An Introduction to Pnuthi -The Ancient Bengali Manuscripts
Ancient periods depended more on the manual works rather than upon machinery and it reflected on the ancient literatures as well; prints, being more recent a phenomenon, like many other ancient texts, Bengali books also used to be handwritten. A sharp contrast to the run-of-the-mill trend, these copies were made on demand and required special skills.
The handwritten scripts are called pandulipi in Bengali; the material on which they were inscribed was either grey or pale yellow in color. This is one of the reasons behind the name pandulipi, since pandu stands for yellow in Bangla and lipi, for writing.
The material used to be specially processed leather, leaves or barks from trees; during the latter times i.e. the medieval period, paper made from cotton-pulps, hemp, and linseed showed up.
This facilitated the making of large sheets, which were then cut to the required size and tied together with strings to give it the appearance of a book, with two firm boards sufficing for covers.
The Pnuthis so far discovered in Bengal have Sanskrit or Bangla as the language; those written in Bangla used the old Bangla Script.
Inscribed by the professional scribes of yore, they also used to add their personal details at the end of the pnuthi as a kind of an acknowledgement or disclaimer, from which, it was discovered that a lot of Muslims also earn their livelihood through the profession.
A good handwriting was the primary criteria and so was accuracy, but without a good knowledge on the language, the first two qualities were considered to be vain. However, a shortcoming on the latter part proved beneficial in terms of interpolations and textual variants. But a lot of people hold counter-opinions regarding the limited knowledge of the language of certain scribes for denoting the date of the creation in verse riddles instead of numerical figures required a lot of talent and depth.
A pnuthi has a certain anatomy; while the chief portion comprised the main body text, the part where the scribe used to flaunt his own wordsmithry comprise of the following parts:
Bhonita or pre-amble: Describes the name of the book and the writer; a variant of Pushpika.
Pushpika or colophon: Generally found on the first leaf, at the end of the chapter or act, and on the last folio, the Pushpika is a short, composite work made of a brief autobiography of the writer, the name of the puthi, the date of writing/copying and the name of the person who is the provider of the task.
When it is on the first folio or at the end of a chapter or an act, the Pushpika contains the names of the scribe and the book whereas in last folio, the former content is placed along with the dates of writing or copying.
Being treasures of immense value, nowadays, many of the educational institutions are preserving the original ones and making microfilms out of them; though the act shall preserve these great works of art for many more days to come, nothing can be done now regarding bringing back the scribes, who have now become extinct due to the industrial advancements.
Ostom Ray
View all articles by Ostom Ray
|
|
Platform Bed with storage drawers – Uphostered Micro Fiber Storage Bed – On Sale $755.00 |
|
|
Platform Bed with storage drawers – Uphostered Micro Fiber Storage Bed – On Sale $755.00 |
|
|
Platform Bed with storage drawers – Uphostered Micro Fiber Storage Bed – On Sale $755.00 |
|
|
Platform Bed with storage drawers – Uphostered Micro Fiber Storage Bed – On Sale $755.00 |
|
|
Platform Bed with storage drawers – Uphostered Micro Fiber Storage Bed – On Sale $755.00 |
|
|
Platform Bed with storage drawers – Uphostered Micro Fiber Storage Bed – On Sale $755.00 |
|
|
