A decorative ink-pot from 18th century Gujarat
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Special Arrangement
Jain calligraphic art flourished in 14th century India as scholars started transferring their knowledge into writing
A few weeks ago, I chanced upon a fascinating book called
Calligraphy and Art of Writing in Jain Manuscripts, written by Dr. Shridhar Andhare and edited by Ratan Parimoo. Full of coloured plates on Jain calligraphic and painted scrolls, the book was a revelation. The photography and design by Subrata Bhowmick, a leading graphic designer, and his associate, Payal Nanavati, add value to the book.
Dipping into the exquisite scrolls presented here is like embarking on a journey in an ancient caravan that moves through time. There are numerous halts where you can pause like a latter-day Aurel Stein, the great European Indologist, and search for seals and parchments left behind by merchants of the Silk Route. Travelling down the great highway connecting the East with the West, these