Access to the Indian Libraries

Most Indian manuscript libraries are hard to access. All of the libraries have rules requiring registration of the users. The rules are harder for scholars who are not either graduate students or faculty. Once in library, one should expect to find problems pertaining to the actual availability of the manuscripts even when listed in the catalog, and the delay between the request and delivery of the manuscript. Once the manuscript is available to read, the reader should be prepared to face problems related to the reproduction of the manuscript. Copying in most any form is discouraged. Fear of damage to the manuscript during reproduction process is understandable, but often misplaced. Deterred by the civil and international wars in the Middle East since the 1970s, many foreign scholars turned to the Indian libraries for materials in the Arabic script collections. Although all readers are welcomed, the time-constrained scholar will find the rules particularly discouraging. Each library’s condition with respect to the r rules for user access and reproduction of manuscript copies vary, depending also on the on-site availability of copying equipment. Interested scholars should begin by first going through an historical overview of Indian collections, followed by the entries on each library divided here by state. Out of area users must get in touch with the library authorities to obtain fullest information before going there.