Platform Bed with storage drawers – Uphostered Micro Fiber Storage Bed – On Sale $755.00 |
|
|
Platform Bed with storage drawers – Uphostered Micro Fiber Storage Bed – On Sale $755.00 |
|
|
Platform Bed with storage drawers – Uphostered Micro Fiber Storage Bed – On Sale $755.00 |
|
|
Platform Bed with storage drawers – Uphostered Micro Fiber Storage Bed – On Sale $755.00 |
|
|
Platform Bed with storage drawers – Uphostered Micro Fiber Storage Bed – On Sale $755.00 |
|
|
Platform Bed with storage drawers – Uphostered Micro Fiber Storage Bed – On Sale $755.00 |
|
|
Platform Bed with storage drawers – Uphostered Micro Fiber Storage Bed – On Sale $755.00 |
|
|
Platform Bed with storage drawers – Uphostered Micro Fiber Storage Bed – On Sale $755.00 |
|
|
Turquoise Paisley & Brown Micro Suede Western Bedding King Comforter Set New! $289.95 |
|
|
Victorian Onyx & Micro Mosaic Pin King Charles Spaniel $299.95 |
|
|
MICRO SUEDE BROWN CHOCOLATE STRIPES KING 8pc Comforter Bed-in-a-bag set $206.24 |
|
|
Jay King MINE FINDS Micro Opal & Lapis Moon Stars Necklace Pendant Silver $199.99 |
|
|
CAMEL-GREY-BROWN 9PC MICRO-SUEDE OVERSIZE KING NEW $169.00 |
|
|
Comforter Set 11 Pc Micro Suede w/ 600 TC Sheet Set in Cinnamon Chocolate Taupe $198.00 |
|
|
Comforter Set 11 Pc Micro Suede w/ 600 TC Sheet Set Chocolate Mocha Sage Beige $198.00 |
|
|
Comforter Set 11 Pc Micro Suede w/ 600 TC Sheet Set Chocolate Mocha Blue Beige $198.00 |
|
|
Comforter Set 11 Pc Micro Suede w/ 600 TC Sheet Set Chocolate Mocha Red Beige $198.00 |
|
|
Jay King MINE FINDS Micro Opal & Lapis Lazuli Necklace Pendant $189.99 |
|
|
MODERN BROWN BLUE AQUA CHOCOLATE MICRO SUEDE SILKY KING 8pc Comforter set $191.22 |
|
|
Flat White Micro Pave Block Chain Square Link Iced Out Bling Diamond Style King $188.99 |
|
|
Comforter Set 11pc Micro-Suede w/600TC Sheets $188 $188.00 |
|
|
Comforter Set 11pc Micro-Suede w/600TC Sheets $188 $188.00 |
|
|
Jay King MINE FINDS Micro Opal & Turquoise Reversible Necklace Sterling Silver $179.99 |
|
|
Jay King MINE FINDS Micro Opal & Lapis Necklace Pendant Sterling Silver $179.99 |
|
|
LUXURY MICRO SUEDE 8 PC LODGE CABIN RANCH KING COMFORTER SET BONUS PILLOWS NEW $178.50 |
|
|
MICRO SUEDE MOCHA BROWN TAN COCO STRIPES KING 8pc Comforter Bed-in-a-bag set $178.49 |
|
|
Jay King MINE FINDS Micro Opal & Black Agate Reversible Pendant Necklace Silver $169.99 |
|
|
4 pc Home Environment Micro Cotton Classic Queen, King, Cal.KIng Sheet Set NIP $159.00 |
|
|
4 pc Home Environment Micro Cotton Classic Queen, King, Cal.KIng Sheet Set NIP $159.00 |
|
|
4 pc Home Environment Micro Cotton Classic Queen, King, Cal.KIng Sheet Set NIP $159.00 |
|
|
Dragon Cando 1/144 Micro Armor Part 3 King Tiger, 6pcs $148.00 |
|
|
Beautyrest Micro Fleece Heated Blanket Twin Cream BR54-0175 $169.99 |
|
|
Beautyrest Micro Fleece Heated Blanket Twin Cream BR54-0175 $169.99 |
|
|
Beautyrest Micro Fleece Heated Blanket Twin Cream BR54-0175 $169.99 |
|
|
Beautyrest Micro Fleece Heated Blanket Twin Cream BR54-0175 $169.99 |
|
|
Beautyrest Micro Fleece Heated Blanket Twin Cream BR54-0175 $169.99 |
|
|
Micro Suede Queen King Size Comforter Masculine Bed Collection Linen Bedding Set $169.97 |
|
|
Micro Suede Queen King Size Comforter Masculine Bed Collection Linen Bedding Set $169.97 |
|
|
Jay King MINE FINDS Micro Opal & Black Agate Inlay Pendant Necklace Sterling $159.99 |
|
|
Jay King MINE FINDS Lapis & Micro Opal Necklace Pendant Sterling Silver $159.99 |
|
|
MODERN MICRO SUEDE PLEATED GREEN LARGE STRIPES KING 8pc Comforter Bedding $163.14 |
|
|
Green Micro Suede King Comforter Ensemble Bedding Set $161.47 |
|
|
Serta Luxury Micro-Fleece Heated Blanket $159.99 |
|
|
Serta Luxury Micro-Fleece Heated Blanket $159.99 |
|
|
Serta Luxury Micro-Fleece Heated Blanket $159.99 |
|
|
