Fascinating European collection
PRADEEP CHAKRAVARTHY
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The series on the Thanjavur Sarasvati Mahal Library concludes with a look at Raja Serfoji's interest in the European languages.
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ILLUSTRATIVE MANUSCRIPTS: Some Chinese methods of torture.
His passion for literature and music was truly an inspiration! The day, March 30, 1826, witnessed the visit of the Jesuit Bishop Heber to the Library museum and the printing press of Raja Serfoji (1798-1832). We have little information on what the Raja thought of his own library and the secret of the passion that made him preserve and enlarge a library that has more than 49,000 manuscripts, several of them exceedingly rare. We do however get a fleeting glimpse of the library during the Raja's time. It is perhaps most appropriate that the library, though commonly referred to as the Sarasvati Mahal Library, is officially, "The Thanjavur Maharaja Serfoji's Sarasvati Mahal Library."
Our visitor speaks of, "A noble room ... handsomely furnished in the English style... [with] ten book cases containing collections of French, English, German, Greek and Latin books ... in the adjoining room is ... an ivory skeleton, astronomical instruments and several cases of books, many of which are on medicine which was ... his favourite subject. But that of which he is most justly proud, as the rarest curiosity of an Indian Court is an English printing press worked by native Christians."
The bishop had remarked, "I have seen many crowned heads but not one whose deportment was more princely." Raja Serfoji was a polyglot and even today the books in the European language survive. Some are on display in the library's museum and all of them have, in an elegant handwriting, the Raja's signature.
A few even have his comments, ("a good epithet") or have a previous book owner's name struck out. The entire book collection of the library numbers 5,000, with the older ones of the 16th century from Serfoji's time when `s' was printed as `f.'
History is among the biggest with many books in English, Dutch, French and Danish. Many of the books are on music with notations, or are on medicine. These are on display in the library museum.
Chinese and French books
Two popular displays are books on Chinese methods of torture and a French treatise that theorises that humans whose faces resemble animals have the animals' characteristics as well. Two methods of torture allegedly practised in China are the application of `unslaked' lime to the eyes.
Interpreters detected of wilful misinterpretation, had the following punishment — "A large piece of bamboo cane is placed under his knees; this is trampled upon by two men, one standing on each end, and who convey more or less pain, as they approach to, or recede from his person.
Serfoji's collection also comprises several books on European society, including fashion trends.
FOLIOS IN GERMAN: On Natural History.
The highlight of the collection is a copy of William Daniel's catalogue of lithographs painted in India.
A large bound volume has maps in several languages. Many are military maps, one even showing the troop movement during the French siege of Madras. A map of the Indian subcontinent shows a very prominent Adams bridge that was probably more apparent then. Most maps are of the 18th century.
A fascinating collection is coffee table books, all of folio edition or larger sizes.
A series in German deals with natural history and several deal with medicine and there are even interior decoration catalogues of those times.
A 1794 `History of the River Thames' with many illustrations of scenic spots is one more to the collection of 18th century coffee table books.
Some deal with topics of exotic interest and have lavish illustrations that include a series on the military costumes of Turkey (1918).
There are similar books on costumes of other European countries.
The book on China is of particular interest since it shows several quaint occupations such as flute sellers, puppeteers, pillow sellers, a furrier, a serpent catcher — who the notes inform us can sell us snakes both alive and in a broth for medicines — and a lantern painter.
(The author thanks P. Perumal, conservator and librarian at the Sarasvati Mahal for helping him with the research.)
It is heartening to note that the library continues its task of publishing, mostly in vernacular languages, its rare manuscripts.
The library is open to research scholars and has a closed access system. The committee of the library is eagerly looking for novel ways of publicising the treasure for the general betterment of society. If you can help in anyway, please contact, The Librarian, Thanjavur Maharaja Serfoji's Sarasvati Mahal Library, Thanjavur. Ph: (04362) 234107; Fax: (04362) 233568. e-mail: tmssmlib@sancharnet.in {lt}mailto:tmssmlib@sancharnet.in{gt} Web: www.sarasvatimahallibrary.tn.nic.in
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