CHENNAI: Colin Mackenzie was India’s first Surveyor General. He was known for the legacy he left behind, an anthology of text, images and visuals that he collected from South India during the early 1800’s. The Roja Muthiah Research Library at Tharamani boasts of many other such important literary works of art. In a lecture titled ‘Tamil Ariya Nulkal Pathukappu: Sila urayadalgal’, Prof V Arasu, HoD, Tamil Literature, University of Madras, said that when we have such valuable databases of information, the least we can do is preserve and protect it. “There is no way that somebody can establish such a massive source of information at this point.” He also discussed various other ways in which significant Tamil literary works that also provide insight into the history of south India can be conserved. Speaking about M Arunachalam, some of whose books were recently added to the research library, he remembered his wooden shelf in which he neatly categorised and arranged his books. “It is apt that Arunachalam joins hands with Roja Muthiah,” he said. “Books that are in bad shape should not be catalogued in researches libraries,” he added. “If they are rare and an important part of our cultural heritage, they should be stored in the form of pamphlets. This will prevent the book from further getting damaged.” The lecture was part of an exhibition on ‘Early Tamil Imprints’, which is on at the library till August 27 from 10am till 7pm. For more information, call 22542551.
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