Saturday, September 27, 2014

Survey of manuscripts begins for Sikkim

It has been an initiative too long in the making and is now finally taking baby steps towards getting done – a survey of manuscripts, even those in private collections, is being attempted as part of a national effort, launched in Sikkim by the Cultural Affairs and Heritage Department and funded by the National Mission for Manuscripts.
In this regard, the Department, in coordination with the National Mission for Manuscripts, New Delhi, organized a preliminary meeting-cum-training session on the National Survey of Manuscripts at Mannan Bhawan on 25 September.
An official press release informs that Cultural Affairs Minister Garjaman Gurung, who was present as the chief guest, in his keynote address, underlined the importance of having a manuscripts repository in Sikkim. Conveying his gratitude towards the National Mission for Manuscripts for funding the survey in Sikkim, he directed all the district co-coordinators and the surveyors to undertake the survey seriously and complete the task in time. He also appealed to those with important manuscripts in private collections to cooperate with the surveyors in getting the data recorded properly.
Earlier, the Commissioner-cum-Secretary CA&HD, Nalini G Pradhan, informed that such a survey of manuscripts was being conducted for the first time in Sikkim. Reiterating the value and importance of manuscripts, she requested all participants to convey this message and the need for preserving the manuscripts to their family members and friends as well. At the same time she also stressed that a proper databank of manuscripts has become a necessary.
Dr. Dilip Kumar Kar who is also the National Coordinator from the National Survey of Manuscripts gave an introductory note on the National Survey of Manuscripts and the Manuscripts Research Center. He also explained the manner in which the initial survey is to be conducted in Sikkim.

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