Question

Describe the process of manuscript production in the Mughal court

Answer 1

All the books were manuscripts . In other words, they were hand written. The centre where the work of manuscript production was taken was known as the imperial kitabkhana. This kitabkhana was like a library. It was a scriptorium. In other words, it was a place whre the emperor kept his collection of manuscripts and produced new manuscrpits.

A large number of people were involved in the production of manuscripts. They included the following:-

• Papar makers who prepared the folios of the manuscript.

• Scribes or calligraphers who copied the texts.

• Guilders who illuminated the pages of the manuscript.

• painters whi illustraded scenes from the text.

• Book binders who gathered the individual folios and set them within ornamental covers.

In the end , all these manuscripts were considerd very precious and valuable. They were a work of beauty and intellectual wealth.