To: "Min Nuul"  
From: "Kannan"  | Block Address  | Add to Address Book 
Date: Wed, 23 Jan 2002 08:11:27 +0100 
Subject: [e-suvadi] Travel Diary 22.01.0 
Reply-to: [email protected] 
 
         
Dear Suvadians

U.Ve.Swaminatha iyer was rightly called the Tamil Thatha. His 
collection
of
suvadis at the library named after him exceeds 3 lakhs individual
leaves, according
to his great grand son Mr.Venkatakrishnan. Thanks to
Prof.V.C.Kulandaisamy, his
teacher and Chairman of the library board who asked him to be there 
when I visit the library! I spent severals hours at the library. There is an amazing
person called SaiRam who knows every book and suvadis in the library. He showed me
U.Ve.Sa's diaries, books that he published with his foot notes, and his detailed
home work and his entire collection of suvadis. Very well kept. Whatever may be
their maintenance the books show their age and the diaries may not last next few years.

Mr.Venkatakrishnan, one of the board members showed interest in the
digitization process. He promised me to place this idea before the board. At high
resolution scans, the 300,000 leaves would take nearly 10,000 hours of scanning!! With
enough resources his entire suvadi collection could be digitized in two years. Looking 
at the books demands our attention as the oldest among the suvadis, a Kamba 
Ramayanam (Alwar thirunagari edition) suvadi of 17th century looks far better 
than the printed books of his time!! There are 1000s of books like that in the library.
On a relative scale U.Ve.Sa library is not huge. Could be moderised easily! If the
board is willing we shall chart out a plan. According to Mr.Venkatakrishnan Rs.50,000,00
scheme was thought about (US $ 100,000) for making this library a research
center.

We need to think in advance for the diaspora might that could help in
making this centuries old tamil treasure house an open, modern research center for
Tamil studies.

Comments are welcome.

anbudan
Kannan