What irreplaceable manuscripts were lost in the burning of Jaffna Public Library and what history did they contain (and subsequently lost forever)?

What was lost in Jaffna library?

Over 97,000 volumes of books along with numerous culturally important and irreplaceable manuscripts were destroyed. Among the destroyed items were scrolls of historical value and the works and manuscripts of philosopher, artist and author Ananda Coomaraswamy and prominent intellectual Prof. Dr. Isaac Thambiah.

What is the history of Jaffna Library?

First built in 1933, the Jaffna Library has long been a symbol of northern heritage. Emphasised by its now restored classical architecture, the library also endured a horrific burning in 1981 – a time at which it held nearly 100,000 books and manuscripts, making it one of the largest libraries in Asia.

Why was the Jaffna library important?

It was one of Asia’s most important libraries, with over 97,000 books and manuscripts. A Sinhalese mob went on a rampage leading to over a million books being burned in the horrific arson attack. Historical scrolls on herbal medicine and the writings of notable writers were among the many documents burned.

What ancient libraries were destroyed?

6 Famous Libraries That Were Tragically Destroyed

  • The Nalanda Library.
  • The Maya Codices.
  • Institut für Sexualwissenschaft.
  • The Iraq National Library and Archive.
  • The People’s Library.
  • The Library of Alexandria.



What did we lose in the burning of the library of Alexandria?

By this point, the library was most likely already gone. What was lost with the destruction of the Library of Alexandria is priceless — vast stores of manuscripts, history, and knowledge.

What is the history of ancient library?

The first libraries appeared five thousand years ago in Southwest Asia’s Fertile Crescent, an area that ran from Mesopotamia to the Nile in Africa. Known as the cradle of civilization, the Fertile Crescent was the birthplace of writing, sometime before 3000 BC.

When was Jaffna library rebuilt?

The library was rebuilt in a programme initiated by Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga, Sri Lanka’s president between , with the 700 million Sri Lankan Rupee restoration cost met by inter-communal group Sudu Nelum Movement.

Which library burned down history in India?

The ancient Buddhist university of Nalanda in northern India is believed to be one of the world’s first residential universities. It thrived for over 700 years and had the world’s biggest library before being burned down by Mughal invaders.



Was anything lost in the Library of Alexandria?

Few first class works survived, like Euclid, Apollonius and Archimedes, but there is a lot of evidence that this is just the tip of the iceberg. For example, almost all writings of Hipparchus, “the father of astronomy”, are lost. We know about them from the account of C. Ptolemy who lived 3 centuries later.

Which African library was destroyed in the ancient period?

French and Malian soldiers regained control of the ancient city of Timbuktu on Monday, much to the joy of Timbuktu residents. But as the Islamist rebels who had taken it over fled, they torched a library that contained thousands of manuscripts from the Middle Ages.

Which library burned down history in India?

The ancient Buddhist university of Nalanda in northern India is believed to be one of the world’s first residential universities. It thrived for over 700 years and had the world’s biggest library before being burned down by Mughal invaders.

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