The “National Seminar on Cataloguing, editing and Publication of Ancient Indian Manuscripts on Science and Technology” held on March 26th 28th 2019 at Bangalore [1]

The “National Seminar on Cataloguing, editing and Publication of Ancient   Indian Manuscripts on Science and Technology” held on March  26^th  28^th 2019 at Bangalore [1]

From Chronology seminar to manuscript seminar in Bangalore: After attending the two day National seminar held at Bangalore on February 18^th and 19^th 2019, we received a brochure through e-mail. Not only the brochure, even the contents had been also attractive. As the theme and approach were very attractive for researchers, immediately, we decided to attend. Above all, it is to be held in the ISKCON temple complex. I thought, it is the suitable place for the conduct of the seminar, as, Sri Krishna has been the historical personality of Indian history with the start of Kali Era that is the “sheet anchor of Indian history.” In spite of short notice, we could prepare papers, as we have had details ready. As I have been researching for the last 40 years, with data and information available with me, I could prepare papers, immediately and send to the organizers.  I booked tickets also informing them.

First experience at ISKCON, Bangalore (26-03-2019): This is the second time, I am visiting ISKCON, Bangalore. Twenty years back, I came to the temple for darshan. This time, I came as a delegate to present paper. We reached ISKCON temple complex and accommodated at room no.211 by 2.00 pm. The reception asked us to take food coupon and have food, as it closes by 2.30 pm. We had food there and had some rest after discussing the papers to be presented. I was really happy to be there at the place of Sri Krishna, whom I consider as the Lord of Chronology, HOD of Indian history and the greatest historiographer of India, that is Bharath, and perhaps, of the whole world during the 3100 BCE period. I was enquiring about the venue and the program, but, the persons at the reception were telling that some volunteers would come to inform! As none came and it was already 5,00 pm, I contacted and she [Samskriti Foundation representative] responded that she was not feeling well, …………………………….the program had already started, tried to contact, but, could get line and so on. Anyway, we proceeded to the hall and it was nearby only. The “National Seminar on Cataloguing, editing and Publication of Ancient   Indian Manuscripts on Science and Technology” was inaugurated at the auditorium, ISKCON, Bangalore on March 26^th evening and it was funded by the National Mission f0r Manuscript. Dr Alwar was compeering the proceedings. The following few paras tell the information about the theme of the seminar[1].

Indian manuscripts distributed and available countries: The Indian Scientific heritage has been extremely productive. India has one of the largest collections of Scientific manuscripts of any civilization in the world. While there is no precise enumeration of the number of manuscripts, estimates vary widely, putting it in the region of 20000 to 100,000 manuscripts. Several of these manuscripts are now in institutions such as – Oriental Manuscripts Libraries, Indological Research Institutions, Universities, Mutts and Archives and many are still in private collections. Manuscripts are also available in foreign libraries in U.K., France, Germany & USA and in Asian countries like, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Burma, Bhutan, China (Tibet), Thailand. Unfortunately there is no detailed and accurate data about the number, extent and distribution of the Scientific manuscripts of India. The presently available published Scientific texts, which are in contemporary use, represent less than 2% of the Scientific literature that is available in the form of manuscripts. However, as of today, there is no proper methodology to know or verify the names, authors or any other details of manuscripts that exist on the topic of Science and Technology in ancient India.

The Samskriti Foundation: The Samskriti Foundation, Mysore, is organizing this national seminar. It has, at present, embarked on a project to collect, collate and present information about a bibliography of manuscripts exclusively dealing with Science and technology. So far it has collected and listed information about 7,000 numbers of such manuscripts, which turned out to be a very meticulous, pain-staking task.  Thus, the Foundation has a unique database of ancient manuscripts dealing with Science and Technology (S & T) of Ancient India.

The Problem dealing with the manuscripts available: Though the Foundation has collected and prepared an electronic database of ancient manuscripts dealing with Science and Technology of Ancient India, there is still a long way to go, as these Manuscripts have to be procured from various institutions, University libraries and personal collections. Further the following steps have to be undertaken:

1. Cleaning etc of the Manuscripts and making them ready for digitization
2. Digitization of the concerned Manuscripts
3. Deciphering the Manuscripts
4. Transcribing the Manuscripts
5. Editing the Manuscripts
6. Preparing English Translation / regional languages translation etc. in collaboration with scientists / technocrats connected with the concerned field.
7. Making other value editions
8. Publishing the Manuscripts

