Rare books, 2 new fonts will be available to public from February 27: Ashok Solankar

Q: What are the major achievements of RMVS this year?
A: With the help of CDAC, we have digitized 28 rare books which will available for download to all from February 27. This includes Ghasiram Kotwal written by Moroba Kanhoba, Columbus cha Vruttant by Mahadeo Govind Kolhatkar, Grammar of the Maratha Language by William Carrey. We're also in the process of digitizing another 1,000 rare books.

Q: How old these books are?
A: They were published in the 19th century which we have fetched from various government libraries and private collections from across the state. Some magazines, which have closed down, are being restored and converted into e-format. Besides, we have developed two unicode Marathi fonts in the name former chief minister Yashwant Rao Chavan.

Q: Have you conducted any survey on Marathi and the dialects?
A: We had done a pilot study on Marathi dialects in 1995, the findings of which were published then. We had proposed to go for a full statewide survey to find out the number of Marathi dialects. That survey couldn't be done as the approval didn't come from the government.

Q: What do you do to popularise the language?
A: All those projects which we just discussed are aimed at popularising the language. Besides, we publish Marathi books, organise workshops for translators and work on research projects.

Q: What is your designation?
A: I am director (presents his visiting card).

Q: I was told the institute doesn't have a full-time director and deputy director for past five years
A: Actually, I am in-charge director.

Q: But your nameplate and visiting card suggests you are director?
A: The nameplate was made with director designation so that it doesn't need to be changed later (admits he's one of the aspirants for the full-time post). Whenever I give my visiting card to someone, I mark 'in-charge' with the pen.