Abstract

MANUSCRIPTOLOGY: AN OVERVIEW

Dr. Aprana Pankaj Thapliyal* and Dr. Kalpana Denge

ABSTRACT

Manuscripts are the original texts on scripts which are manually written or hand written & are the basis for the learning of science and technology today. Hence, it is granted a top place of honor to the science of Manuscriptology & can be considered as “Encyclopedia of all sciences”. The science of studying the manuscripts is known as Manuscriptology. A country’s pride resides in its culture and heritage. It is evident from the richness of archeology, monuments, arts and crafts including manuscripts. Hence, it is granted a top place of honor to the science of Manuscriptology. It is estimated that India possesses more than five million manuscripts, making the largest repository of manuscript wealth in the world. For considering a manuscript acceptable, the age of documents should be 75 years since the date of writing the document. The manuscripts are written in different languages & scripts. Manuscripts are written on different materials like palm leaf, birch bark and stone etc. Manuscripts comprise of our most precious ancient heritage as rare piece of recorded knowledge. They deserve the value and importance in the literary research field. So study of the manuscripts is an important aspect in the present era. This paper narrates the scripts, writing tools, conservation, preservation, maintenance of manuscripts, study of medical manuscripts and its constraints along with importance and basics of manuscriptology.

Keywords: Manuscript, Script, Archeology.