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|contact=tonynantony{{@}}gmail.com
|contact=tonynantony{{@}}gmail.com
<!--Write a short summary of your project, in 20 words or less in the space below-->
<!--Write a short summary of your project, in 20 words or less in the space below-->
−
|summary=
preserve
our
palm leaf manuscrips for
next
genaration
. Most of
these
books
are in
dangerous
condition.
Digilalize
the content is the only solution.
We
can
save
many
palm
leaf
manuscripts
+
|summary=
Preserve
the knowledge entrapped within priceless
palm leaf manuscrips for
the future
genarations
. Most of
those
antique treasures
are in
highly vulnerable and endangered
condition.
To digitize
the content
with through high quality imaging
is the only solution.
And
we
are
just
not
too late for that, right now.
<!--After you complete your budget in the project plan, add the total amount of funding you are requesting below, in USD (or specify other currency)-->
<!--After you complete your budget in the project plan, add the total amount of funding you are requesting below, in USD (or specify other currency)-->
|amount=US $ 19800
|amount=US $ 19800
|target=Malayalam wikipedia, Wikisource & Wikimedia Commons
|target=Malayalam wikipedia, Wikisource & Wikimedia Commons
−
|goal=Improving quality and quantity of ml.wikisource.org
+
|goal=Improving quality and quantity of ml.wikisource
.org & ml.wikipedia
.org
|theme=offline outreach and partnerships
|theme=offline outreach and partnerships
<!--If you want to make it easy for people to join your project as volunteers, change below to "YES"-->
<!--If you want to make it easy for people to join your project as volunteers, change below to "YES"-->
|more_participants=YES
|more_participants=YES
<!--If you want to customize the image, replace below with another file name from Commons-->
<!--If you want to customize the image, replace below with another file name from Commons-->
−
|image=File:
IEG_key_blue
.
png
+
|image=File:
thaliyola
.
jpg
<!--Delete the "YES" below if you do not want your proposal to show up in the list of IEG drafts in the IdeaLab (Grants:IdeaLab/Ideas/Drafts)-->
<!--Delete the "YES" below if you do not want your proposal to show up in the list of IEG drafts in the IdeaLab (Grants:IdeaLab/Ideas/Drafts)-->
|idealab=YES
|idealab=YES
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==Project idea==
==Project idea==
{{TOC_right}} <!--Please live this here and continue to the next section-->
{{TOC_right}} <!--Please live this here and continue to the next section-->
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===Introduction===
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For a basic idea of Palm leaf (known as '''താളിയോല thaaLiyOla''' in [[w:en:Malayalam|Malayalam language]]) as an ancient Indian medium to record information, please see [[w:en:Narayam | Narayam]]. (Narayam is the special kind of stylus that was used to scribe in Palm Leaves. Incidentally the predecessor of ULS tool we use in Wikimedia projects was named as '''Narayam''', a local language input method editor tool that originally emerged from our own community i.e. [http://ml.wikipedia.org Malayalam Wikipedia community]. As of now, 'Palm leaf' itself does not have an article on English WP. We shall soon be creating an authentic and detailed article on En WP on Palm Leaf Manuscripts too.
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Palm leaf scribed pages are made from the systematically prepared and dried leaves of [[w:en: Asian palmyra palm| Asian palmyra palm]] with utmost care in order to ensure a long life. However, like every other organic material, with time, they too gets their tear and toll, especially with the harsh and undulating tropical weather and the poor means of storage facilities available in South Indian region.
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In Kerala, most of the traditional knowledge were preserved by aristocratic families, palaces, temples and churches. Until some 1850 or so, we did not have a public library or museum culture. The total of all knowledge were either maintained through vocal renderings or through such palm leafs. In the course of history and with intermittent absence of value-awareness among the custodians, archives in most of those aristocratic houses, palaces, temples and churches have gone wane or completely ruined. What we are trying to recover and salvage is in fact only a tip of a lost iceberg. Nevertheless, this is still valuable and this is the only chance we get. The opportunity can not wait any longer as the preservation attempts of even the available lot are quite in an apathy.
===What is the problem you're trying to solve?===
===What is the problem you're trying to solve?===
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==Project plan==
==Project plan==
===Broad plan===
===Broad plan===
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The first and major lot of the palm leaf collection that we plan to obtain and digitize particularly belongs to an ancient family who continued to practice the Indian medicine [[w:en:Ayurveda]]. This family is one among the so called Eight Schools of Ayurvedic medicine from Kerala. The members of this family have been kind enough to offer to us an otherwise difficult access to the palm leaf collection that they hold (provided we maintain 'ultreme' care to handle the precious objects while executing the image acquisition). We are confident enough to follow those conditions as we have the in-house expertise from within the community as well as a few external specialists.
