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200
K. M. PATEL
SAMBODHI
The workshop was inaugurated by Shri A.U.Patel, Vice-chancellor of Gujarat University at 9.00 A.M. Shri Dhirubhai Shah, the chairperson of state finance committee and ex-speaker gujarat Legislature was the chief-guest. Shri Shrenikbhai Sheth the Hon. Secretary of L.D.I.I. and Dr. J.B.Shah, Director L.D.I.I. joined the lamp lighting caremony on the occasion of inauguration. Due to unavoidable circumstances some of our distingtnished guests could not join this function - Dr. L. M. Singhvi and Shri Jaykumar due to sudden important meeting and Dr. Sudha Gopalkrishnan due to her sister's sudden and serious illness.
In the beginning Dr. J.B.Shah, Director of L.D.I.I., explained in details the importance of the manuscripts for nation. All the guest dwelt upon in details, the need for strengthening the search of manuscripts, its reading and cataloguing.
The workshop functioned for six hours everyday with a lunch break at noon and also tea breaks. Each day resource persons engaged them for six periods each of one hour.
Dr. Ganjoo from Kashmir who is considered a well read scholar of Sharda script revealed that there are nearly 50000 sharda manuscript in India and abroad, but they are not properly maintained. He established a close connection between the cultural history of Kashmir and Sharda script. He prepared the premier of Sharda and taught it for eleven periods (Total 11 hours)
Prof. K. K. Thapliyal from Lucknow an expert in Brahmi script was requested to join us as resource person. He covered the available forms of Brahmi script with particular reference to the script of Ashokan inscriptions and revealed the connections with various other scripts. He also traced the history and development of Brahmi script. He engaged the participants for eleven periods (Total 11 hours)
Dr. J.B.Shah, Director, L.D.I.I., Dr. Vijay Pandya, Dept. of Sanskrit, Gujarat University, Dr. S.K.Andhare, Ex. Director of L.D.Museum and other experts engaged the participants on the subjects related to manuscripts and paleography.
Dr. Priti Pancholi of L.D.I.I. taught Nagri script and old Gujarati script and provided the participant with the required cyclostyled material showing the changes that has occurred in course of time in Nagri script. She also engaged participant for eleven hours (11 periods).
Dr. Vasant M. Bhatt, Head of Sanskrit Dept., Gujarat University and Dr. M. L. Vadekar, Offg. Director, Oriental Institute, Baroda engaged in critical methods of editing of manuscripts. Dr. Vadekar, pointed out that since the knowledge is
