India to Host Global Manuscript Heritage Summit

India to Host Global Manuscript Heritage Conference

Why in the News?

India will host its first International Conference on Manuscript Heritage from September 11–13 in New Delhi. Organised under the Gyan Bharatam Mission, it aims to revive manuscript traditions, foster research, and showcase India’s knowledge legacy to the world.

About the Conference and Its Theme:

• The International Manuscript Heritage Conference will be held in New Delhi from September 11 to 13, 2025.
• Titled “Reclaiming India’s Knowledge Legacy through Manuscript Heritage,” the event celebrates India’s ancient wisdom.
• It commemorates Swami Vivekananda’s 1893 Chicago address, marking India’s intellectual and spiritual vision globally.
• The event is part of the launch of the Gyan Bharatam Mission, announced in the Union Budget 2025–26.

Objectives and Vision:

• The Gyan Bharatam Mission builds on the earlier National Mission for Manuscripts (2003).
• It aims to preserve, digitise, and disseminate manuscript knowledge using modern technologies.
• The mission also seeks to develop new scholars and institutions to take forward India’s manuscript tradition.
• The initiative aligns with India’s broader efforts to reclaim and revive civilisational knowledge systems.

Key Features and Participation:

• The conference will feature global scholars, cultural custodians, and Indian dignitaries.
• Events include:

○ Exhibitions on Indian manuscripts and UNESCO’s Memory of the World manuscripts.

○ Workshops, live demonstrations, and start-up showcases in the heritage-tech space.

• The Union Culture Ministry has invited original research papers, case studies, and conceptual papers for presentation.