Department of Rare Paper Manuscriptology

Department of Rare Paper Manuscriptology

Even though allied to the Department of Palmleaf Manuscripts, this unit has been exclusively functioning in view of the abundance of paper scripts. Area of research contemplated is to bring out the histories of culture, society, politics and economics pertaining to the State of Tamil Nadu. The archives of the Department contain 320 Tamil literary scripts, 625 rare printed books, 300 letters and 25 maps.

The uniqueness of the Department is its collection of innumerable Modi records and documents presently kept in about 1000 packs. Those who work for M.Phil. and Diploma in the Department are entrusted with the job of legibly copying down the scripts and editing them for Publication. Most of these Modi records and a few of the Telugu scripts are of the 17th and 18th Centuries. They are bound to help us to reconstruct the 17th Century Tamilagam, a murky area in the history of Tamil Nadu. Academic programmes include a P.G. Course in Tamilology and Editing, M.Phil and Ph.D.

Courses offered

Diploma Manuscriptology (DM)
Master of Philosophy (MPhil)
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Objectives

=> To collect and document Rare paper manuscripts and books remain scattered all over the world.
=> To catalogue all the Rare paper manuscripts
=> To edit and publish unpublished rare paper manuscripts
=> To write the social and political history of India with special reference to Tamilnadu on the basis of the above manuscripts which are yet to be explored systematically.

Achievements

=> The department has organized 8 seminars and one workshop
=> The faculty members of the department have completed 2 research projects
=> The faculty members have published 14 books