Ziegenbalg Museum opens its door in Tamil Nadu

Ziegenbalg Museum on intercultural dialogue was inaugurated on 15 July 2017 at Tharangampadi, in Tamil Nadu. The museum will display several of the pioneering print tools of a German missionary Bartholomaeus Ziegenbalg.

09 Aug 2017 | By Sriraam Selvam

He is credited with setting up a printing press and the first paper mill and type foundry in 1712 and 1715 respectively. 
 
Ziegenbalg’s heritage bungalow which is now converted into a museum was inaugurated by S Edwin Jeyakumar, president of Tamil Evangelical Lutheran Church (TELC) and Justice J Kanagaraj, a retired judge of the Madras High Court.
 
The restoration and museum project was sponsored by Francke Foundation, Halle, Germany, in coordination with Tamil Evangelical Lutheran Church (TELC). The project was executed and co-coordinated by Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) and local craftsmen.
 
"After obtaining permission from Tamil Nadu government, the restoration project was taken up in coordination with TELC. The bungalow has now been restored without affecting the original structure," said Jasmine Eppert, project manager of the museum.
 
“Articles used by Ziegenbalg, including remains of the printing machines used by him, models of the typeface letters, books have all been collected and put up in the museum and is available for visitors to see," said Eppert.
 
Speaking on the occasion Kamal Chopra, president of All India Federation of Master Printers (AIFMP) said, "without printing, there is no trading all over the world." He presented a map of historical and traditional printing presses situated all over India to the museum.
 
0010

 

 
0002
 
He also released a book written by A Karmeham, past president of Salem Offset Printers Association (SOPA) who is credited for his effort to get better recognition for Ziegenbalg’s contribution to print.
 
P Chander and AMSG Ashokan, past presidents, AIFMP, G Kalairajan, joint secretary of AIFMP and K M Sampath Kumar, president, SOPA were also present during the inauguration.
 
 
Tags : Bartholomaus Ziegenbalg,Museum;