Abstract
This study is an endeavour to investigate the preservation and conservation status of the heritage of indigenous manuscripts in the Central Library at the Jain Vishva Bharati Institute (Deemed University), Rajasthan, India, that are unknown to the scholarly world. A survey of the manuscripts was carried out to investigate their physical status. A structured interview with nine staff members from the manuscripts section was conducted to obtain information regarding the manuscript collections and current preservation and conservation techniques employed. The findings reveal that the overall preservation and conservation techniques used in the library were found to be satisfactory according to the standard operating procedures of the National Mission for Manuscripts. The study also provides an understanding of the nature of the manuscript collections and the preservation and conservation techniques employed with the manuscripts.
Introduction
The cultural heritage contained in indigenous manuscripts has its own importance and, intangibly or tangibly, provides a common connection to beliefs and an understanding of the social values of past societies and how our forebears survived. The preservation and conservation of indigenous manuscripts is both a cultural necessity and a central responsibility. The rich wealth of the manuscripts of the nation should therefore be preserved, conserved and digitized to make them accessible to present and successive generations, and disseminate the knowledge contained therein.
India has a vast collection of manuscripts that represent the cumulative knowledge, values, experiences and practices of the cultural heritage of past societies. This cultural heritage gives a sense of unity and belonging to a particular group, and provides links to the norms, customs and traditions of past societies. The information related to the history, religion, art, language and literature of past Indians contained in manuscripts represents the past and is a bridge to the present.
The literary heritage of India covers many fields of intangible and tangible knowledge, and there is a particular abundance of religious and philosophical texts. The ancient inscriptions in Sanskrit and Prakrit that exist across the different regions of India constitute a particular branch of Indian literature, and manuscript collections in diverse languages, calligraphies and materials, with illustrations and illuminations, can be found across India.
Manuscripts and their features
For the present study, the National Mission for Manuscripts’ (2016) definition of a manuscript has been used: ‘A manuscript is a handwritten composition of paper, book, cloth, metal, palm leaf or any other material dating back at least seventy-five years that has significant, scientific, historical or aesthetic value’.
The Antiquities and Art Treasures Act of 1972, which stipulates the regulations for export trade in antiquities and art treasures, defines a manuscript as ‘any manuscript, record or other document which is of scientific, historical, literary or aesthetic value and which has been in existence for not less than seventy-five years’ (see Gaur and Chakraborty, 2009). 1
The main features of Indian manuscripts are their material, format and the ink used (see Figure 1).
Typical features of Indian manuscripts.
Material
Two types of material were normally used for manuscripts: palm leaf and paper. Cloth was also used for items such as large paintings or covers. Paper made from the plant fibres of cotton, bamboo or wood was a regular material used for manuscripts. The paper comes in a large range of colours, including ochre, cream and yellow. The standard size of the paper is 26 cm x 11 cm, but there are also variations in size.
Format
The manuscripts are in a traditional rectangular landscape format, with the long sides at the top and bottom.
Ink colour
Various ink colours from natural resources were used for manuscripts. Black was the normal colour for writing text. In the widest sense of the word, red ink was used for ornamentation. Some ornamental manuscripts also have silver and gold ink.
Method of writing
A kind of pen was used for writing on paper manuscripts.
Scripts
Most of the manuscripts were written in native scripts and read from left to right. However, some of the letters and numbers are in a specific format.
Folios
The traditional format of unbound manuscripts is called pothi. Traditional manuscripts are made up of loose folios with two sides – recto (r) and verso (v). The reader first reads the recto side and then turns over the folio to read the verso side.
Manuscript covers
Traditional manuscript covers are made of paper, cardboard or wood and come in two parts – one at the beginning and one at the end.
Calligraphy
The scripts are large and well formed to distinguish them from ordinary handwriting.
Nature of manuscript collections in India
According to the National Mission for Manuscripts’ (2021) ‘Basic minimum standards for the conservation of manuscripts’, there are manuscript collections that differ in terms of type of collection, nature of ownership and administration, for example, in different parts of India. The nature of these different manuscript collections is shown in Table 1.
Nature of manuscripts collection in India.
Factors of deterioration
In order to comprehend the concept of preservation and conservation, it is important to understand the basic factors of deterioration. According to NMM guidelines (2021), these factors can be categorized as follows: Human factors: the biggest danger to manuscript collections is human factors, especially professional apathy and carelessness; Natural factors: these include fire, water, natural disasters, insect attacks, microbiological attacks, dust, environmental pollution and relative humidity; Inherent factors: the ways in which the manuscript’s material was prepared and the ink or paint was applied can also be a danger to manuscript preservation and conservation.
