People must value manuscripts: Curator

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, November 15

Experts carry out restoration and preservation work on manuscripts at Khalsa College feel that there is a need to create awareness regarding the relevance of such documents among people.

Mohammad Ali, former curator, Salar Jung Museum, Hyderabad, and Sajjan Singh, convener, Sikh Heritage Foundation, Hyderabad, along with their team, are here in the city to preserve the documents at the college using the latest technology.

The work is being carried out for documents at Sikh History Research Centre of the college. The centre has over 6,274 books, including rare books in English and Punjabi and hundreds of manuscripts and documents in Urdu, Sanskrit and Persian as well. “We are using the Japanese inspired technology for the work. This is for the first time that we have come here to carry out such a work in Amritsar,” said Ali.

Ali, who has been into this work for more than 40 years, has discovered a number of manuscripts. He says people must value their heritage and they must understand the relevance of such items. “People should develop a vision to value manuscripts. Instead of throwing away damaged documents, people can consult an expert. Back home, multiple activities have been held to create awareness among young students,” he said.

According to Sajjan Singh, “This is for the first time that we have organised a workshop. Students, research scholars and faculty from educational institutes are coming to learn about these techniques,” he said.

“A team will stay back to carry out conservation work at the college and share their knowledge with others. We all are thrilled about learning new technologies,” said Dr Kuldip Singh Dhillon, in-charge Sikh history and research department, Khalsa College.

The authorities of Khalsa College have also welcomed custodians of valued items to submit damaged manuscripts for their upkeep. The workshop ends on November 30.