Mining the treasure of palm leaf manuscripts through information retrieval techniques
| Date | 11 November 2019 |
| Pages | 146-156 |
| Published date | 11 November 2019 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/DLP-07-2019-0026 |
| Author | Bhupendra Singh,Neelu Jyoti Ahuja |
| Subject Matter | Library & information science,Librarianship/library management,Library technology,Records management & preservation,Information repositories |
Mining the treasure of palm leaf
manuscripts through information
retrieval techniques
Bhupendra Singh and Neelu Jyoti Ahuja
School of Computer Science, University of Petroleum and Energy Studies,
Dehradun, India
Abstract
Purpose –This paper aims to popularize information retrieval from palm leaf manuscripts among
computerscientists to make available the guidance of the age-old heritage in shaping the future.
Design/methodology/approach –With computer technology penetrating every aspect of life,
information retrieval algorithms can be exploited to help build a system which can dig into the ocean of
knowledgefrom these manuscripts.
Findings –The knowledge in them covers all aspects of life. Be it religious beliefs, literature, science,
mathematics, or any other. However, due to discontinuation of practice of copying their content on fresh
leaves, they now possess a fragile life which needs to be preserved at the earliest. The modern means of
digitizationcan help in their preservation.
Research limitations –The Government of India and otherorganizations are doing commendable job of
preserving and safeguarding country’s heritage and age-old knowledge system through the movement of
digitization. In the years to come, the agonizing problem of manuscripts degradation will be eradicated
completely. However,next when it will come to mining the knowledge treasure out of thesemanuscripts, we
would be confrontedwith another helpless situation.
Practical implications –The digitization processwould capture the manuscripts from present physical
palm leaf to digitalimage form by clicking high-quality pictures.All the text in a palm leaf will be available in
the form of images,but on these images, a simple search for any word would not be possible.
Originality/value –Working towards mining the treasureof knowledge from the palm leaf manuscripts,
hordes of challenges have been outlined. Over and above the problem of preventing decay to palm leaf
manuscripts is the challenge of decipheringtext, image analysis, information retrieval and search. Search is
further associated with issues of meaningful and useful extraction through semantic analysis. This paper
advocates the dire need for systematic research to be undertaken in this field opening up avenues for past
knowledgeto guide future prospects in several domains.
Keywords Palm leaf manuscript, Information retrieval, Ancient Indian science, Algorithm,
Computer intelligence, Historical documents
Paper type General review
Introduction
India is known as one of the home of world’s ancient knowledge. Many of the modern day
discoveries can be linked to the foundation which our ancestral scholars have laid in past.
The transmission of knowledgefrom ancient historical time was initially throughoral mode
and much later the writing system was developed. History of writing in India canbe dated
back to 3rd millennium BCE in the form of Indus Script by Harappapeople (non-deciphered
till today), and Ashokan edict in the form of Brahmiscript. However, they all are on stone as
carvings.
DLP
35,3/4
146
Received12 July 2019
Revised4 October 2019
Accepted21 October 2019
DigitalLibrary Perspectives
Vol.35 No. 3/4, 2019
pp. 146-156
© Emerald Publishing Limited
2059-5816
DOI 10.1108/DLP-07-2019-0026
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