Sun Dec 07 18:59:04 UTC 2025: ## ASI to Digitize Thousands of Tamil Inscriptions for Public Access
CHENNAI, December 8, 2025 – The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has launched a project to digitize its entire collection of approximately 25,000 Tamil estampages (paper impressions of inscriptions). The initiative aims to create a comprehensive online repository, making these historical records readily accessible to scholars and the general public worldwide.
According to K. Munirathnam Reddy, Director (Epigraphy) at ASI, Mysuru, the project is already underway, following the digitization of estampages in other Indian languages, as well as Arabic and Persian. This effort responds to growing calls for preservation and wider dissemination of historical information.
Union Minister for Culture, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, recently confirmed that scanning has been completed for over half of the Tamil estampages (13,740 out of 24,806).
The digitisation process involves meticulously scanning each estampage and preparing detailed metadata, including location, associated dynasty, language, script, historical period, and a transcript of the inscription itself. This rich information will be incorporated into the Bharat Shared Repository of Inscriptions (BharatSHRI), a digital epigraphy museum that is the core of this effort.
“The users from any remote corner would be able to access the digital repository to know the details about the inscriptions,” Mr. Reddy stated, emphasizing the project’s commitment to democratizing access to historical knowledge.
The digital repository is expected to launch within the next two months, promising to be a valuable resource for researchers and anyone interested in exploring South India’s rich historical heritage.
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