The Culture Ministry is set to launch ‘Gyan Bharatam’, a landmark national initiative aimed at preserving, digitising, and disseminating India’s vast manuscript heritage. To mark this historic occasion, the Ministry will host the first-ever Gyan Bharatam International Conference on ‘Reclaiming India’s Knowledge Legacy through Manuscript Heritage’ from September 11 to 13 at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi. The three-day conference will bring together over 1,100 participants, including scholars, experts, institutions, and cultural practitioners from India and abroad, providing a collaborative platform for dialogue and deliberation on safeguarding and reviving India’s manuscript tradition.
At a press briefing held at the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts, Culture Secretary Vivek Agarwal, along with Additional Secretary Amita Prasad Sarbhai and IGNCA Member Secretary Dr. Sachchidanand Joshi, shared details of the initiative. Agarwal described Gyan Bharatam as a visionary national movement, combining preservation, digitisation, scholarship, and global accessibility. He said the mission would act as a tribute to India’s civilisational roots while also advancing the Prime Minister’s vision of a Viksit Bharat by 2047, positioning India as a Vishwa Guru by blending the wisdom of its past with the innovation of its future.
The initiative’s scope is wide-ranging. It will identify and document manuscripts through a nationwide register, conserve and restore fragile texts, and undertake large-scale digitisation using advanced AI-driven tools. A National Digital Repository will be created to provide centralised access to scholars and the public alike. The mission will also promote research, translation, and publication of rare manuscripts, build capacity among scholars and conservators, develop digital platforms, and encourage public participation through collaborative programmes. Strengthening global partnerships and integrating manuscript wisdom into education are also key priorities.
Agarwal underlined that the mission would be implemented with the support of a broad alliance of stakeholders, including libraries, religious institutions, and private custodians, ensuring that manuscripts are both preserved and made accessible for generations to come. He noted that the International Conference will see intensive discussions across eight working groups on themes such as script decipherment, documentation, digitisation, conservation, and legal frameworks.
Highlighting the role of technology, Agarwal revealed that the Gyan-Setu AI Innovation Challenge had already received over 40 entries, with shortlisted innovations set to be showcased during the conference. The Prime Minister will attend the gathering on September 12, where he will review the presentations of the working groups before addressing the delegates. The valedictory session on September 13 will be chaired by the Union Home Minister.