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Daas has been, with Satguru's blessings and pity, writing gurbaani.
For those of you who are writing gurbaani or who wish to commence, there are some important considerations.
Apart from the maryada that is already mentioned on this website, there are important matters when it comes to which paper and ink is used.
The original angs of the shabad guru were scribed on 'Sialkot' paper. Sailkot is in Pakistan and daas e-mailed the librarian at Punjab University Lahore to establish whether Sialkot paper was still being manufactured-sadly not. Kashmir paper was alo utilised but again this has been (to the best of daas's knowledge) discontinued. These were pure vegetarian papers. Most modern papers contain gelatin or have been stretched over parchments that are of animal hide derivation. Therefore, writing a gutka sahib with 'modern' inks of high street brands in a plane notebook obtained from a high street stationers. or bulk produced A4 paper is falling short of the standards set by the puratan approach.
A little research from a highly reputable paper and ink merchants in London has revealed that paper manufactured by the Italian company 'Fabriano' is of pure vegetarian source and utilises cellulose as a stiffening agent. The paper unlike handmade 'kadi cotton'-paper is smooth and of high quality and excellent for calligraphy.
Puratan inks were made from kikar wood, neem, iron oxide and other vegetarian 'parvaan' ingredients. These were written as 'Siahi ki bidh' in each Granth. Most modern inks contain alcohol and shellacs. Daas again has discovered high quality inks that are free of alcohol and shellac that are excellent for calligraphy.
Thirdly, the original 'kalms' or scribing pens had rounded tips and not flat edges as most calligraphy fountain pens have. Careful scrutiny of puratan saroops will bear this out as non of the scribed gurmukhi has variable width edges, it is pretty much of equal thickness.
Finally, it is daas's man-ki-icha to establish a 'hathlikth gurbaani kendar' a 'Sikh school of gurbaani calligraphy' in the UK. Daas will have to do further research into whether this is best done on Gurughar premises or elsewhere.
Waheguru ji ka Khalsa
Waheguru ji ki fateh.
ਸਤਿਗੁਰਬਚਨਕਮਾਵਣੇਸਚਾਏਹੁਵੀਚਾਰੁ॥