Kalanjiyam: Unconstrained offline tamil handwritten database

Abstract

In this paper, we present a new offline Tamil Handwritten database Kalanjiyam. This database serves dual purpose by providing isolated handwritten characters of varying writing styles (Phase-1) as well as handwritten text paragraphs (Phase-2). For both Phase-1 and Phase-2, we collect samples from 500 people of varying age groups, profession, different handedness etc. Each data collection form allows the volunteer to write 80 characters and two paragraphs of four sentences at least. Phase-1 of this work, involving data acquisition, processing and other protocols, has been reported in this paper for quick and timely dissemination of the ongoing work. The database is supplemented with essential ground-truth (GT) information and is made publicly available. To the best of our knowledge, this Kalanjiyam database when it is full-fledged (Phase-2 of the Database included), will be first of its kind to host comprehensive collection of offline handwritten characters as well text lines.