Contents: Dedication. Preface. I. Introduction. II. Materials for writing: 1. Birch bark. 2. Palm leaves. 3. Sanchi-Pat. 4. Paper. 5. Inks in India. 6. Techniques of making: materials suitable for writing. III. Factors of deterioration: 1. Natural factors. 2. Manmade factors. 3. Biological factors. 4. Ignorance factors. 5. Inherent factors. 6. Chemical factors. 7. Physical/mechanical factors. IV. Steps in conservation and restoration of manuscripts: 1. Segrigation. 2. Examination and documentation. 3. Preparation of condition report. 4. Fumigation. 5. Preparation of the condition report condition report. 6. Various process in conservation. V. Steps in conservation of specific materials: 1. Palm leaf manuscripts. 2. Birch Bark manuscripts. 3. Paper manuscripts. 4. Leather book bindings. VI. Preventive conservation. VII. Conclusions. Bibliography. Index.
Indian Documentary Heritage earlier was based on spiritual knowledge by Shurti and Smiriti although manuscript tradition in India was based on our ancient texts as Vedas, Upanishads, Puranas, Vedanta etc. and their dating on scientific lines could not be concluded authentically. However, as per some scholars it has been mentioned to be at least 3000 years before Christ. The book mentions many aspects which were simple myths even though there are so many unknown facts.
Spiritual knowledge is not the worldly knowledge but it is the knowledge based on human values which originates from within as time and again our great Avatars, and enlightened souls have mentioned in their writings, discourses available in our holy texts which came into tangible form as soon as the knowledge about the writing materials were known and the people of this great country invented and started using them.
As a good loving person because of his firm belief in spirituality inherent in him and the science the worldly knowledge taught to him, he can be correctly termed as a person of rare combination of the two which he says has learned form SAI and HIS discourses. Almost all sources materials, therefore, have been discussed in details right from, sources of writing materials to their chemical composition, effect of environment including their handling resulting in their decay and loss for posterity due to ignorance and methods of preserving them as far as possible. Needs of this noble task therefore, is thus God’s work. This book thus would be of great help for museum personnel and to be learnt by our students of the three faculties as a collective approaching preserving our documentary heritage for all times to come. He was instrumental in drafting the course content of the Conservation Faculty of the NMI. He is an expert in his field and is a member in the various Govt. and Non Government Committees of NM, NMI, VMH, IGNCA, INTACH. He is a fellow and live member of some national bodies and has been instrumental in their growth.
