The world’s first-ever Tamil Bible printed around 300 years ago has been traced to a museum in London. The state Idol Wing is in the process of bringing the Bible back to India.to restore the stolen manuscript back. The Bible was stolen in 2005 from Thanjavur.
The antiquarian Bible is suspected to have been stolen by a group of foreigners who visited the Saraswathi Mahal Library 17 years ago.
The Bible was printed by the first Protestant missionary to India, Bartholomaeus Ziegenbalg between 1715-1718 after he set up a printing press in the Thanjavur district. The manuscript was gifted to Tulaji Rajah Serfoji, the then ruler of the Thanjavur Bhonsle dynasty.
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