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Indian Journal of Library and Information Science

Volume  8, Issue 3, Sept - Dec 2014, Pages 315-328
 

Review Article

Barriers in the Preservation and Conservation of Palm leaf Manuscripts in Thailand and Tamil Nadu: A Survey

Sujin Butdisuwan, B. Ramesh Babu

*Dean, School of ICMT, Faculty of Informatics, Mahasarakham University, Mahasarakham 44150, Thailand, **Ex-Professor, Dept. of Library and Information Science, University of Madras, Chennai & Ex-Visiting Professor, Faculty of Informatics, Mahasarakh

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Abstract

Palm leaf manuscripts are an ancient document form that comprises a significant documentary heritage. The literary treasures of ancient India and Thailand contained in the manuscripts were preserved in the houses of learned scholars, gurukulas, Buddhist monasteries, temples, padasalas, ashrams, other religious monasteries, temples, vihars and royal palaces who were patrons of art,culture and literature. This paper presents the survey of palmleaf manuscript libraries in Tamil Nadu (Chennai region) and Thailand (Mahasarakham province). A total of 13 palm leaf centres in Mahasarakham province has been considered for the study. In Chennai district of Tamil Nadu, nine Manuscript libraries are functioning. These libraries are mostly managed by religious and private institutions and a few are run by the State and Central Governments. It also focuses on the barriers such as infrastructural, financial, manpower, administrative, and physical facilities in the way of preservation and conservation of palmleaf manuscripts. Based on the survey, a few suggestions are given.

Keywords: Palmleaf manuscript libraries; Preservation; Conservation; Tamil Nadu; Thailand; Survey.


Corresponding Author : Sujin Butdisuwan