Jain texts were written and painted on palm leaf folios. Why was a small hole made in the centre of these pages?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 2
The correct answer is Option (2) → To pass a string that fastened the pages together
Option (1) To hang the leaf to dry after it was treated — Incorrect. The palm leaves were adequately treated before painting. The hole is not linked to this; it was made for the string.
Option (2) To pass a string that fastened the pages together — Correct. A string passed through the hole to fasten the pages together, and wooden covers called patlis protected them.
Option (3) To mark the centre line for the etched writing — Incorrect. The writing was etched upon the leaves with a sharp calligraphic device. The hole is not linked to the writing.
Option (4) To fix the leaf to a frame while it was painted — Incorrect. Early Jain paintings were done on palm leaves, but the hole is not linked to the painting. It was made for the string.
NCERT (2026-27): “Western Indian School of Painting …A small hole in the centre was created for a string to pass through to fasten the pages together that were in turn protected with wooden covers called patlis, placed on top and bottom of the manuscript. Early Jain paintings were traditionally done on palm leaves before paper was introduced in the fourteenth century and the earliest surviving palm leaf manuscript from the western part of India dates back to the eleventh century. The palm leaves were adequately treated before painting and the writing was etched upon the leaves with a sharp calligraphic device.” |