Indian and Nepali Collection
The collection consists mainly of manuscripts from Nepal and Northern India written predominantly in Sanskrit or, less frequently, Newari. Most are fragments of religious texts – Hindu or Buddhist and only a few are lay in content. The majority of the books are composed of loose pieces of multilayered paper, sometimes they are concertina-shaped. Verso pages are usually covered in yellow dye with insecticidal properties. The collection also includes four manuscripts written on palm leaves – three in the Odia language and one in Tamil.
The texts in Sanskrit and Newari were researched by Monika Nowakowska, PhD (Faculty of Oriental Studies, University of Warsaw), while the Tamil manuscript was described by Ilona Kędzia (Institute of Oriental Studies, Jagiellonian University).