Mahġ

Ingredients

Hilikha (Terminalia chebula), Amlakhi (Emblica officinalis), Bhomora (Terminalia belerica), Jamuk (Eugenia jambolana), mango (Magnifera indica), Bohat (Artocarpus lakoocha), Kenharaj (Eclipta prostrata), rusted iron tool, cow-urine

Preparation Steps

Original Recipe Text

The ink is prepared using pulps of astringent fruits such as Hilikha (Terminalia chebula), Amlakhi (Emblica officinalis), and Bhomora (Terminalia belerica), alongside tree barks like Jamuk (Eugenia jambolana), mango (Magnifera indica), and Bohat (Artocarpus lakoocha) (p. 1-2). These plant materials are rich in polyphenols. A small amount of iron is sourced from animal blood or a red-hot rusted iron tool (p. 1-2). For the experimental preparation, 5 g of rusted iron nails were added to the plant extracts (p. 2). Cow-urine is used as the extractant and solvent medium (p. 2). The mixture turns an intense blue-black color, indicating the formation of Fe (III)-polyphenol complexes (p. 2).

Evidence

"Mahġ, a traditional herbal ink... started by 7th century and continued till the early 20th century... During the preparation of Mahġ of Assam, India, no other additives or binders were added whereas its tenacity and glossiness remain intact for so many centuries on Sancipāt."

Remarks

Mahġ is unique because it maintains stability and tenacity on Sancipāt for centuries without the addition of common binders like gum Arabic (used in Iron Gall Ink) or animal glue (used in Chinese inks) (p. 1). Scientific analysis attributes this stability to saponins found in the herbal ingredients, particularly Kenharaj (Eclipta prostrata) (p. 4). These saponins act as bio-surfactants, reducing surface tension (measured at 46 mN/m) and enhancing the wettability, dispersion, and solubility of chromogenic polyphenols on the substrate (p. 1, 4, 7). Saponins in Mahġ are glycosidic and steroidal, providing a natural mechanism for ink stability in the absence of external binders (p. 7).