In a sensational move, KU constitute a committee to share rare manuscripts from varsity to private Gita Gyan Sansthanam of Swami Gyananand
The move has irked the students, scholars and varsity officials who said the manuscripts are the heritage of KU and they cannot be shifted out from the library to any private institution.
Details of the number of manuscripts at KU website.KURUKSHETRA: In a sensational move, the Kurukshetra University (KU) working vice-chancellor (VC) Nita Khanna has recently constituted a committee, to explore possibilities of sharing rare manuscripts from varsity’s Jawaharlal Nehru Library (JNL) to a private institution Gita Gyan Sansthanam (GGS) at Salarpur Road, Kurukshetra, of Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS) associated Gita Manishi Swami Gyananand.
As per JNL records of KU, there are about 15,324 rare manuscripts present in the library, some of which are 200-500 years old and a few years ago, about 90% were digitized with the help of Chandigarh based NGO ‘The Nanakshahi Trust’. As per KU website, the trust digitized whole of the collection of Sharda, Persian, Bangla, Gurmukhi and Oriya scripts and there are manuscripts in the Sanskrit language too.
The move has irked the students, scholars and varsity officials who said the manuscripts are the heritage of KU and they cannot be shifted out from the library to any private institution.
Pictures of manuscripts for the representational purposes from NMM website.
As per the information, in the recent past, the GGS sent a proposal to the KU to share the rare manuscripts from the varsity library for showcasing them at a museum, which is under construction at GGS premises.
In 2015, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in Haryana gave about eight acres of land in Kurukshetra on Salarpur road to GGS, to develop a Gita Research Centre and the land was given on annual lease of Rs 5 lakh per acre for 99 years, through Kurukshetra Development Board (KDB), reveals the official record.
As per sources, the committee to explore possibilities of sharing rare manuscripts is headed by KU dean academic affairs Manjula Chaudhary, dean research and development Anil Vohra, a Government of Indian (GOI) entity National Manuscript Mission (NMM) Kurukshetra-based convener SM Mishra, and JNL librarian Manoj Joshi.
The committee has been formed about 10-15 days ago and its first meeting is going to take place tentatively on July 21.
Surinder Mohan (SM) Mishra who is NMM, Haryana Chapter project coordinator said, "A proposal to sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between GGS and KU reached me to grant access to rare manuscripts related to Bhagavad Gita present at KU library. I took it to KU VC and she has formed a committee and we will discuss the matter. The GGS want to access as many national and international people visit their institution and they want to share the knowledge with them, which is good."
When contacted, dean academic affairs Manjula said, “About 10-15 days ago, a committee was formed to explore possibilities after they (GGS) requested of knowledge sharing with regards to manuscripts present at varsity library. Whether we will share the manuscripts with them or not will depend on the outcome after meeting of the committee, as these are covered as KU heritage under NMM. Therefore, the rules of NMM will be applicable to these manuscripts. About 90% of manuscripts at KU are digitized and in case, if someone requires them they can be provided digital access. Shifting or moving the manuscripts to some other place can lead to their damage as they are very old. Soon, the committee will hold a meeting in this regard by next week. Everything will have to be passed through executive council and academic council meetings of KU.”
A professor in KU requesting anonymity said, “These manuscripts are regularly accessed by scholars and students who study ancient Indian history, and shifting them from library to any private institution can lead to their damage. KU already has all the infrastructure setup at JNL, where the NMM teams also perform the restoration work of these manuscripts. Who will take responsibility for their preservation and safety? If somebody wants to do research, the same can be done in coordination with the varsity too, why move them to another place.”
Notably, GGS is developing a museum where it wants to showcase the rare manuscripts present at KU.
KU also has an established museum namely Dharohar Museum at the campus, but the officials say the manuscripts are safest at the library.
When contacted KDB honorary secretary Madan Mohan Chhabra said, “As per my knowledge a museum is being developed at GGS and the manuscripts at KU are confined, nobody sees them and neither does the university have its provision. So, I think the GGS must have some plan to showcase the manuscripts at the museum. I do not have much information about it.”
When contacted KU director public relations Prof Brajesh Sawhney said, “I will be able to share details by Monday.”
TOI tried to reach GGS officials who could not be contacted.
As per JNL records of KU, there are about 15,324 rare manuscripts present in the library, some of which are 200-500 years old and a few years ago, about 90% were digitized with the help of Chandigarh based NGO ‘The Nanakshahi Trust’. As per KU website, the trust digitized whole of the collection of Sharda, Persian, Bangla, Gurmukhi and Oriya scripts and there are manuscripts in the Sanskrit language too.
The move has irked the students, scholars and varsity officials who said the manuscripts are the heritage of KU and they cannot be shifted out from the library to any private institution.
As per the information, in the recent past, the GGS sent a proposal to the KU to share the rare manuscripts from the varsity library for showcasing them at a museum, which is under construction at GGS premises.
In 2015, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in Haryana gave about eight acres of land in Kurukshetra on Salarpur road to GGS, to develop a Gita Research Centre and the land was given on annual lease of Rs 5 lakh per acre for 99 years, through Kurukshetra Development Board (KDB), reveals the official record.
As per sources, the committee to explore possibilities of sharing rare manuscripts is headed by KU dean academic affairs Manjula Chaudhary, dean research and development Anil Vohra, a Government of Indian (GOI) entity National Manuscript Mission (NMM) Kurukshetra-based convener SM Mishra, and JNL librarian Manoj Joshi.
The committee has been formed about 10-15 days ago and its first meeting is going to take place tentatively on July 21.
Surinder Mohan (SM) Mishra who is NMM, Haryana Chapter project coordinator said, "A proposal to sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between GGS and KU reached me to grant access to rare manuscripts related to Bhagavad Gita present at KU library. I took it to KU VC and she has formed a committee and we will discuss the matter. The GGS want to access as many national and international people visit their institution and they want to share the knowledge with them, which is good."
When contacted, dean academic affairs Manjula said, “About 10-15 days ago, a committee was formed to explore possibilities after they (GGS) requested of knowledge sharing with regards to manuscripts present at varsity library. Whether we will share the manuscripts with them or not will depend on the outcome after meeting of the committee, as these are covered as KU heritage under NMM. Therefore, the rules of NMM will be applicable to these manuscripts. About 90% of manuscripts at KU are digitized and in case, if someone requires them they can be provided digital access. Shifting or moving the manuscripts to some other place can lead to their damage as they are very old. Soon, the committee will hold a meeting in this regard by next week. Everything will have to be passed through executive council and academic council meetings of KU.”
A professor in KU requesting anonymity said, “These manuscripts are regularly accessed by scholars and students who study ancient Indian history, and shifting them from library to any private institution can lead to their damage. KU already has all the infrastructure setup at JNL, where the NMM teams also perform the restoration work of these manuscripts. Who will take responsibility for their preservation and safety? If somebody wants to do research, the same can be done in coordination with the varsity too, why move them to another place.”
Notably, GGS is developing a museum where it wants to showcase the rare manuscripts present at KU.
KU also has an established museum namely Dharohar Museum at the campus, but the officials say the manuscripts are safest at the library.
When contacted KDB honorary secretary Madan Mohan Chhabra said, “As per my knowledge a museum is being developed at GGS and the manuscripts at KU are confined, nobody sees them and neither does the university have its provision. So, I think the GGS must have some plan to showcase the manuscripts at the museum. I do not have much information about it.”
When contacted KU director public relations Prof Brajesh Sawhney said, “I will be able to share details by Monday.”
TOI tried to reach GGS officials who could not be contacted.
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