Union Ministry of Culture will host the first-ever Global Manuscript Heritage Conference from September 11–13, 2025, at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi. This three-day international event is titled “Reclaiming India’s Knowledge Legacy Through Manuscript Heritage” and aligns with the launch of the Gyan Bharatam Mission.
The conference will commemorate the historic address of Swami Vivekananda at the Parliament of World’s Religions in Chicago on September 11, 1893, showcasing India’s spiritual and intellectual legacy on a global platform.
About Global Manuscript Heritage Conference
- Organiser: Ministry of Culture, Govt. of India
- Venue: Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi
- Dates: September 11–13, 2025
- Theme: Reclaiming India’s Knowledge Legacy Through Manuscript Heritage
- Key Outcome: Adoption of the New Delhi Declaration on Manuscript Heritage
- Aligned With: Launch of Gyan Bharatam Mission (2024–31)
Conference Features
- International Participation: Global scholars, cultural custodians, and thought leaders
- Exhibitions:
- Indian Manuscripts and Script Heritage
- UNESCO Memory of the World manuscripts
- Live Demonstrations: Conservation and digitisation tools
- Workshops: On paleography, codicology, digitisation (HTR, AI, IIIF)
- Startup Zone: Showcasing innovation in manuscript preservation
- Call for original research on: Digitisation & documentation standards, Legal & ethical custodianship and Script training and conservation
- Future Initiatives:
- Launch of Manuscript Research Partner (MRP) Programme for training and script labs.
- Formation of expert groups on conservation, translation, digital archiving
- Formulate structured action through New Delhi Declaration on Manuscript Heritage.
Significance of September 11
- Marks Swami Vivekananda’s iconic speech (1893) at the Parliament of the World’s Religions, Chicago.
- Reinforces India’s vision of global knowledge sharing and spiritual legacy.
About India’s Manuscript Heritage
- Estimated Manuscripts: Over 10 million
- Subjects Covered: Vedas, Ayurveda, mathematics, astrology, Sanskrit literature, rituals, arts, philosophy
- Preserved in: Temples, monasteries, Jaina Bhandāras, private archives, libraries
- Languages & Scripts: Sanskrit, Pali, Prakrit, Tamil, Persian, Arabic, and regional scripts
Gyan Bharatam Mission (2024–2031) – Overview
| Feature | Details |
| Restructured Version of | National Mission for Manuscripts (NMM), launched in 2003 |
| New Name | Gyan Bharatam Mission (GBM) |
| Administered By | Ministry of Culture, Govt. of India |
| Nodal Agency | IGNCA (Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts) |
| Mission Period | 2024–31 |
| Budget | ₹482.85 crore |
| Objectives | Survey, document, conserve, and digitise India’s manuscript wealth.Promote public and academic access to ancient knowledge.Foster next-gen scholars via research, script labs, outreach. |
| Manuscript Conservation | 49 MCCs (Manuscript Conservation Centres) |
| Documentation Centres | 54 MRCs (Manuscript Resource Centres) |
| Achievements (so far) | Over 5.2 million documented, 3.5 lakh digitised, 1.35 lakh accessible online |
Significance for India
- Establishes India as a global hub for manuscript research and digitisation
- Promotes scholarly collaboration across countries
- Revives interest in traditional knowledge systems and classical texts
- Contributes to cultural diplomacy and preservation of intellectual heritage
Notes:
- Manuscripts are handwritten documents, often of historical or religious significance, created before the invention of the printing press.