Persian Manuscripts in Victoria Memorial, Kolkata

Abstract

ABSTRACT There are 46 Persian manuscripts in the treasure trove of the Victoria Memorial, Kolkata, which are regarded as constituting an important part of the national written heritage of India. These manuscripts were painstakingly collected in between 1904 and 1984, and scholars like Edward Denison Ross contributed substantially to their collection. Manuscripts were either presented by dignatories such as the Nawab Bahadur of Murshidabad, the Begum of Bhopal, Mirza Sayid ud Din Khan of Loharu, the Board of Examiners or purchased through the Art Purchase Committee. Some of the manuscripts are rare and have never been published, and the catalogue published in 1973 provides only basic information. Scholars of Islamic manuscripts could greatly benefit from this collection, but very little is known about its holdings. A descriptive catalogue prepared more than a decade ago is yet to be published. The present paper intends to introduce some of the most important manuscripts and discuss the collection from a codicological perspective.