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The exact quantity of the first lot is not enumerated as of now. This can be possible only when we can access the collections directly which requires a positive assurance and commitment that we will indeed execute the project. An early estimate runs into several hundred volumes of these books each contains 100+ leaves. In fact, however less in number they may be, the value of each leaf can not be underestimated considering just their rarity and hitherto unexposed status. Apart from Malayalam, the volumes may also contain Sanskrit and Tamil, languages which were often scribed in [[w:en:Grantha script| Grantha Script]].
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Similarly, the precise level of antiquity of the collection is yet not determined. This may be a mixed lot from circa 1600 till 1900. We expect that the scripts themselves could provide the age through the content it exposes during digitization.
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Apart from the above collection, we have started exploring additional material of the same class from other sources. While this could be a laborious task, we are hopeful that the combined efforts of our community, especially through another dedicated team who is pursuing a [[Grants:IEG/Digitisation_drive_for_Malayalam_Wikisource|complimentary IEG grant project]], should add enough volumes that will justify the cost-benefit advantage of this grant. In addition to the palm leaves, we will be using the equipment, expertise and manpower to also digitize paper books of antiquity that will be added to the Wikimedia repository under appropriate free licenses.
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As for the co-operation of other institutions, we are looking forward to create new (as well as re-enforce existing) connections and relations with several government, non-profit and volunteer organizations. We have already initiated contacts and expressed an interest to work together with [[w:en:Centre of Science and Technology for Rural Development|Centre of Science and Technology for Rural Development]], [[w:en:Kerala Sasthra Sahithya Parishad|Kerala Sasthra Sahithya Parishad]], [[w:en:IT@School Project|IT@School Project]], [[w:ml:സ്വതന്ത്ര_മലയാളം_കമ്പ്യൂട്ടിങ്ങ്|Swathanthra Malayalam Computing]], various departments of the Government of Kerala etc. As we progress towards a successful approval of the grant, most of these entities are anticipated to collaborate with this project.
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We plan to procure the necessary image acquisition systems, mainly two sets of contact-less high speed high resolution scanners and back-end computers for storage of the images, image processing and uploading. We have already identified a few models suitable for this type of work. Selection of the exact brand and model of the equipment and its procurement will be done as the project gets approved.
We plan to procure the necessary image acquisition systems, mainly two sets of contact-less high speed high resolution scanners and back-end computers for storage of the images, image processing and uploading. We have already identified a few models suitable for this type of work. Selection of the exact brand and model of the equipment and its procurement will be done as the project gets approved.
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Once the major target of the project is accomplished, the equipment will be moved to the library facilities of some compatible non-profit like-minded organizations. (These organizations themselves have public domain or CC-SA license-able collections. We intend to allow their staff to use the equipment for harvesting these work). They will act as responsible custodians of the equipment. A suitable set of Wikimedia personnel (to be finalized later: either a few volunteers elected from the Malayalam community or a new user group or the SIG of Wikimedia India Chapter) will take over as the actual owners. An ownership agreement will be signed between the custodians and these owners. The equipment will be then made available to any community teams for future digitizing projects.
Once the major target of the project is accomplished, the equipment will be moved to the library facilities of some compatible non-profit like-minded organizations. (These organizations themselves have public domain or CC-SA license-able collections. We intend to allow their staff to use the equipment for harvesting these work). They will act as responsible custodians of the equipment. A suitable set of Wikimedia personnel (to be finalized later: either a few volunteers elected from the Malayalam community or a new user group or the SIG of Wikimedia India Chapter) will take over as the actual owners. An ownership agreement will be signed between the custodians and these owners. The equipment will be then made available to any community teams for future digitizing projects.
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The
experienced
obtained from
the
project will be used as a continuing resource to help ml Wikimedia programs to grow further. The team will ensure their co-operation with Wikimedia community to develop more efficient and productive projects. Guidelines and manuals will be created within Wikimedia space for new volunteers who ventures into similar projects.
+
The
experience
obtained from
this
project will be used as a continuing resource to help ml Wikimedia programs to grow further. The team will ensure their co-operation with Wikimedia community to develop more efficient and productive projects. Guidelines and manuals will be created within Wikimedia space for new volunteers who ventures into similar projects.
The team, along with more volunteers from the community, will continue to convert the whole of collected image content into other formats including searchable text and print-ready volumes.
The team, along with more volunteers from the community, will continue to convert the whole of collected image content into other formats including searchable text and print-ready volumes.
The program will remain as one of the earliest models for such large volume digitization in the local community space.
The program will remain as one of the earliest models for such large volume digitization in the local community space.
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===Measures of success===
===Measures of success===
* Acquisition and uploading of at least 20,000 pages of manuscripts and books which are either in public domain or licensed as CC-SA.
* Acquisition and uploading of at least 20,000 pages of manuscripts and books which are either in public domain or licensed as CC-SA.