database, the Kritisampada, which is available on the website. The database can be searched through the categories of author, material, name of text etc.

(e) Yes, Sir.

(f)&(g) The Arya-manjushri-mula-kalpa is one of the 45 manuscripts included in ‘Vijnananidhi -The Manuscript Treasures of India’. This manuscript is available with Oriental Research Institute and Manuscripts Library, Thiruvananthapuram. The content of the work is taken from the Mahayana Buddhism.