Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday praised the work of Mani Maran, a resident of Thanjavur in Tamil Nadu, for his efforts in preserving and teaching the ancient art of reading Tamil palm leaf manuscripts.
Speaking during his monthly radio address ‘Mann Ki Baat’, the Prime Minister said Maran’s initiative reflects how individuals can contribute to protecting India’s intellectual and cultural heritage.
“Friends, one such inspiring personality is Mani Maran ji, who is from Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu. He felt that if today’s generation does not learn to read Tamil manuscripts, this precious heritage will be lost in the future,” PM Modi said.
“To address this, he started evening classes, where students, working youth, researchers – everyone began to learn,” the PM added.
In an effort to keep the tradition alive, Maran began conducting free evening classes for students, working professionals, and researchers, teaching them to read Tamil Suvadiyiyal — the traditional script used in palm leaf manuscripts.
These centuries-old manuscripts contain knowledge across disciplines such as science, medicine, music, and philosophy. According to the Prime Minister, many of Maran’s students have not only become proficient in reading the texts but have also begun research into traditional medicine based on them.
PM Modi underlined the importance of preserving such texts, calling them “chapters of the soul of India” that must be passed on to future generations.
To support such initiatives, the Centre has launched the Gyan Bharatam Mission, announced in this year’s Union Budget. As part of the mission, ancient manuscripts will be digitised and made accessible through a National Digital Repository.
The Prime Minister also called on citizens to participate in such preservation efforts by connecting with the Ministry of Culture or the MyGov platform. “If such efforts are made across the country, our ancient knowledge will become part of the consciousness of the new generation,” he said.
— IANS