Unearthing India’s Past: The Gyan Bharatam Mission

The Gyan Bharatam Mission, a cultural initiative spearheaded by the Union Ministry of Culture, has unearthed a trove of ancient Indian manuscripts in Delhi. Among these are a 300-year-old illustrated Shrimad Bhagwat manuscript, a rare Jain manuscript, and a 250-year-old medical text. This discovery was made during a city-wide survey aiming to identify and document unregistered manuscripts, with the Delhi government's Archives Department playing a pivotal role.

The survey, which commenced on April 16 and runs until June 15, involves students and scholars from local universities who are actively visiting sites across Delhi. Their mission is to engage with families preserving these manuscripts, gathering data to enrich a national database. Measures such as radio jingles and city hoardings are being planned to raise public awareness and participation.

Officials clarified that genuine manuscripts must be handwritten, over 75 years old, and have literary significance. Training sessions are already in progress to equip surveyors with the necessary skills. The drive is part of a broader strategy to digitize, conserve, and preserve manuscripts. Ultimately, the mission aims to safeguard India's undocumented manuscript heritage, ensuring that traditional knowledge remains accessible for future generations.

(With inputs from agencies.)