Preservation and conservation
According to Adcock (1998), preservation includes all the managerial and financial considerations – such as storage and accommodation provisions, staffing levels, policies, techniques and methods – involved in preserving library and archival material, and the information contained therein. Preservation can be defined as all the managerial, technical and financial considerations that are undertaken to prevent deterioration and extend the useful life of (collection) materials to ensure their continued availability (Eden, 1998).
The American Library Association (1992) states that conservation is the maintenance of each item in a collection in a usable condition. According to Adcock (1998), conservation is the specific practices used to slow the deterioration and prolong the life of an object by directly intervening in its physical or chemical make-up. According to NMM guidelines (2021) defines conservation as any direct or indirect action on a damaged or undamaged manuscript or collection of manuscripts aimed at enhancing the life of the manuscript(s). Conservation may be: Preventive conservation: any direct or indirect action on a damaged or undamaged manuscript or collection of manuscripts aimed at enhancing the life of the manuscript(s) by reducing future risks of deterioration; Curative conservation: any direct action on a damaged manuscript or collection of manuscripts aimed at stopping active deterioration of the manuscript(s); Restoration: any direct action on a damaged manuscript aimed at improving the visual aspect of the manuscript.
The terms ‘preservation’ and ‘conservation’ are sometimes used interchangeably. Particularly in the context of the conservation profession, preservation is considered a subdiscipline within the field of conservation. In brief, preservation deals with the management aspects of the maintenance of manuscripts, whereas conservation focuses on current practices to keep manuscripts in a usable condition. Manuscripts represent the collective wisdom and vast experience of generations. Therefore, modern practices of preservation and conservation are important.
Preservation and conservation methods in India
Indigenous methods
India has a history of using various indigenous methods to preserve its manuscripts against decay. Wrapping manuscripts in red or yellow cotton cloth is very common in India. In terms of using herbs and natural products as insect repellents, a combination of Acorus calmus, camphor, cinnamon, cumin, cloves and pepper has been used in many parts of India. The dried leaves of the neem tree are used to combat booklice. Turmeric is also used as an insect repellent. In southern India, fumes from burning the ajowan plant have been used as a fungicide.
Modern methods
With the advent of new technologies and suitable chemicals in the field of preservation and conservation, the life of manuscripts has been enhanced, but the use of chemicals is somewhat drastic and can be toxic. Microfilms, microfiches and digitization are the latest advanced technologies that are being adopted in many libraries.
Scope of the study
In India, research on the preservation and conservation of manuscripts has been conducted in various regions. The need for more relevant information has prompted this article, showing how indigenous manuscripts have been preserved and conserved at the Jain Vishva Bharati Institute (Deemed University) in Rajasthan, India. The Institute was established in 1991 in the city of Ladnun by Gurudev Acharya (His Holiness) Shri Tulsi of the Svetambar Terapanth Sect. Gurudev Acharya Shri Tulsi was its first constitutional Anushasta (moral and spiritual guide) and was followed by Acharya (His Holiness) Shri Mahaprajna. Acharya (His Holiness) Shri Mahashraman is the present Anushasta. The Institute is a research-oriented centre of higher education and places great emphasis on peace and human rights studies and allied subjects in the areas of ethics, non-violence, comparative religion and philosophy, and environmental ethics (JVBI, 2021).
Review of related literature
The literature on the preservation and conservation of manuscripts is sparse. This section highlights studies that have been conducted in this field.
Lone et al., 2021 investigated the preservation status of rare documents in Srinagar capital of Jammu and Kashmir. The job was carried out in around 111 individuals, religious institutions and private libraries having rare resources. The study revealed that the traditional preservation methods have been quite fruitful for rare documents available with them. Baquee and Raza (2020) investigated the types of manuscripts, users and techniques involved in the preservation and conservation of manuscripts at the Aligarh Muslim University library.
Zhou et al. (2021) extracted keywords as data sources from the China National Knowledge Infrastructure, and analysed the evolutionary trends of ‘documentary heritage preservation and conservation research in China’.
The performance of preservation activities was minimal and disagreements were recorded when identifying the digital curation practices in 23 institutional repositories in south India (Shajitha, 2020). Wilson (2017) reviews the open archival information system reference model, and outlines the prescriptive model to evaluate the calibre of digital preservation efforts. The different preservation and conservation techniques used in selected libraries in New Delhi, India, were not very effective (Yadav and Kumar, 2020).
