Correct Option
The correct option is 2 only
Explanation
In medieval India, particularly within the traditions of Miniature Painting (including Jain, Sultanate, Mughal, and Rajput schools), manuscripts were considered precious commodities. They were produced and preserved in royal workshops and libraries known as Kitab-khanas or Granthakuts.
Statement-wise Analysis
- Statement 1 is Incorrect: Unlike modern bound books, medieval Indian manuscripts typically consisted of loose folios (leaves). To ensure their preservation, a set of folios was placed between two wooden covers (patlis) and tightly wrapped in a piece of cloth, often red or yellow, known as a basta. These bundles were then stored in the library. This method protected the delicate paper and pigments from dust, humidity, and insects.
- Statement 2 is Correct: Paintings and illustrated manuscripts were not static assets restricted to preservation. They served as significant instruments of diplomacy and social bonding. Rulers frequently gifted manuscripts and albums (muraqqas) to other kings, nobles, and foreign dignitaries as tokens of goodwill or alliance.
- Statement 3 is Incorrect: Paintings and manuscripts were highly mobile. They traveled across regions through trade, diplomatic exchange, and the migration of artists. For instance, artists often moved from the Imperial Mughal court to regional Rajput or Pahari courts, carrying their techniques and sometimes artworks with them. Additionally, emperors like Akbar are known to have carried their libraries with them during military campaigns.
Key Takeaway
Medieval Indian manuscripts were stored as loose folios wrapped in cloth bundles (bastas) but were dynamic objects that circulated extensively through diplomatic gifting and the migration of artists between courts.