I recall this topic figuring during a meet with Dr. Kalaikkovan. Our group members Kamal - Gokul - Ram - Lavanya - Pavithra and others met Dr. Kalaikkovan in his clinic and home way back in about 2002 - 2003 and he lit the spark in us.
this meeting paved way for www.varalaaru.com
We could find Kamal writing on temple architecture - Lavnya / Ram on inscriptions and Gokul with versatality covering several aspects.. of History - epigraphy - iconography etc., etc.
In 2003 Myself and Gokul met Dr. TSM in ASI office Chennai and asked for more details. He told this has been taken up several times but nothing concrete was done. Rajavelu became our close friend.
We launched Ponniyinselvan Varalatru peravai. Dr. Kalaikkovan, Dr. Nalini and Dr. Rajavelu and his another friend ( Mallai incharge then - he also co-authored " Thiruvalangadu " book with Dr. Rajavelu ) motivated us.
This meeting conducted at Sangeetha (Luz Corner) was unforgettable because here we met respected member Swetha and our dear Venkat for the first time. Venkat was already on to writing PS Sequel !!
With silent support from some of the "powerful" members, we could bring the fact that " TAMIL INSCRIPTION ESTAMPAGES ARE LYING IDLE IN THE BASEMENTS OF ASI - MYSORE - FOR THE PAST 50 - 60 YEARS ATLEAST UNATTENDED TO " ..
To bring them to ASI Chennai was tried.. Well ... due to constant effort by various quarters this movement gained momentum and last year it was announced that MOU was signed between Mysore and Thanjavur.
It is also interesting to recall that those present in recent inking ceremony along with our CM and Tamil University VC / Registrar - are our most respected Dr. Rajavelu (formerly in ASI and now in Thanjai Tamil University) and Dr. Jayakumar (who presented his power point in 15.8.2009 meet in Chennai in PSVP function ).. !!
It is also nice to recall that Dr. Rajavelu and Dr. Jayakumar were also honoured in the presence of Kavipperarasu Vairamuthu !!
Since the inking has taken place in the presence of our Hon'ble CM - we can definitely look forward to get more inscriptions digitalised and published.. which means a grand feast for heritage enthusiasts like us...
To quote Kavipperarasu Vairamuthu :: PSVP is doing its best to motivate the Government to handle matters of heritage intererst in larger scale !!
We see this happening.. and we are able to exchange on these on the befitting occasion of 09th Sept !!
1. The inscriptions - Whether Tamil or Grantha - or Kannada - Telugu -Malayalam - whatever there in the estempage need to be digitalised. Tamil University has agreed to render support - it is learnt.
2. It is assumed that on an average about 4 - 5 estempages ( say 6 - 8 feet long x 1 1/2 feet wide - on a kind of tracing paper - with impressions appearing white over a black covered surface ) can be neatly digitalised (photographed through a ditial camera ) on a working day ! Imagine the number of man hours needed to handle 80000 to 100000 such estempages.
3. Then each digitalised material need to be studied by a Competent Scholar !!
Informally it has been suggested that once an estempage is ditigalised it is to be passed on to a Scholar for study !!
I know in reality, these things do not happen that fast..
Let us await the great news that first few estepages are digitialised.
Then move on to putting them for understanding..
And we should also remember that those involved in the process are also more keen than us in bringing out more data that would stand the scrutiny of Scholars of international repute.