Even PMO can’t help recover 169 rare manuscripts that have disappeared from different dists of Raj
Centuries-old manuscripts, including works like Shahjahan Prakash and Kalpasutra have been lost by or went missing from branches of Oriental Research Institute in Rajasthan. As many as 169 manuscripts from 8 branches of the institute have mysteriously disappeared in a time span of 9 years between 1999 and 2008.
Successive governments did not take any action even after the complaints were lodged by the Research Officer Dr. Ramkishan Pohiya. The complainant had written the letter regarding missing manuscripts to the PMO on September 6 last year, which has now been returned to him.
The National Mission for Manuscripts which was forwarded his complaint sent him back his complaint claiming the work of the mission is limited to listing, conversion, publishing and digitization of the manuscripts only. Also, the NMM has not made any act or policy which allows them to investigate a case such as this. In the complaint letter, Pohiya mentioned that he is writing the letter being a patriot and some manuscripts were also photocopied illegally.
Around 1.5 lakh manuscripts were examined in Jodhpur office of Rajasthan Oriental Research Institute between 1999 and 2008 and it was revealed that 169 manuscripts are missing.
It was revealed from RTI that the letter reached the PMO on October 3 and was sent to Ministry of Culture on November 28. Further, the Ministry of Culture sent this letter to the Sahitya Kala Academy but the academy did not understand it and handed it over to the Indira Gandhi National Center for Arts (IGNCA). In the end, IGNCA sent the letter to National Mission for Manuscripts again on December 12. Finally, it was concluded on January 12 that the Ministry could not take any action on the matter.
Rare scripts
Shahjahan Prakash: This 400 year-old manuscript sheds light on the time of Mughal Emperor Shahjahan.
Narpativilas: This lists ways to improve economic & political relations of a king.
Kalpsutra: Contains coloured pictures depicting the period of 12th Century
National Mission for Manuscripts
Jodhpur: 90 manuscripts missing including Shahjanha Prakash, Nripativilas, Kalpsutra.
Kota: 60 manuscripts missing since 2000
Chittorgarh: Three manuscripts were found missing during verification in 2006-07
Jaipur: Three manuscripts were found missing in 2007-08
Bharatpur: A coloured manuscript missing in 2002
Alwar: Many manuscripts were missing, hence copies of Dattatreya Tantra and Nagarjuna were ordered
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