A Landmark Return: Wellcome Collection Restores Jain Manuscripts

The Wellcome Collection, a leading UK museum, is returning over 2,000 Jain manuscripts believed to be the largest collection outside South Asia. This landmark move follows collaboration with the Institute of Jainology and involves the University of Birmingham.

Spanning centuries, the collection includes texts on religion, literature, and medicine, with profound links to the Indian independence movement and critiques of British colonial rule. Highlights feature a rare copy of the Kalpasutra and an early medical manuscript in Hindi.

An agreement places the collection under the Dharmanath Network in Jain Studies at the University of Birmingham, opening it to researchers skilled in translation. The return signals a commitment to ethical restitution, highlighting the Wellcome Collection's dedication to inclusivity and cultural heritage.

(With inputs from agencies.)