Rachman (2017) examines the traditional methods used in Indonesia to conserve manuscripts and the philosophical viewpoints that underlie these methods. Nurdin (2012) describes the development and scope of the collection at the Aceh Museum, and the steps taken by the museum to raise public awareness of the value of manuscripts as a tangible legacy of a great intellectual heritage. Hussein-Moustafa (2015) reveals that libraries and archives in the Middle East and North Africa have insufficient plans to establish and implement protocols for the preservation and conservation of their priceless manuscripts. Majumdar (2005) discusses the whole gamut of issues surrounding the initiatives taken by the Government of India for the preservation and conservation of India’s literary heritage.
Singh (2012) considers the initiatives taken by the Government of India with regard to the digital preservation of cultural heritage manuscripts. Minicka (2008) shares the experiences of the Timbuktu Rare Manuscripts Project in the preservation and conservation of manuscripts in Timbuktu. Narang and Singh (2014) highlight different methods for the preservation and conservation of fragile rare scriptures. Further, by analysing the factors involved in the deterioration of the manuscripts in the Sikh Reference Library at the Golden Temple of Amritsar, they emphasize that by using appropriate expertise, deterioration can be reduced to lower levels. Devanathan (2012) highlights that dried ashwagandha powder, Piper nigrum oil, custard apple seed powder, and a mixture of leaves and Azadirachta indica oil are natural ways to preserve manuscripts.
Bansode (2008) reveals that digitization is a solution for the preservation of and access to rare documents. The digitization of manuscripts is a time-consuming and difficult job due to the fragility and discolouration of manuscripts (Londhe et al., 2011). Singh and Singh (2020) stress the need for the digitization of manuscripts to preserve them for future generations. Li and Niu (2010) provide a theoretical guide for preserving ancient books in China. Ahmed et al. (2018) evaluate the effectiveness of zinc sulphate as an alternative preservative technique to protect old manuscripts. Library professionals have a responsibility to take proper care of manuscripts and minimize deterioration caused by various environmental and biochemical factors (Mishra, 2017).
The review of the related literature has helped to identify the best practices adopted by libraries in the preservation and conservation of manuscripts. From the literature review, it has been concluded that the preventive and curative treatment of manuscripts, digitization and microfilming are effective measures to ensure the preservation of, access to and the enhancement of the life of original manuscripts.
Objectives of the study
This study had three objectives: (1) to find out the kinds of manuscripts available in the library; (2) to reveal the techniques being followed for the preservation and conservation of the manuscripts; and (3) to find out the kinds of records available for documentation.
Research methodology
This qualitative study used a survey of the manuscripts to investigate their physical status and structured interviews with nine staff at the Jain Vishva Bharati Institute. A physical survey of manuscript collections is a vital tool in assessing the extent of deterioration in collections and then enabling the planning of appropriate conservation programmes (Brown et al., 2020). The observation method was also applied among the staff. A questionnaire was constructed and distributed among the nine library staff that sought to answer the research questions: (1) What kinds of manuscripts are available in the library? (2) What preservation and conservation techniques are being followed for manuscripts? And (3) What are the main factors that cause the deterioration of manuscripts? All of the questionnaires were completed and returned, resulting in a 100% response rate (See Appendix 1).
Results and discussion
Manuscripts in different subjects
The manuscripts contain centuries of accrued knowledge and are invaluable sources of information. Table 2 lists the total number of manuscripts (N = 6110) in different subjects at the Jain Vishva Bharati Institute. The 6110 manuscripts in different subjects and languages are in 193,812 folios. The whole collection has been classified into 15 major subject areas, and the data shows that the majority of the manuscripts are related to Aagam (Canonical Literature), accounting for 26.81% (n = 1638) of the manuscripts and 64.25% (n = 124,516) of the folios. Other precious manuscripts are available on Jain Darshan (Jain Philosophy; 12.72%, n = 777), Stavana/Stotra (Eulogy; 10.66%, n = 651), Updesha (Preaching; 9.59%, n = 586), Kathaayen (Story; 8.74%, n = 534), Darshan (Philosophy; 9.67%, n = 591), Ayurveda (4.57%, n = 279), Jyotish-Shaastra (Astrology; 6.19%, n = 378) and Mantra-Tantra (The Occult; 4.88%, n = 298), among others (see Table 2).
Manuscripts in different subjects.
Manuscripts in different languages
Manuscript collections in various languages display the Holy Scriptures, covering different faiths such as Vedic, Puranic and Jainism, and dating back to the 7th century
Manuscripts in different languages.
