The well training employees of the department of Archaeology and Museums are engaged in the job of giving chemical treatment to the age-old palm scripts at the Andhra Sahitya Parishat museum here. Sitting around a huge table and wearing face masks, the employees are carefully handling each leaf of the palm scripts that are in brittle condition and applying chemical liquid with small brushes.
As the leaves get dried, the employees are carefully arranging them in an order and tying them with new silk threads, before arranging a new set of wooden supports to each script. They are going to be on the same job in the next four to six weeks, as they need to give a new lease of life to as many as 4,741 palm scripts that formed part of the rare treasure that is in the custody of the Parishat.
“We have allocated a sum of Rs. 10 lakh to the chemical treatment project, besides deputing training staff from the head office in Hyderabad to complete the task. Once the project is completed, the palm scripts sport a new look and ready to be used by the researchers,” says G.V. Ramakrishna Rao, Director of the department. Besides the palm scripts, the Andhra Sahitya Parishat library possesses 500 rare manuscripts and 10,400 titles that were published in different languages on a variety of subjects.
“Till now, the palm scripts are kept in wooden almirahs. As the scripts are in semi-moist condition, we have to make them free from the bacteria. We have arranged para-dichlorobenzene bottles in all the almirahs. Now the scripts are free from bacteria and we have started the chemical treatment,” explains K. Rambabu, Assistant Chemist of the department, who is monitoring the works. “Lemon grass and citrus oil are the main components being used for the treatment. The job demands attentiveness and every step has to be completed very carefully,” he says.
“Attempts are being made to take up the chemical treatment project for the last three years. Now, we are very happy that the future generations could get an access to the palm scripts dated back to several centuries,” says Seera Venkata Rao, Assistant Director of the department of Archaeology and Museums.
