Bhartiya Hastpratona Suchipatro Aetihasik Pariprekshyama Vivechanatmaka Abhyas - Book Summary

Here's a comprehensive summary of the Jain text "Bhartiya Hastpratona Suchipatro Aetihasik Pariprekshyama Vivechanatmaka Abhyas" by Manibhai Prajapati, based on the provided pages:

The book, titled "Bhartiya Hastpratona Suchipatro Aetihasik Pariprekshyama Vivechanatmaka Abhyas" (A Critical Study of Indian Manuscript Catalogues in Historical Perspective), authored by Manibhai Prajapati, delves into the historical development and challenges of cataloging Indian manuscripts.

1. Introduction: India is recognized as one of the world's most prosperous nations in terms of ancient and medieval manuscripts. These manuscripts are a testament to India's cultural heritage, showcasing its achievements in literature, religion, philosophy, science, and art during those periods. Surveys suggest India possesses over 50 lakh manuscripts, with approximately 67% in Sanskrit, Prakrit, and Pali, 25% in modern Indian languages, and 8% in Arabic, Persian, etc. These manuscripts are written in various languages (Sanskrit, Prakrit, Pali, Hindi, Bengali, Gujarati, Marathi, Tamil, etc.) and scripts (Devanagari, Sharada, Bengali, Granth, Gurmukhi, Gujarati, Kannada, etc.) on diverse materials like birch bark, palm leaves, paper, and cloth. They are housed in public, governmental, socio-religious institutions, and private collections, as well as in libraries worldwide.

2. The Concept of Manuscript Cataloguing: The fundamental purpose of cataloging is to ascertain the availability of a book under a specific author, title, or subject in a library. For manuscript collections, where direct user access is often restricted, catalogs are crucial for users to select desired manuscripts, whether in person or remotely. Manuscripts possess unique characteristics that are vital for research, and cataloging must account for these. A comprehensive catalog should include information beyond the author, title, or subject, such as the commentator, language, writing material, dimensions, date of writing, completeness, condition, script, scribe, and colophons (inscriptions at the end of a manuscript). The goal is to provide sufficient detail to uniquely identify each manuscript, preventing confusion with other copies of the same text and aiding in its retrieval if lost or stolen. Unlike printed books, manuscript copies of the same work inherently differ due to variations in script, calligraphy, scribe, writing date, material, illustrations, interpolations, marginal notes, ownership history, and scribe's inscriptions.

3. Origin and Development of Manuscript Catalogues and Cataloguing: Examining the origin of catalogs necessitates looking at the development of writing and libraries in India. While the Indus Valley Civilization (3200-2800 BCE) likely had writing, definitive evidence is scarce. Mentions of writing and scripts appear in texts from the 5th century BCE onwards. Ashoka's inscriptions (273-232 BCE) are the oldest known examples of writing in India. Some scholars place the origin of writing in India around the 8th century BCE. The late development of writing in India is attributed to the oral tradition and the practice of not writing religious texts.

The earliest known Indian manuscript catalog is the "Brihattippanikanamaprachinajainagranthasuchi" (A List of Ancient Jain Manuscripts), compiled by an unknown cataloger around 1383 CE. This catalog, containing 653 manuscripts, is organized by subject and includes information on authors, writers, writing dates, and folio numbers. It covers manuscripts from libraries in Patan, Khambhat, and Bharuch.

While universities like Taxila, Valabhi, Nalanda, and Vikramshila are mentioned in historical sources, information regarding their library catalogs or management is scarce. Despite India's richness in manuscripts, a dedicated work on the science of manuscripts was seemingly absent. Some information on manuscript preservation exists in scribes' colophons and commentaries.

The lack of extensive catalogs from ancient India suggests limited progress in cataloging during that era. However, Muni Punyavijayji expresses optimism, suggesting that earlier, simpler lists might have existed, even if not as detailed as modern ones.

