Over 400 rare manuscripts digitised in J-K

Over 400 manuscripts, comprising 1.25 lakh folios, have been digitised by the Jammu and Kashmir Academy of Art, Culture and Languages as part of its efforts to digitise its rich collection of manuscripts, paintings and archival photographs in the state.
"The digitisation work started on May 22 and was progressing well. Till date, 410 manuscripts, comprising 1.25 lakh folios, from a total of over 600 manuscripts in the Academy's collection at Srinagar, have been digitised," Secretary Academy Khalid Bashir said here.
Bashir said the project is a very significant step towards preservation of the state's rich cultural heritage.
Some of the rare manuscripts digitised so far include the 12th century copy of Holy Quran calligraphed by Fateh Ullah Kashmiri which precedes by about a century the widely held belief on the earliest presence of Muslims in Kashmir, Shahnama Firdousi, Mahabharat in Persian, Bhagwat Puran, Shiv Puran, Zakhheratul Mulook, Mathnavi Moulana Room, Bostaan-e-Saadi, Sikandar Naama and Deewaan e Haafiz, he said.

After completing the digitisation of manuscripts, work will start on the rich collection of paintings, miniatures and archival photographs available with the Academy at its Srinagar, Jammu and Leh offices, Bashir added.