TIKAMGARH: A rare approximately 130-year-old copy of the Shrimad Bhagavad Gita, measuring just 4 × 4.4 cm yet containing around 350 pages, has become a subject of discussion in Khargapur, Tikamgarh. The distinctive Gita is notable for its extremely small size and the printing technique used to produce it.
A Gita as small as a matchbox
The mention of the Shrimad Bhagavad Gita evokes the dialogue between Bhagwan Krishna and Arjuna. However, a rare copy of the Gita found in Khargapur, Tikamgarh, has attracted attention because of its unusual size. The approximately 130-year-old book is about the size of a matchbox.
The rare Gita is safely preserved by former MLA and BJP leader Surendra Pratap Singh, also known as Baby Raja. It measures only 4 × 4.4 cm but contains approximately 350 pages.
350 pages in just 4 × 4.4 cm
One of the most remarkable features of the book is that it was not handwritten. It was completely printed at the time it was produced.
According to experts, printing a book containing hundreds of pages in such a small format must have been a major technical achievement of that era. A small fixed font was used to accommodate the text within the limited space.
Arranging the letters carefully in such a small area and producing a complete book in this format is considered a special example of the printing art of that period.
Krishna and Arjuna’s chariot depicted in woodcut style
The greatness of the Gita is described in its initial pages. Following this, the book also contains a detailed picture of Bhagwan Krishna and Arjuna’s chariot. The illustration has been prepared in a woodcut style, offering a glimpse into the printing technology used during that period. The presence of both the religious text and the printed illustration adds to the distinctiveness of this miniature Gita.
According to experts, such small religious books were very useful for devotees in ancient times. Their compact size meant they could easily be carried in a pocket. Some people even carried such religious books with them in amulets. Their miniature format therefore made it convenient for devotees to keep the religious text close to themselves.
A glimpse into India’s old printing heritage
The rare Gita is significant not only because of its religious importance but also because of the printing technique involved in producing such a small book with around 350 pages. Its tiny dimensions, printed text and woodcut-style illustration provide an example of the printing practices of the period and the effort involved in producing compact religious literature.
Under the Gyan Bharatam campaign, work is being undertaken to bring such old heritage to the fore. Historical materials preserved in different places can provide important glimpses into India’s cultural and literary traditions. Tikamgarh Collector Vivek Shrotriya is also taking an interest in bringing such historical material present in the district to the fore.
The approximately 130-year-old Gita preserved in Tikamgarh therefore stands out for its extraordinary combination of size and content, just 4 × 4.4 cm in dimensions, yet containing around 350 printed pages along with a woodcut-style depiction of Bhagwan Krishna and Arjuna’s chariot.
