GUWAHATI, July 24 � The manuscript collection drive under the National Mission for Manuscript at the Srimanta Sankaradeva Kalakshetra-based Manuscript Conservation Centre (MCC) here has been facing a serious problem.
Knowledgeable sources said that the administrative changes in the Kalakshetra and flood in several parts of the State have been hindering collection of manuscripts. The New Delhi-based Indira Gandhi National Centre for Arts (IGNCA), which has been leading the entire exercise, directed the MCC to collect 10,000 manuscripts by March 31, 2012 since April 1, 2011.
But, sources said, availability of such a huge number of manuscripts which are scattered in different parts of the State has emerged as a serious problem. Mentionably, some of these areas become inaccessible during the rainy season.
In the north bank part of the State, particularly in the districts of Dhemaji and Lakhimpur, and parts of Sonitpur district, where a huge chunk of such manuscripts are lying with different institutions and individuals, communication has become a real problem during this rainy season. This part of the State is regarded to be the virgin hub of manuscripts, said the sources.
Under such a situation, sources said, it will be extremely difficult for the mission to fulfill the target within the stipulated period, despite the availability of sufficient man power for the purpose, said the sources.
