A 260-year-old manuscript of Tulsidas's Ramayan just landed at International Ramkatha Museum in Ayodhya. Big score for the museum. Approved by a screening committee led by Nripendra Misra,deal was wrapped up Wednesday.
It's in rough shape. Termite damage,partially torn. But Sanjeev Kumar Singh, museum's director,emphasized its value for ongoing 'Ramayana Manuscript Collection Yajna' project. "Although it is damaged,it remains manuscript of the Ramayana that deserves to be part of the collection," he said. Singh believes it will boost museum's offerings.
Manuscript spans 650 pages,showcases a unique mix of red and black inks. Artistic techniques of its time. Singh noted its age,linguistic style,artistic quality make it valuable. "There is a special value attached to ancient artifacts," he remarked.
Collector Madhavendra Porwal from Chambal Archives in Lucknow says it's from around 1768 AD . Written in Sanskrit on traditional handmade paper. Porwal pointed out a controversial line differing from other versions. Such manuscripts took one to two months to finish,scribe noting completion at each chapter's end.
Porwal's family has 41 versions of Ramayana. Committed to digitizing for public access at no cost. "This manuscript has been in our family since my grandmother's time," he said. Dedicated to conservation and restoration .
Adding this manuscript to International Ramkatha Museum is set to enrich archives . Visitors will get a glimpse into historical,cultural depth of Ramayan. As museum readies for display,the manuscript's legacy looms large…
