How many manuscripts does the APRI in Tonk house?

The APRI houses nearly 25,000 rare manuscripts, many of which are centuries old.

Why is the staffing shortage at APRI a concern for researchers?

The shortage slows down cataloging and digitization, making it difficult for visiting scholars to access valuable manuscripts.

Home / Education / India's Manuscript Treasure Faces Staffing Crisis

India's Manuscript Treasure Faces Staffing Crisis

Q: What is the Maulana Abul Kalam Azad Arabic-Persian Research Institute facing?

The institute is facing a critical staffing and administrative crisis, with a severe shortage of employees.

4 Jan

•

Summary

Institute has only 8 of 45 sanctioned posts filled.
Nearly 25,000 rare manuscripts are at risk of deterioration.
Centrally-funded status could modernize infrastructure and preservation.

India's Manuscript Treasure Faces Staffing Crisis

The Maulana Abul Kalam Azad Arabic-Persian Research Institute (APRI) in Tonk, Rajasthan, is grappling with a critical staffing shortage, jeopardizing its vast collection of nearly 25,000 Urdu, Arabic, and Persian manuscripts. Established in 1978, the institute, which holds treasures dating back centuries, currently has only 8 out of 45 sanctioned posts filled, with more retirements imminent. This dire situation hinders essential cataloging and digitization efforts, impacting scholars, including international visitors.

Scholars express grave concern that the lack of trained staff and adequate conservation measures could lead to the permanent destruction of irreplaceable manuscripts. These documents, some originating from the 13th century and encompassing diverse subjects from religion to classical Indian scholarship, risk crumbling due to neglect. The potential loss extends beyond texts, threatening a vital link to shared intellectual history.