Question

Why were manuscript not widely used in india before the age of print

Answer 1

Answer:

Manuscripts were not used by Indians before the age of print because of the following reasons :

i) Manuscripts were fragile to handle because they were written on palm leaves or vellam (animal skin or parchment on which text is written).

ii) Manuscripts were usually costly which were used only by aristocratic circles and rich people.

iii) Manuscripts were mostly written in English or other foreign languages which cannot be read by native Indians.

iv) Also production of manuscripts was very time taking and laborious. So it was not available in market in sufficient quantities.

v) Most of manuscripts contained religious scriptures,thus they were allowed to be read only by high class brahmins and hindu orthodox people.