To undertake the above tasks, the active collaboration of scholars and scientists / technologists alike is very much necessary. This is because, unlike while dealing with Manuscripts on literature, philosophy etc., Manuscripts on S & T contain many technical terms that even scholars who are familiar with the particular language would not be able to interpret properly. Apart from this, these exist several other problems in deciphering / interpreting / editing Manuscripts belonging to many new areas like ancient geography, alchemy, earth sciences and such other subjects.  Therefore, there is a dire need to unearth and train a new breed of persons who are ‘scientist-manuscriptologists’. As of today, there are not many scientist-manuscriptologists who can undertake such tasks and bring to light the ancient Manuscripts on S & T of yore which can bring to light the expertise of our forefathers in various fields of S & T.

The solution envisaged: To overcome the above problem, it is proposed to bring together expert scientists and technologists on one side and expert manuscriptologists on the other on a common platform and make them interact with each other so that there can be a healthy exchange of ideas and concepts that can help in taking the task of deciphering / interpreting / editing Manuscripts belonging to many new areas like ancient geography, alchemy, earth sciences and such other subjects dealing with S & T. The proposed seminar specifically wishes to address and make considerable headway in solving the problems mentioned above.

The purpose of the seminar: The seminar will be organized in such a way that an exclusive session will be devoted for a particular con temporarily relevant field of science and technology and experts in that particular field will speak on particular unpublished, valuable Manuscripts that is concerned with that particular field. For example, there will be an exclusive session for unpublished Manuscripts on the subject of ‘Mathematics’ and in that session, experts on Mathematics will speak on deciphering, publication  etc. of unpublished, useful Manuscripts on Mathematics and their utility. Similarly separate sessions will be schedules for other important subjects. Of course, it will be impossible to deal with all such subjects in a very short span of three days. However, the topics will be prioritized based on contemporary relevance and the sessions will be held in a highly sophisticated manner. The seminar will be a pioneering one, since, as far as information available at present, such a seminar for deciphering / interpreting / editing Manuscripts belonging to many new areas like ancient geography, alchemy, earth sciences and such other subjects dealing with S & T has not been organized so far by any agency.

 

ISKCON guest house

Samskriti Foundation had already organized a National Seminar on “Application of Information Technology for conservation, editing and publication of Manuscripts” on the 20^th, 21^st and 22^nd of January 2013, at Multivision Theatre, ISKCON, Harekrishna Hill, Rajajinagar, Bangalore, with support from the National Mission for Manuscripts, IGNCA, Govt. of India[2]. Thus, it is evidet that, this is also a similar seminar conducted after six years. Coming to the current seminar, as mentioned above, we reached the hall “Multi-vision theatre”, the program already started. As usual, I started taking photographs and sat down.

When I was just entering, I took this photograph……………..

Pranava Khular, Manjunatha, Khinchi, M. S. Lakshmi Thathachariyar

26-03-2019- Mss seminar -inauguration-audience

6-03-2019- Mss seminar -inauguration-audience.2

26-03-2019- Mss seminar -inauguration-audience.3

5.00 to 5.14 pm – Sri Pranav Khular, Joint Secreary, Ministry of Culture: Vajpayee commented that if all the manuscripts were many IVCs and Dwarakas might be discovered. Launching the Mission, the Prime Minister Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee said[3], “…the NMM is different from the other missions undertaken till now.  In this the benefits are neither direct nor visible….I believe that the NMM will bring to light many more Mohenjodaros and Dwarakas.”

Referring to the technological aspect of the Mission, the Prime Minister noted that modern science asks proof for claims and this very science (modern technology) is providing tools for resurrecting these proofs of our glorious past.  Shri Vajpayee highlighted three aspects of the mission: since 70 per cent of the manuscripts are in Sanskrit, the teaching and learning of the language will have to be further promoted, several institution that are already working in the field will have to be associated with the Mission and finally, a huge awareness campaign has to be undertaken to encourage individual custodians of manuscripts to come forward and give them to the Mission. The National Mission for Manuscript has been given several extensions and now it has been extended up to 31^st  March 2020. Work has to be done, as there was no pace in it.

© K. V. Ramakrishna Rao

30-03-2019

[1] Taken from their brochure and their website: http://www.samskrti.org/; http://samskrti.org/seminar/ ;

Email: samskrti@hotmail.com

[2] https://samskrti.org/seminars-and-conferences/

[3] https://namami.gov.in/about-us-0