By IINA,
Sri Nagar : Some rare Quranic manuscripts written by legendary calligraphists of the world hundreds of years back are being exhibited by the state Academy of Art, Culture and Languages in Srinagar from tomorrow. The three-day exhibition will be held at Saqafat Ghar, Lal Mandi, in the heart of Srinagar City located on the banks of river Jehlum, an academy spokesman said. Zaffar Iqbal Khan Manhas, Secretary of the Academy, stated that this exhibition will be the first of its kind in which the rare centuries-old manuscripts written by renowned calligraphist and scholars of the world will be exhibited. He said this will include holy Qur’an written with an ink blending gold with saffron. This is the only manuscript in would calligraphed in saffron ink. This manuscript bears the colophonoed year and calligraphed in 1594 A.D, Kashmir Observer reported.
He said about 35 hand written manuscripts and nearly 2 dozens printed copies of Quran would be exhibited in this historic exhibition. The main attraction of the exhibition will be a manuscript of Persian written in calligraphy with nail of thumb popularly known as Khat-e-Nakhun, adding that this manuscript is marvel of calligraphy. The margin of the manuscript is decorated with illustrations of men, birds, animals and beasts. The calligrapher used to calligraphy with nail of his finger and surprisingly in reverse. Another specimen of calligraphy to be exhibited during the exhibition will be the collection of calligraphy specimen of Quran by Usman- Qadri the renowned calligrapher of South Asia.
In this exhibition, Academy is going to exhibit a marvelous work done in 1711 AD. These Quranic manuscripts bears Paper Machie cover which may be one of the earliest specimen extinct in Kashmir. He said, another attraction of the exhibition will be the oldest available manuscript of Holy Quran in Kashmir calligraphed by one Fateh-ullah Kashmiri in 1237 AD, i.e., about 83 year before Muslims assumed political power in Kashmir. This contains the Persian translation also. Zaffar said that another interesting exhibit is manuscript contains the parables of great philosophers and kings. It is a beautiful specimen of calligraphy. Some of the pages of this manuscript are illuminated with gold. Elegant paintings of major mughal emperors including the manuscript have added to the grace and value of this manuscript. The exhibition will commence on 22nd of September 2008 at 2.00 pm and will be inaugurated by Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, by Masood Samoon.