These are publications banned by the pre-1947 Indian government, 10 Kannada publications are listed in: Supplementary Catalogue of Kannada Books in the British Library Department of Printed Books, India Office Library and Records, by Albertine Gaur, 1985.India Office Library and Records Kannada catalogue 1972-1983 edited by Nalini Persad (also available in microfilm).India Office Library and Records Catalogue of Kannada Books to 1970 (also available in microfilm).A Catalogue of the Kannada, Badaga, and Coorg books in the Library of the British Museum, compiled by L.Older books are listed in the following published catalogues, which are available in the Library's Asian and African Studies Reading Room: What is available in our Reading Rooms? Catalogues
Also significant is the collection of early printed Christian literature by various missionaries in Kannada, Konkani in Kannada script, and Tulu in Kannada script. This strength is complimented by archival material on Karnataka within the India Office Records. Our holdings of 19th and early to mid-20th century Kannada materials form a unique and important collection. The Library continues to acquire books and journals in the humanities and social sciences in Kannada and other languages of Karnataka. Early and modern printed books and periodicals The manuscripts collection includes items which came from the India Office Library, the Oriental Collections of the British Museum, and those acquired subsequently by the British Library. The collections include manuscripts on palm leaf, copper, stone and paper.
Our holdings overall are an important resource for the study of South Asia. We have particularly important holdings of 19th to mid-20th century publications.