NEW BLACK WHITE COMFORTER SET PATCHWORK SOFT MICRO FUR $159.99 |
|
|
Micro Suede Comforter Set 11 Piece Patchwork Animal Print Includes Curtain Set $158.00 |
|
|
Kadee J MTL Micro-Trains 49120 King 201 $152.00 |
|
|
BROWN TAN COMFORTER SET PATCHWORK SOFT MICRO SUEDE NEW $154.99 |
|
|
BROWN TAN COMFORTER SET PATCHWORK SOFT MICRO SUEDE NEW $154.99 |
|
|
Serta Luxurious Electric Heated Micro-Plush Triple-Rib Blanket, King Size, Khaki $154.00 |
|
|
Blanket Galia embroidery double view micro plush blanket $139.00 |
|
|
Blanket Bolonia embroidery double view micro plush blanket $139.00 |
|
|
Blanket Berna embroidery double view micro plush blanket $139.00 |
|
|
Jay King MINE FINDS Turquoise & Micro Opal Reversible Pendant Sterling Silver $149.99 |
|
|
4 pc Home Environment Micro Cotton Classic Queen, King, Cal.KIng Sheet Set NIP $139.00 |
|
|
4 pc Home Environment Micro Cotton Classic Queen, King, Cal.KIng Sheet Set NIP $139.00 |
|
|
New Black Purple Retro Bedding Micro fiber Comforter set – Full Queen King Curts $149.00 |
|
|
New Black Purple Retro Bedding Micro fiber Comforter set – Full Queen King Curts $149.00 |
|
|
New Black Purple Retro Bedding Micro fiber Comforter set – Full Queen King Curts $149.00 |
|
|
Serta Micro-Plush Top Heated Mattress Pad $144.99 |
|
|
MODERN GREEN PLEATED MICRO SUEDE KING 8pc Comforter set $144.49 |
|
|
MICRO SUEDE STRIPE BROWN KING 8 PC COMFORTER SET BED IN BAG LODGE CABIN BEDDING $142.47 |
|
|
7pc Coffee/Beige Modern Design Micro Suede Comforter Set King $139.49 |
|
|
BEAUTIFUL MICRO SUEDE MODERN CHOCOLATE BROWN QUILT SET NEW! KING SIZE $138.88 |
|
|
Comforter Set 7 pc Micro Suede – Coffee & Beige – Any Size $138 Free Shipping! $138.00 |
|
|
Blanket Everest double view micro plush blanket $119.00 |
|
|
Blanket Everest double view micro plush blanket $119.00 |
|
|
Blanket siberia double view micro plush blanket $119.00 |
|
|
Blanket siberia double view micro plush blanket $119.00 |
|
|
Blanket Everest double view micro plush blanket $119.00 |
|
|
Blanket Everest double view micro plush blanket $119.00 |
|
|
Blanket siberia double view micro plush blanket $119.00 |
|
|
Blanket siberia double view micro plush blanket $119.00 |
|
|
Blanket Everest double view micro plush blanket $119.00 |
|
|
Blanket siberia double view micro plush blanket $119.00 |
|
|
Blanket siberia double view micro plush blanket $119.00 |
|
|
Allergen Micro Gel Fiber Duvet $130.00 |
|
|
NEW BLACK WHITE COMFORTER SET PATCHWORK SOFT MICRO FUR $129.99 |
|
|
KING size Black & White SAFARI Zebra/Giraffe Micro Fur Comforter/Drape/Sheet Set $129.95 |
|
|
Iced out 3d crown 5 point king charm pave micro diamond style all black bling $129.90 |
|
|
Imperial Micro Suede Brown/Tan Zebra Striped Comforter/Drape/Sheet Set KING size $129.00 |
|
|
New Black Purple Retro Bedding Micro fiber Comforter set – Full Queen King Curts $129.00 |
|
|
New Black Purple Retro Bedding Micro fiber Comforter set – Full Queen King Curts $129.00 |
|
|
New Black Purple Retro Bedding Micro fiber Comforter set – Full Queen King Curts $129.00 |
|
|
New Black Purple Retro Bedding Micro fiber Comforter set – Full Queen King Curts $129.00 |
|
|
Micro Mini Bible: King James Version by God $124.95 |
|
|
New Black Purple Retro Bedding Micro fiber Comforter set – Full Queen King Curts $128.00 |
|
|
New Black Purple Retro Bedding Micro fiber Comforter set – Full Queen King Curts $128.00 |
|
|
Down Alternative Micro-Denier Egyptian Cotton Pillows Standard or King Size $125.79 |
|
|
BROWN TAN COMFORTER SET PATCHWORK SOFT MICRO SUEDE NEW $124.99 |
|
|
BROWN TAN COMFORTER SET PATCHWORK SOFT MICRO SUEDE NEW $124.99 |
|
|
11Pcs King Safari Brown Micro Fur Bed in a Bag Set $121.99 |
|
|
11Pcs King Safari Micro Suede Bedding Bed in a Bag Set $121.99 |
