Digitization of Manuscript including Repository and Retrieval System for Acharya Jogesh Chandra Purakriti Bhaban (District Museum) Bishnupur, Bankura, West Bengal

The Acharya Yogesh Chandra Purakriti Bhavan (Bankura District Museum) at  Bishnupur, Bankura, West Bengal now under the control of the Directorate of Archaeology and Museums, Ministry of Information and Culture, Government of West Bengal was inaugurated in 1951. This museum attempts to preserve and archive the history and cultural heritage of Bishnupur and its surrounding area such as the traditions of terracotta and other indigenous art forms in Bankura. The Museum is endowed with a collection of old manuscripts that would best define the historical and cultural heritage of Bengal, especially Bishnupur. These manuscripts are very old, damaged having poor legibility. These heritage records needed to be digitally preserved for dissemination to the progeny and posterity. In order to do so, an efficient storage, search and retrieval system has been provided

Salient Features

• Accessibility – Digitization of Manuscripts will make the contents of these Manuscripts accessible to the general public, enthusiasts, research scholars, etc. which is not possible in the present scenario.
• Original documents are left untouched – Users, research scholars, general public will not have to touch the original Manuscripts in order to go through the contents of the heritage documents which will prevent them from the natural process of mis-handling, wear and tear, etc. thereby avoiding their further damage.
• Any time availability – Digitization will allow the availability of information from historical documents in digital format. Digital materials are easy to access for any user at any time. If the information is made available using internet then it can be accessed from anywhere.
• Simultaneous multiple user access – The contents of even a single Manuscript, after digitization, can be accessed by multiple users simultaneously which is not possible in the present scenario.