Date: Mon, 12 Apr 2004 17:22:07 +0530 From: rama.budihal@wipro.com Greetings, You are welcome to participate in a National Forum for preservation, conservation and Digitization of Manuscripts of India located in India and abroad. On Feb 7th 2003, Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Honorable Prime Minister of India launched the National Mission for Manuscripts As most of you are already aware that India has a largest collection of manuscripts in the world. Composed in different Indian languages and scripts, they cover religion, philosophy, systems of science, arts and literature. Preserved in materials such as birch bark, palm leaf, cloth, wood, stone and paper, they are spread all over the country and abroad in libraries, academic institutions, museums, temples, monasteries and with individuals. Some of this wealth has disappeared, while a large portion is in a state of damage and decay. India's manuscripts wealth has to be preserved and redeemed. This forum invites active professionals from various forms of learning to help the Mission. So if you are any one of the following and want to contribute meaningfully for a National Cause please join the forum by clicking on the link below. Management Professional/consultant Library Science specialist Scholar on Indology Quality professional (such as ISO, CMM, Six-sigma etc.,) Scientist S/W professional Economist/ Financial Expert Manuscriptologist Epigraphist Archivist Linguist Archeologist/Conversationalist Social Entrepreneur Etc., Etc., Also if you feel that you can give your time for the Forum's activity such as making presentations, generating leads on where Manuscripts are available etc., you should definitely enroll into the forum. It is imperative that a necessity to establish a Digital Library of Manuscripts that are located in Mutts, Institutions, private collections etc., are need of hour for all Indians. We need more volunteers to locate and also actively participate in digitization, cataloging, conservation and anti-fumigation of the manuscripts, Mission also need volunteers from US/Europe especially in London, Germany etc., to get in touch with Universities and Libraries to collect information on Indian Manuscripts, old books etc., this magnanimous project will definitely benefit all Indians World-wide to preserve the cultural heritage of the works of our ancestors.