MAHISHI (SAHARSA), April 19 -- As the conservation of manuscripts has gained significant momentum in Saharsa, Bihar, with a focus on digitisation, those who have been maintaining them for generations have started demanding an honorarium, hoping it will boost the initiative. Tirth Dutt Jha, a native of Mahishi in Saharsa who possesses a large collection of ancient manuscripts, has demanded an honorarium for their preservation. "Such an honorarium will give a boost to the campaign," he said. "The mission will also highlight the glorious past- giving adequate reasons to youths to feel proud." He informed that the manuscripts are on the subject of astrology and Tantra. Here it may be worth mentioning that Saharsa's Mahishi was once a centre of Tantra vidya besides a seat of learning. Social activist Amit Anand who for the first time discovered priceless manuscripts in his native village Mahishi 16 years ago, is today happy that the Central government has finally launched a major 'mission mode' campaign to survey, catalogue and digitize its vast collection of historical manuscripts under the central government's Gyan Bharatam Mission. He claimed that Saharsa in general and Mahishi in particular have been the seat of manuscripts and other historical artifacts. He claimed that the script of these manuscripts was Mithila/Bengali script and they are related to Navya Nyaya, a branch of philosophy popularized in Mithila region during 14th and 15th centuries signifying the glorious academic past. He demanded some honorarium to those who have preserved the manuscripts for generations. He said, "We have been in touch with NMM (National Mission of Manuscripts) for a long time just for the preservation of manuscripts." Saharsa district magistrate (DM) Deepesh Kumar talking to HT over phone said, "This is the first phase of a broader, long term strategy to protect rich historical and cultural literary legacy." He added, "Right now no such provision for honorarium to the contributors or to those who are providing manuscripts." The DM informed that in the second phase, the team of experts would visit identified locations to ascertain their historical veracity of the manuscripts. He said that a large number of manuscripts have so far been traced and GI (Geographical Indication) tagging was being applied to them in the first phase. In Bihar over 4.7 lakh manuscripts older than 75 years would be preserved and digitalized....