4. Problems in Manuscript Cataloging:

Unknown Authorship and Authors with Similar Names: Many ancient Sanskrit, Prakrit, and Pali works have unknown authors. Similarly, some authors identify themselves by name only, making it difficult to distinguish between those with the same name. This lack of biographical detail for ancient Indian creators has led some scholars to criticize the perceived absence of historical perspective in India.
Attributed Authorship: A significant issue is the attribution of works to renowned authors, such as numerous texts attributed to Maharshi Vedvyas. This is often done to gain popularity or out of devotion.
Variety of Language and Script: Manuscripts are written in numerous languages and scripts. The lack of linguistic or script knowledge can hinder the cataloging of these diverse works, especially when they are housed in collections outside their original linguistic regions.
Gutchhaka (Composite Works) and Mixed Works: Often, a single volume contains multiple small or large works by different authors. In such cases, if cataloging only focuses on the initial work, many other valuable pieces might go unnoticed.
Lack of Title Page: Unlike printed books, manuscripts usually lack a dedicated title page. Information about the title, author, and writing must be sought from within the manuscript, often from colophons or introductory sections.
Absence of Titles and Similar Titles/Multiple Names for One Work: Some manuscripts lack titles, while others share similar titles or have multiple names, posing cataloging challenges. For instance, Brahmasutra is known by various names like Vedantasutra, Vyasasutra, Brahmana, Shardhan Mimanasa, and Uttara Mimansa.
Interpolations: Additions made by others to the original works can make it difficult to identify the original text. Works like the Mahabharata and Puranas are not solely the creation of one author.
Writing Styles: Lack of familiarity with manuscript writing styles, such as Dipatha, Tripatha, and Panchpatha (distinguishing original text from commentary), can create problems. This includes understanding how page numbers are represented (using letters or symbols) and recognizing concluding marks or symbols used to indicate the year of writing or composition.
Loose Leaves: Due to the lack of proper binding, manuscripts often consist of loose leaves, which can get mixed up, making it difficult to reassemble the original work and identify its components.
Lack of Necessary Resources for Catalogers: Cataloging requires reference works like encyclopedias, bibliographies, dictionaries, author directories, and descriptive catalogs, which are often unavailable or incomplete. The "New Catalogus Catalogorum" is a vital resource for Sanskrit manuscripts, but its completion is ongoing, and its availability in major libraries is uncertain. There's also a lack of comprehensive author dictionaries for Sanskrit comparable to Western ones.

5. Indian Manuscript Surveys and Catalogues: A Historical Perspective: The printing press was introduced in India in 1556, but its impact was limited until the 18th century. Manuscript cataloging and survey trends can be divided into four phases:

Early Period (1739-1868): The first catalog describing 287 Indian manuscripts was published in Paris in 1739. The establishment of the East India Company and the British rule led to an introduction of Western education, stimulating interest in Indian languages and literature among British officials. Sir William Jones established the Asiatic Society in Calcutta in 1784, opening new avenues for the study of Indian knowledge and manuscript collection. Notable catalogs from this period include those by A. Weber (1853) for the Imperial Library in Berlin and by Theodor Aufrecht (1859) for the Bodleian Library. H.H. Wilson's catalog of the Mackenzie collection was published in 1828.
Golden Age (1869-1900): The establishment of the Archaeological Survey of India by the British was a significant contribution to the preservation of art and architecture and the survey of Indian manuscripts. This era saw extensive surveys and cataloging efforts across India by both Western and Indian scholars. Raja Rajendralal Mitra's "Notices of Sanskrit Manuscripts" (1870-1895) is considered a landmark in manuscript cataloging. This period also saw significant work by scholars like George Bühler, F. Kielhorn, G. Oppert, and others in various presidencies. The work in Bombay Presidency was particularly comprehensive. Dr. Bühler's reports are considered a model for subsequent work in manuscript recovery.
National Awakening Period (1901-1947): This period witnessed a rise in national consciousness and the establishment of research institutions dedicated to Indianology. Publications of descriptive catalogs increased, covering not only Sanskrit, Prakrit, and Pali but also modern Indian languages. Notable institutions include the Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute, Poona (1919) and Prachyavidya Mandir, Vadodara (1927). The "New Catalogus Catalogorum" project began under the University of Madras during this time.
Post-Independence Period (1947-Present): Government commissions and committees recommended the collection, preservation, editing, publication, and cataloging of Sanskrit manuscripts. Government policies in 1961 laid down standardized guidelines for catalog preparation. From 1947 to 1990, 392 catalogs (848 volumes) were published, with an estimated 500 more volumes published between 1991 and 2011. While some exceptions exist, post-independence catalogs often lack scholarly introductions and detailed information on significant or unpublished manuscripts. The "National Mission for Manuscripts" (2003) aims to digitize and preserve manuscripts.

