Over 2,000 Historical Jain Manuscripts to Be Returned to Community, Remain in the UK
Historical Jain manuscripts are leaving London’s Wellcome Collection – but not going to India
The Independent-(1).jpeg%3Fwidth%3D1200%26auto%3Dwebp%26crop%3D3%253A2&w=1200&q=75)
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London's Wellcome Collection is returning over 2,000 historical Jain manuscripts to the Jain community after acknowledging their unethical acquisition. Instead of going to India, the manuscripts will be transferred to the Dharmanath Network at the University of Birmingham for preservation and access by researchers and the Jain community.
- 01The manuscripts were acquired in 1919 for as little as Rs5 (approximately 0.8p) each from a Jain temple in Punjab, now in Pakistan.
- 02The collection includes significant works like a 16th-century illustrated Kalpasutra and a unique manuscript critiquing British rule in India.
- 03The manuscripts will be transferred to the University of Birmingham over five years, marking the first return of such materials by the Wellcome Collection.
- 04The decision to keep the manuscripts in the UK reflects historical complexities, including the partition of India and the displacement of many Jains.
- 05The Dharmanath Network aims to make the manuscripts accessible for research and interpretation by both scholars and the Jain community.
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The Wellcome Collection in London is set to return over 2,000 historical Jain manuscripts to the Jain community, acknowledging that many were acquired unethically. Originally collected in 1919 by agents of Sir Henry Wellcome, most manuscripts were purchased for just Rs5 (about 0.8p today) from a now-nonexistent Jain temple in Punjab, Pakistan. The collection includes important texts such as a 16th-century Kalpasutra and a manuscript critiquing British colonialism. Instead of returning the manuscripts to India, they will be housed at the University of Birmingham through the newly established Dharmanath Network, which aims to preserve and provide access to these texts for research and community engagement. The Wellcome Collection will transfer the manuscripts in batches over a period of five years while conducting a full audit. This decision reflects the historical context of the collection, as many manuscripts originated from regions affected by the partition of India. The agreement represents a significant step in addressing the ethical implications of cultural heritage acquisition.
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The return of these manuscripts allows the Jain community in the UK and beyond to reconnect with their cultural heritage and access significant historical texts.
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