Pics: Hemanath Padubidri
Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (SP)

Udupi, Mar 18: “We are living in an era where the people question about the benefits derived out of studying the scripts. It is but natural, as everything is now measured in terms of money and size. Those who understand the importance of scripts can never raise such questions,” said Dr Anantakrishna Shastri, history researcher from Sirsi.

He was speaking after inaugurating a two-day workshop on the preservation of manuscripts, organized at Puttige Mutt by National Mission for Manuscripts (Rashtriya Pandulipi Mission), New Delhi and Puttige Sri Vadiraja Research Foundation, with the blessings of Sri Sugunendrateertha Swamiji of Puttige Mutt.

He stressed that collection of manuscripts, preserving and consering them, bringing them to light, and creating an interest and awareness about them among the youth should be taken up on a large scale. He noted that the manuscripts, about which no one was interested in the past, have suddenly kindled interest among many people, with several essays on manuscripts and scripts being presented of late. He lamented, however, about the lack of quality of these essays, adding that the quality and level of knowledge being imparted to these people should be improved.

“Instead of teaching the students about the scripts, we should take up the task of teaching the teachers at the first instance. There are a large number of manuscripts in Tulu, Brahmi, and Modi Kannada scripts. In some places, manuscripts are worshipped, but they are getting destroyed because of pests and termites,” he noted.

Lecturer in the department of Ayurveda, KMC, Sripati Adiga, and Udupi Raja Rao, were present, Lecturer, Gopalacharya, presented the programme.