SANCHI PAAT Assam
A writing technique used in Assam's Majuli islands since 600 AD
The process: Strips from the bark of an agaru tree (15-20 years old),in separate rolls of 6-18 feet, are sun-dried and exposed to dew overnight. Then, the nikari (outer layer) is removed, the surface smoothened and cut into convenient sizes (usually 9-27 inches long, 1-3 inches broad). These are immersed in cold water for three days, then sun-dried, after which they are boiled in an iron pan to extract alkali and kill germs. Again dried, then matimah tree paste is rubbed in. Finally, the smooth bark is dyed yellow, with vermillion and yellow arsenic and is now ready to be used. The ink was tenacious even on slippery surfaces and outlasted even crumbling folios. Ink ingredients were plant-based