'Granth Kutir' for classical Indian books, manuscripts opens, Pg10

Key Highlights:

• Granth Kutir, a library housing 2,300 books and manuscripts in 11 classical Indian languages, was inaugurated at the Rashtrapati Bhawan by President Droupadi Murmu.
• The library aims to promote India's cultural, philosophical, literary, and intellectual heritage, replacing colonial-era books and artifacts.
• The collection includes scriptures, epics, and philosophical works in languages like Tamil, Sanskrit, and Pali.
• The initiative aligns with the Gyan Bharatam Mission, focused on preserving and digitizing India's manuscript heritage.

Detailed Insights:

• Granth Kutir is part of a broader effort to decolonize the Rashtrapati Bhavan, following the removal of British Aide-de-Camps portraits and their replacement with portraits of Param Vir Chakra awardees.
• The library houses manuscripts and books covering diverse subjects, including epics, philosophy, linguistics, history, governance, science, and devotional literature, along with the Constitution of India in classical languages.
• Former colonial-era books, including works related to Lord Curzon, have been relocated and digitized for research purposes.
• The Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA) is providing expertise for the conservation, documentation, and display of manuscripts at Granth Kutir.
• President Murmu emphasized the importance of classical languages and their contributions to science, yoga, ayurveda, and literature, citing texts like Tirukural and Arthashastra.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Gyan Bharatam Mission: A Union government initiative to preserve, digitize, and disseminate India's vast manuscript heritage.
• Decolonization: The process of shedding colonial influences and promoting indigenous culture and heritage.
• Classical Languages: Ancient languages like Sanskrit, Tamil, Pali, Prakrit, and others that have significantly contributed to Indian culture and knowledge systems.