ASI Epigraphy wing deploys four teams in T.N. to recopy some old inscriptions

As part of the ongoing digitisation of inscription estampages under the Bharat Shared Repository of Inscriptions (BharatSHRI) project, the Epigraphy Division of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has begun recopying inscriptions whose estampages are damaged.

Currently, the ASI’s Epigraphy wing is involved in digitising over 76,000 estampages of inscriptions in several languages. This includes digitising over 25,000 Tamil estampages in its possession as well.

K. Munirathnam Reddy, Director (Epigraphy), ASI, said 18 technical teams are involved in recopying inscriptions in several States. In Tamil Nadu, four technical teams have been deployed. They are copying inscriptions at temples in Tiruchi, Ulundurpet, Tiruppur, and Thanjavur.

Some of these inscriptions, belonging to the period of Raja Raja Chola, Rajendra Chola, and the rulers of the Vijayanagar kingdom, were originally copied between 1887 and 1915. The estampages were either partially damaged or missing in some cases. It was, therefore, decided to launch a drive to recopy these inscriptions so users accessing the digitised estampages online will have greater clarity, he said.

The ASI has allotted ₹15 lakh for recopying the inscriptions, and the drive is likely to continue for another 15 days, ASI sources said.

Under the BharatSHRI project, a dedicated digital repository of estampages of recorded inscriptions is being created. It will have details of each inscription, including its location, the king and dynasty associated with it, the language and script, the period to which it belongs, the transcript of the inscription, and a description.