India’s 1st Manuscript Mapping Drive:
The Ministry of Culture has launched a first-of-its-kind three-month nationwide survey to map India’s manuscript heritage.
- The exercise aims to curb intellectual piracy by digitising India’s vast manuscript heritage, which includes the world’s largest collection of about 1 crore manuscripts.
- The survey will be conducted from the district level upwards to locate manuscripts across the country and create a consolidated national database.
- The collected data will be compiled into a national digital repository under the Gyan Bharatam Mission.
- The initiative aims to preserve, digitise and promote India’s vast manuscript heritage, enhancing accessibility for research and safeguarding cultural knowledge.
- Manuscripts from institutions, collections and individual custodians will be geotagged for conservation, preservation and digitisation needs.
- Gyan Bharatam app will be used by survey teams to upload details, with further standardised digitisation to make them widely accessible.
- The initiative aligns with the New Delhi Declaration (Gyan Bharatam Conference) and supports the vision of showcasing India’s culture, literature and consciousness.
- Survey will be conducted through state-level committees chaired by the Chief Secretary and district-level committees chaired by the District Magistrate.
