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Programme for Digitisation of Manuscripts. The digitization of about 1200 manuscripts of the Library was started in September 2005. The functional objectives were mainly: a) improving access. b) preventing damage caused by frequent handling. c) examining possibilities of preparing e-books.
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Programme for Digitisation of Manuscripts • The digitization of about 1200 manuscripts of the Library was started in September 2005. The functional objectives were mainly: a) improving access. b) preventing damage caused by frequent handling. c) examining possibilities of preparing e-books. d) resource-sharing with other institutions. e) ensuring conservation by facilitating a back-up copy f) preservation for future by having backup copies also available in safe storage mode.
The technical objectives were: • To catalogue the manuscripts, initially – and other rare material, subsequently – as per Dublin Core Standards, e.g. Manusgranthavali / e-granthalaya. • To develop an e-reading room, subsequently, using the digitized images, for in-house readers. • To prepare web-based catalogue of digitized manuscripts, hosting a few sample specimens for viewing only. • To develop, ultimately, an e-library with, storage, archival and retrieval facility. • Finally, to make available the manuscripts to readers and researchers and scholars online.
A pilot project covering 10,00,000 pages was initially taken up. This is about 10% of the total collection of manuscripts at the Library. • The pilot project covers only paper manuscripts. Other items shall be taken up later. • The manuscripts cover a wide range from plain calligraphy to ornamentation and illustration. The purpose is to assess the output involving digital reproduction of different types of manuscripts, such as illustrated, ornamental, calligraphic specimens, etc.
The work was entrusted to NIC in 2005. 10,00,000 pages covering 3000 manuscripts, have been digitized. The checking of images is in progress. • At present, 874 manuscripts, covering a little over 228,000 folios have been completed for use by readers. These can be read on computer screen within an e-reading room as in-house facility. The work of hosting these on the Library’s website shall take some time. • However, a sample copy of an important manuscript of the Collection, the Wajud al-Asheqin is being hosted, to provide some idea of the work done so far. • To view scanned pages, go back to main link.
Wajud al- Asheqin This extremely beautiful copy of a mystical tract by the eminent 14th Sufi saint, Hazrat Gesudaraz, is included at Hand List No.1414 and Catalogue No.1374 of the Khuda Bakhsh Library Collection. It contains 29 folios, each illuminated with floral designs in gold. The text deals with Sufi (mystic) interpretation of (divine) love and lovers of God. It provides different interpretations of this spiritual relationship and the norms that regulate it.
The author, himself a renowned mystic and a towering figures among the Sufis of the Deccan region, was the disciple of Nasiruddin Chiragh-e Dihli, a contemporary of Sultan Alauddin. He was born at Delhi in 1321 AD. He finally settled at Gulbarga, where he died in 1412 AD. He was highly revered by Sultan Firoz Shah Bahmani and his successor, Ahmad Shah. The copy was transcribed in the 17th century, in beautiful nastaleeq. The scribe’s name is given as Mujuz Qalam. Other copies of the work are mentioned in Ethe, India Office Library, Catalogue No. 1858 & 1859; and ASB Lib. Cat. Nos. 1223-1227.
