The Gyan Bharatam Mission represents a significant advancement in the preservation of India's rich manuscript heritage. It serves as a revitalized iteration of the former National Manuscripts Mission (NMM), aiming to effectively survey, document, and conserve manuscripts held in various repositories, including academic institutions, libraries, museums, and private collections.
Scheduled for launch on June 9, 2025, by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the mission seeks to broaden its reach and impact on India's manuscript conservation efforts.
The ambitious mission aims to cover over one crore (10 million) manuscripts throughout the country, providing a comprehensive approach to preserving this vital aspect of India's cultural heritage.
The original National Manuscripts Mission, launched in 2003 under the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts, struggled to achieve its intended goals. The current revamp aims to enhance the mission's structure, funding, and expert involvement to ensure its success.
In a significant move, the Union Budget for 2025–26 saw a substantial increase in the funding for the NMM, raising it from ₹3.5 crore to ₹60 crore to support the expanded objectives of the mission.
The Union Culture Ministry will take charge of the mission's implementation, working closely with various academic and cultural institutions. There are plans to establish a new autonomous body to ensure the continuity and effectiveness of the efforts.
Before the revamp, the National Manuscripts Mission had made some progress, creating metadata for 52 lakh manuscripts and digitizing around 3 lakh titles. Unfortunately, only about 1.3 lakh manuscripts were fully digitized, with merely 70,000 of these accessible for public viewing.
A significant barrier to public access lies in the absence of an "access policy," which has deterred private owners from sharing their manuscripts, as there are currently no incentives for them to do so.
Approximately 80% of India's manuscripts are held by private collectors and individuals, complicating the tasks of access and conservation.
The mission is backed by a diverse group of scholars and experts, including the Vice-Chancellor of Central Sanskrit University, members from the CIIL, IIT Bombay, and various private heritage foundations, along with a representative from Google Arts and Culture.
Over the past two decades, the NMM has successfully conducted preventive and curative conservation on nine crore folios, showcasing its commitment to preserving India's manuscript heritage.
Institutions like the Oriental Research Institute in Mysuru play a crucial role in the digitisation efforts, offering facilities and expertise to facilitate the process.
Through the Gyan Bharatam Mission, India aims to rejuvenate its manuscript heritage, ensuring that these invaluable cultural treasures are preserved and made accessible for future generations.
Kutos : AI Assistant!