6. Types of Manuscript Catalogues: The study identifies various types of manuscript catalogs:

Handlist of Manuscripts: An unpublished list of manuscripts, often a simple title list, used for recording.
Manuscript Search Reports: Simple lists of manuscripts found in specific regions or collections, sometimes including detailed descriptions, acquisition details, and travel memoirs. The description quality varies greatly.
Simple List: A list that omits essential details like author, title, commentator, script, etc., focusing only on titles or titles with author names, often arranged alphabetically or by accession number.
Alphabetical Catalogue: A list arranged alphabetically by manuscript titles, usually including essential details in categorized sections. Sometimes, author-based alphabetical lists are also prepared.
General Informative Catalogue: Manuscripts are organized under major subjects, with titles or accession numbers, and key details are provided in sections. These often lack indexes.
Descriptive Catalogue in Tabular Form: Following the government's plan from 1961, these catalogs present information in a tabular format, often with some limitations in detail for selected manuscripts.
Descriptive Catalogue: Provides detailed physical information about each manuscript, along with its origin, colophons, important excerpts, author notes, publication status, and various indexes. European catalogs and those from institutions like the Asiatic Society and Bhandarkar Institute are good examples.
Union Register of Works and Authors (Sanghasuchi): This type of catalog lists where manuscript copies of a particular work or author's works are collected (in private or institutional collections). Theodor Aufrecht's "Catalogus Catalogorum" is a prime example. It helps researchers prepare critical editions by providing information on published editions as well.

7. Realities of Available Catalogues:

The lack of consistent guidelines and the need to cater to immediate requirements led to varied cataloging methods. German Orientalist K. L. Janert's observation highlights the diversity in methods due to the complex nature of manuscript collections and the differing approaches of individual scholars.
The strict implementation of India's 1961 cataloging policy is not consistently observed, with a frequent lack of detailed information on rare or unpublished manuscripts.
Catalogues often lack information about the previous owners or institutions of the manuscripts, which is important for tracing their history.
A major deficiency is the lack of descriptive details relevant to art historians, calligraphers, and epigraphists, as the primary audience is often seen as researchers seeking specific works.
Despite the importance of catalogs, no single library in India holds a comprehensive collection of all published Indian manuscript catalogs (even 60% coverage is rare). The Central Secretariat Library, New Delhi, has the most extensive collection.
While talented Indian scholars produced catalogs before 1947, post-independence cataloging has largely been done by professionals, with a few exceptions like Munis Punyavijayji and Jinavijayji. Institutional heads have often remained detached from this work.
Western Orientalists have made significant contributions to manuscript surveys, editing, and cataloging.

8. Indian Manuscript Catalogues: A Statistical Perspective: The author, during his tenure at the Central Secretariat Library, New Delhi, compiled a "Bibliographic Survey of Indian Manuscript Catalogues" between 1984 and 1990. This survey covered over 69 institutions and revealed interesting statistics:

First Published Catalogue: 1739
Total Indian Manuscript Catalogues Published (1739-1990): 848 (1708 volumes)
Unpublished Catalogues: 256
Total Printed Pages: Approximately 3.50 lakh
Catalogues Published Abroad: 325 (88 unavailable in India)
Catalogues Published in Journals: 110
Catalogues Published in Series: 87
Catalogues Verified from Other Sources: 187
Catalogues Used for "New Catalogus Catalogorum": 230 published, 168 unpublished handlists (total 398)
Institutions Publishing the Most Descriptive Catalogues: Rajasthan Oriental Research Institute (Jodhpur), Oriental Research Institute (Mysore), Sampurnanand Sanskrit University (Varanasi), and Government Oriental Library (Madras) are listed with their respective numbers of cataloged manuscripts and published catalogs.
Language-wise Distribution (of 1104 catalogues): Sanskrit/Prakrit manuscripts are most frequently cataloged, followed by modern Indian languages, Tibetan, Sinhala, Arabic, Persian, etc.

The book aims to provide a historical overview and critical analysis of the development and challenges associated with the cataloging of Indian manuscripts.