HVK Archives: Rare papers on Buddhist religion, philosophy missing
Rare papers on Buddhist religion, philosophy missing - The Hindustan Times
Subhash Pathak
()
25 August 1997
Title: Rare papers on Buddhist religion, philosophy missing
Author: Subhash Pathak
Publication: The Hindustan Times
Date: August 25, 1997
World acclaimed research papers and rare books of the Bihar Research
Society are mysteriously missing due to neglect by the society staff and
the State Government. Rarest manuscripts of Rahul Sankrityayan brought from
Tibet have not been seen for ages.
What is disturbing is that certain terms from abroad are reportedly at work
preparing microfilms of these priceless papers with the connivance of
vested interests.
Notably, the society, which was established way back in 1915 for
facilitating historical research and archaeological references, has in its
proud possession the rarest manuscripts on Buddhist religion and
philosophy, treatises on historical and cultural heritage, original
manuscripts on medicine and tantra, besides a number of film and glass
negatives.
All these had been in great demand among research scholars not only of !he
country but also those of other countries like Britain, America. France,
Germany, Japan, China, Thailand and Sri Lanka -among others.
But disappearance of thousands of books, research papers and manuscripts
under mysterious circumstances from the society, and decay of other
collection for want of proper care and scientific treatment, has sent
shockwaves among the historical and cultural research scholars.
One of the prominent members of the society and eminenet sociologist, Prof
Hetukar Jha and former Director of Archaeology, Bihar, Mr Prakash Charan
Prasad, too had voiced their concern over the dwindling number of collections.
They suspect that precious treasures of the country are being smuggled.
They said that the recent visit by officials of the society to Japan and
subsequent agreement with a Japanese firm for publishing some manuscripts
without taking formal permission from the Government only lent credence to
the apprehension.
It may he noted that a team of four Japanese scholars comprising Prof Kazuo
Azuma and Hidomi Yaita, had visited the society a few years ago and had
discussions with the registrar of the society, Mr Gopi Raman Chaudhary.
The team stayed at a local hotel for ten days where Mr Chaudhary helped
them make microfilms of several priceless manuscripts, as revealed by Dr
Shiv Kumar Mishra of the society.
According to one section of the officials any investigating agency would
now he handicapped for the fact that index card of the missing manuscripts
were not prepared. They were documented properly. A list of some journals
negatives and manuscripts, however, was published a few years back. It
contained a lot of discrepancies as many collections were not even
mentioned, added Prof Hetukar Jha.
Confirming that thousands of books and journals were taken by some
high-profile officials and members of the society, a senior member of the
society on the condition of anonymity, said that these could not be
recovered now.
Admittedly, all norms were thrown to the winds regarding issuance of books
to the society members. As per the norms, one member is entitled to take
only six books for a period of one month. But hundreds of books are still
in the possession of the society members for over a decade now. Moreover,
there is no catalogue of books in the society. Nor is there any despatch
register maintains since 1960, said Dr S. K. Mishra.
Even though the condition the society, headed by former Chief Minister
Jagannath Mishra, is deteriorating day by day, its general secretary, Prof
P.N. Ojha, has not been attending the office for the last two-and-a-half
years.
Meanwhile, the society has virtually been closed to research scholars as
the society's employees have remained on strike for the last four months to
protest the dwindling number of valuable books, journals and rare
manuscripts for want of adequate care as also non-payment of their salaries
for the last four years.
Expressing serious concern over the plight of the society and its staff, Dr
Prakash Charan Prasad has urged the Central Government to intervene in the
matter and declare it as a national heritage. Otherwise, the rarest of all
collections would soon be lost forever. The BRS registrar, Mr Gopi Raman
Chaudhary was not available for comments.
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