Manuscripts in different forms
A manuscript is always more than just its textual information, as it is a historical document. The availability of paper made it easier for manuscripts to become important vehicles for transmitting knowledge. Manuscripts made of handmade paper were kept in bundles, and the sheaves of folios were then kept between wooden boards and wrapped in cloth. A large number of manuscripts also comprise folios of modern manufactured paper, either loose or bound together (see Table 4).
Manuscripts in different forms.
Duration of employing preservation and conservation techniques
The preservation and conservation techniques that are carried out depend on the type of manuscript. The staff were asked how long they had been employing the techniques, and it was revealed that the preservation and conservation techniques had been used for between 11 and 15 years.
Preservation and conservation techniques
It is important that appropriate preservation and conservation techniques are applied to maintain the integrity of manuscripts and the information contained therein (see Figure 2).
Steps followed for the preservation and conservation of manuscripts.
It is evident that washing (general and solvents), pH testing, fumigation (gaseous treatment of materials), de-acidification (a technical procedure to neutralize acidity effects on manuscripts), lamination (protecting paper by covering both sides with transparent polythene sheets), encapsulation (a safe and permanent method for preserving precious one-sheet documents) and restoration were common preservation and conservation techniques employed with the manuscripts (Table 5).
Preservation and conservation techniques.
Baquee and Raza (2020) explore the use of most of these techniques at the Aligarh Muslim University. The Institute library has adopted chiffon and country-made tissue paper (with acid-free, waxy and oily constituents) for lamination and polyester film for the encapsulation of manuscripts.
Remedial conservation and preventive measures
Silverfish, cockroaches, booklice, crickets and termites are the major biological agents that cause extensive damage to paper manuscripts. Naphthalene bricks, neem leaves and the spraying of insecticides may be used as insect repellents. It is evident that prevention is better than a cure. Therefore, there should be the regular cleaning of manuscripts with a soft brush or vacuum cleaner, and manuscript folios should be wrapped in acid-free handmade paper and covered with a red cloth to protect against dust and insects. It suggests that the full pasting should be done by using dextrin or CMC paste and sizing should be performed by using gelatine, methyl methacrylate, paralite and methyl cellulose. The remedial conservation and preventive measures for hand-written manuscripts observed in the library are listed in Table 6.
Remedial conservation and preservation measures used for hand-written manuscripts.
Chemicals
The care of manuscripts is a major concern and efforts are being made to protect them against different deterioration factors. Most of the chemicals that are used to counter insect attacks are relatively drastic and toxic. Which chemicals are used to preserve manuscripts is determined by experience and knowledge. The staff said that different chemicals have been used for the preservation and conservation of manuscripts: thymol and ortho-phenylphenol as antifungal agents; borax powder as an insecticide; gelatine, Melinex, eraser powder, seashell lime, silica gel, Paraloid B-72 granules and glucal-starch paste as conservation materials; and methanol, ethanol, toluene and trichloroethylene as solvents (Table 7).
Chemicals used for preservation and conservation.
Materials
The library has set up a work-oriented conservation centre, which is equipped with modern, sophisticated equipment and materials for the care of the indigenous manuscript collections. It has been claimed that the staff reported that 10 basic materials are used for the preservation and conservation of manuscripts (Table 8).
Materials used for preservation and conservation.
Documentation records
Manuscripts are often scattered among known and unknown collections. India’s wealth of manuscripts should be documented in a manner that provides a reference source to aid scholars and researchers. This study revealed that detailed documentation records for the manuscripts were being maintained. Manuscripts for which preservation and conservation work has been completed have been labelled. The manuscript records include accession registers, location registers, catalogues, treatment records and conservation files (Table 9).
Documentation records.
Digital media
With the advancement of information technologies, it has become necessary to store data in digital formats. The study reveals that compact discs (CDs), DVDs, USB flash drives and external hard discs have been adopted for short-term data storage (Table 10).
Digital media used for preservation and conservation.
Physical conditions
This qualitative study surveyed the manuscripts at the Jain Vishva Bharati Institute to investigate their physical condition. For all the manuscript collections, the library claimed that most of the resources were in good condition, but some needed more attention. As some of the collections are fragile and brittle, from a preservation and conservation point of view, they require immediate attention (Table 11).
Physical conditions.
a Some manuscripts need more attention.
Shelf cleaning
The library staff reported that shelf cleaning was carried out on a monthly basis. To prolong the life of the indigenous manuscripts, the frequency of shelf cleaning needs to be changed to weekly so that a clean environment can be maintained.
Floor cleaning
Periodic checks and proper housekeeping help manuscript collections to remain in good condition for a longer period of time (Jeyaraj, 2010). Such housekeeping operations were reported in the library and performed on a daily basis, which is good in terms of preservation criteria.
