Digitising manuscripts will help curb intellectual piracy, says Modi, Pg6

Key Highlights:

• PM Modi emphasized digitizing Indian manuscripts to prevent intellectual piracy at the Gyan Bharatam International Conference in New Delhi.
• India possesses approximately one crore manuscripts, the world's largest collection, written in nearly 80 languages.
• The government plans to collaborate with universities in Thailand and Vietnam to train scholars in Pali, Lanna, and Cham languages.
• The ₹400-crore Gyan Bharatam project aims to establish an institution similar to the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) for manuscript preservation.
• The conference, attended by around 1,100 participants, includes discussions on decipherment, digitization, conservation, and ethical access to manuscripts.

Detailed Insights:

• Indian manuscripts contain knowledge spanning mathematics, science, medicine, philosophy, art, astronomy, and architecture, reflecting India's intellectual and cultural legacy.
• The Gilgit Manuscript provides historical insights into Kashmir, highlighting the importance of manuscripts in understanding regional histories.
• The government aims to prevent the patenting of traditional knowledge abroad by digitizing manuscripts and ensuring access to authentic sources.
• The Delhi Declaration will be adopted on September 13 to create an alliance for manuscript access, conservation, and digitization across the country.
• The conference includes working groups focusing on ancient scripts like Indus, Gilgit, and Shankha, as well as legal and ethical issues related to manuscript access.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Intellectual Piracy: The unauthorized copying, distribution, or use of intellectual property, such as traditional knowledge documented in manuscripts.
• Manuscript: A handwritten document, especially one of historical or literary significance.
• Digitization: The process of converting information into a digital format.