Modi Advocates Manuscript Digitisation

On September 12, 2025, Prime Minister Narendra Modi emphasized the importance of digitizing India’s ancient manuscripts during the International Conference titled 'Reclaiming India’s Knowledge Legacy through Manuscript Heritage.' This initiative is part of the launch of the Gyan Bharatam Mission aimed at preserving and disseminating India's vast repository of traditional knowledge embedded in its manuscripts.

Key Details:

• Gyan Bharatam Mission: Announced by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman during her budget speech, with further elaboration by PM Modi in his Independence Day address. It aims to create a digital repository to preserve ancient manuscripts and promote knowledge sharing.
• Manuscript Collection: India possesses approximately one crore (10 million) manuscripts, with over 10 lakh (1 million) already digitized.
• Intellectual Protection: The Prime Minister highlighted that the digitization process can aid in combating "intellectual piracy," a phenomenon where traditional knowledge has been appropriated and patented by others.
• Collaborative Efforts: Modi praised the collaboration between private organizations and the government to facilitate the digitization process. He also mentioned partnerships with countries such as Thailand, Vietnam, and Mongolia, which have cultural ties with India and house similar manuscripts.
• Cultural Significance: Modi remarked on the historical significance of these manuscripts, reflecting India’s enduring commitment to knowledge, science, and learning. He described India as a "living stream" of cultural identity, asserting that its history transcends the mere rise and fall of dynasties.
• Conference Participation: The conference featured over 1,100 participants, including academics, government officials, research scholars, students, and professionals from various fields.
• Task Forces: Eight groups were established to tackle critical areas including manuscript conservation, digitization technologies, metadata standards, legal frameworks, cultural diplomacy, and ancient script decipherment.

Objectives:

• To accelerate the preservation of ancient manuscripts through digitization.
• To enhance the accessibility and knowledge embedded in these historical texts.
• To foster a collaborative environment for stakeholders involved in manuscript preservation and digitization efforts.

The launch of the Gyan Bharatam portal, a dedicated digital repository platform, is expected to serve as a critical tool in achieving the mission's objectives, aiming to promote the rich heritage of traditional knowledge that India holds.

Bullet Points:

• PM Modi advocates for the digitization of ancient manuscripts at an international conference on September 12, 2025.
• The initiative is part of the Gyan Bharatam Mission, aimed at preserving and sharing India's traditional knowledge.
• India holds around one crore manuscripts, with over 10 lakh already digitized.
• The digitization effort is intended to combat intellectual piracy and share India's heritage globally.
• Collaboration between private sectors and government agencies is emphasized.
• The conference involves more than 1,100 participants across diverse academic and professional fields.
• Eights task groups have been formed to address various aspects of manuscript preservation and digitization.
• The Gyan Bharatam portal serves as a digital repository to facilitate access to India's ancient knowledge.