Humidity control methods
Humidity may damage susceptible paper manuscripts. The library has adopted various ways and means to check humidity levels. Lone et al. (2021) report on humidity control in their study of private libraries and religious institutions in Jammu and Kashmir, India. It is noteworthy stating that air conditioning, fans and exhaust fans facility exist in the institute’s library for humidity control. It should be noted that air conditioning by itself only controls temperature, and not relative humidity. Air conditioning that switches on during the day and then off at night may cause more damage than steady temperature and relative humidity levels. Therefore, silica gel is most effective for small, confined spaces. Circulating the air (by using fans, for example) is useful in conditions of high humidity to prevent the growth of mould (Table 12).
Humidity control methods.
Checklist against the ‘Basic minimum standards for the conservation of manuscripts’
The National Mission for Manuscripts, with its mandate to identify, document, preserve, conserve and make accessible the vast wealth of manuscripts of India, has established a Manuscript Conservation Centre at the Central Library at the Jain Vishva Bharati Institute. Therefore, a checklist has been made against the ‘Basic minimum standards for the conservation of manuscripts’ (National Mission for Manuscripts, 2021). It reveals that the physical, chemical and environmental factors have been maintained in accordance with the guidelines. However, from a preservation and conservation point of view, ventilation and dust factors require more attention to safeguard the valuable manuscript collections (Table 13).
Checklist against the ‘Basic minimum standards for the conservation of manuscripts’.
Digital preservation techniques
Digital preservation is the management of information and involves processes and activities to ensure that continued access to information exists in a digital form. Digital preservation aims for the long-term and error-free storage of digital information. Precisely, the implementation of digital preservation of manuscripts in terms of digital conversion of non-digital source materials are needed for the following reasons: To maintain the cultural and historical value of a nation’s heritage; To preserve manuscripts in a long-lasting medium; To reduce the handling of frequently used original manuscripts; To promote round-the-clock access anytime, anywhere; To facilitate multiple access; and To generate multiple copies of manuscripts.
Digitization means to acquire, organize, convert, store, process, standardize and disseminate information in a digital format. The digitization of manuscripts enhances access, facilitates new forms of access and reduces handling. The steps involved in the digitization of manuscripts are shown in Figure 3. From the results of the study, it is evident that the selection of manuscripts based on their content or condition, conservation or treatment, the selection of equipment, image capture, digital image processing, quality control, integration, metadata creation, digital storage on short- or long-term storage media, and retrieval in a digital format are the digital preservation techniques followed by the Jain Vishva Bharati Institute’s library for the digitization of the Jain manuscript collections.
Steps followed for digital preservation of manuscripts.
Conclusion
The primary challenge, based on this study, is to create awareness of the preservation and conservation techniques that are being followed in the library, and to implement advanced methodologies. Manuscripts represent a symbolic presence, which integrates the history, traditions and culture of a nation, and they are an irreplaceable source of pride for a nation. Manuscripts possess a universal value which can touch all people around the globe. The preservation and conservation of manuscripts has to be seen in a broader context, managing what has been inherited from the past and what will be handed over to future generations.
India’s most precious and valuable gift to humanity is its manuscript heritage, and the Central Library at the Jain Vishva Bharati Institute is striving to contribute to the preservation and conservation of this heritage. The holding of precious manuscript collections has gained importance and also has financial benefits. It was also observed that due to the lack of trained staff and funding or grants from the government, various valuable manuscripts are in urgent need of conservation. It is recommended that the manuscripts should be digitized and made available on the Web to enable easy accessibility from any part of the world. In the present scenario, the library is not only a warehouse of knowledge, but also plays an important role in the preservation and conservation of, and access to, its stored documents (Olatokun, 2008). Preservation and conservation techniques enhance the life of library resources, especially in the case of manuscripts. The library should make these valuable cultural heritage resources accessible to users for their benefit. Therefore, the manuscripts should be preserved and conserved using appropriate methods. In terms of efficient access, a digital version of a manuscript is more convenient. However, as far as the preservation of manuscripts is concerned, microfilms, which ensure durability, are better than a digital version. Therefore, the preventive and curative treatment of manuscripts, digitization and microfilming should be used to ensure preservation and access. In future, repeating the study for different institutions or organizations would allow researchers to identify current practices of preservation and conservation techniques.
Footnotes
Appendix 1
Declaration of conflicting interests
The author declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship and/or publication of this article.
Funding
The author received no financial support for the research, authorship and/or publication of this article.
