India to Host Manuscript Heritage Conference, Pg10

Key Highlights:

• Conference dates from September 11–13, 2025, in New Delhi.
• Event titled “Reclaiming India’s knowledge legacy through manuscript heritage.”
• As a part of launch of “Gyan Bharatam Mission”.
• Commemorates Swami Vivekananda’s 1893 Chicago address.
• Global participation expected, including scholars, cultural custodians, and thought leaders.
• Features include exhibitions, UNESCO-inscribed manuscript displays, live demos, and workshops.

Detailed Insights:

• The event aims to revive India’s intellectual and spiritual traditions preserved in manuscripts across languages and regions.
• By aligning with Swami Vivekananda’s global address anniversary, it emphasizes India’s universal civilizational vision.
• The Gyan Bharatam Mission intends to connect manuscript heritage with contemporary education and research frameworks.
• Exhibiting UNESCO Memory of the World manuscripts showcases India’s global contribution to cultural documentation and preservation.
• The conference supports India’s soft power diplomacy through cultural engagement and knowledge diplomacy.

Key Concepts Involved:

• UNESCO Memory of the World Programme: A global initiative to preserve and disseminate documentary heritage of universal value.
• Gyan Bharatam Mission: A revamped national initiative for identifying, conserving, digitizing, and sharing India’s vast manuscript wealth. It was announced in Union Budget 2025–26. 
• Manuscript Preservation: Involves conservation, digitization, and translation to retain fragile written records from ancient times.