If, like me, you have driven past the Asiatic Library, admiring the graceful columns, I'll let you in on a little piece of trivia:The Asiatic Library houses one of the only two known original copies of Dante's Divine Comedy. The other copy is in Milan.
In 1930, Mussolini offered one million pounds for the book, but the society refused. The book is a gift to the society by Monstuart Elphinstone, Governor of Bombay
In 2002, the Italian Minister for Culture visited the Asiatic Library, and confirmed that the book was in better shape than the one in Milan.
- Deepa
wonder if its available for the common man to see.
ReplyDeleteIt's a really proud moment that the book which we have is in a better condition than the one in Italy.
ReplyDelete