Executive Summary:
The Ministry of Culture, Government of India, will host the first-ever international Manuscript Heritage Conference in September 2025, titled "Reclaiming India's Knowledge Legacy Through Manuscript Heritage." This conference commemorates the 132nd anniversary of Swami Vivekananda's Chicago address. The conference aims to explore, preserve, and promote India’s diverse manuscript heritage.
Key Points / Main Content:
Conference Overview:
• The conference is titled "Reclaiming India's Knowledge Legacy Through Manuscript Heritage."
• It will be held in September 2025.
• The conference commemorates the 132nd Anniversary of Swami Vivekananda's Chicago address on September 11, 1893.
• The conference intends to unite scholars, historians, manuscript experts, and cultural practitioners globally.
Conference Themes:
• Decipherment of Ancient Scripts: Indus, Gilgit, and Sankha.
• Survey, Documentation, Metadata Standards, and Digital Archiving.
• Manuscriptology and Paleography, Codicology.
• Digitization Tools, Platforms, and Protocols: HTR, AI, IIIF.
• Conservation and Restoration of Manuscripts.
• Decoding Manuscripts: Pathways to the Indian Knowledge System.
• Manuscripts as Tools of Cultural Diplomacy.
• Legal and Ethical Frameworks for Manuscript Preservation and Access.
Manuscript Preservation Measures:
• Establishment and support of institutions like the Gyan Bharatam for manuscript documentation, conservation, digitization, and publication.
• Organization of seminars, workshops, and conferences to raise awareness and encourage research.
• Support for regional and local efforts to document and preserve manuscripts.
• National and International MoUs with Vietnam, Thailand, and Japan
Manuscript Digitization and Centers:
• 3.50 lakh manuscripts have been digitized since 2003.
• 92 Manuscript Conservation Centres have been established (42 are active).
• 93 Manuscript Resource Centres exist (37 are active).
Impact Analysis:
Scholars, Historians, Manuscript Experts, and Cultural Practitioners:
Impact: Opportunity to participate in an international conference focused on manuscript heritage, share knowledge, and collaborate on preservation efforts.
Action Required: Prepare to attend the conference in September 2025 and contribute to discussions and research related to manuscript heritage.
Gyan Bharatam and Similar Institutions:
Impact: Continued support and resources for documenting, conserving, digitizing, and publishing rare manuscripts.
Action Required: Continue ongoing efforts in manuscript preservation and contribute to the conference.
Regional and Local Organizations:
Impact: Support for local manuscript documentation and preservation efforts.
Action Required: Continue documenting and preserving manuscripts in local languages and scripts, and participate in the conference.
Government of India (Ministry of Culture):
Impact: Responsible for hosting the conference and continuing manuscript preservation efforts.
Action Required: Organize and execute the international conference in September 2025, and maintain support for manuscript preservation initiatives.
Vietnam, Thailand, and Japan:
Impact: Collaboration with India on manuscript preservation through existing MoUs.
Action Required: Continue to collaborate with India on manuscript preservation and potentially participate in the conference.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Culture: The Indian government ministry responsible for the administration of arts, culture and heritage in India.
International Manuscript Heritage Conference: A conference focused on preserving and promoting India's manuscript heritage, titled 'Reclaiming India's Knowledge Legacy Through Manuscript Heritage'.
Swami Vivekananda: An Indian Hindu monk and philosopher, whose Chicago address in 1893 is commemorated by the conference.
Chicago, Illinois: The city in the United States where Swami Vivekananda delivered his address at the Parliament of the World's Religions in 1893.
Gyan Bharatam Mission: An initiative to document, conserve, digitize, and publish rare and unpublished manuscripts across India.
Manuscript Resource Centres: Centers established to facilitate the preservation and study of manuscripts.
Manuscript Conservation Centres: Centers dedicated to the conservation and restoration of manuscripts.
Parliament of the World's Religions: The event held in Chicago in 1893 where Swami Vivekananda gave his historic address.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF CULTURE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 3480
TO BE ANSWERED ON 11.08.2025
INTERNATIONAL MANUSCRIPT HERITAGE CONFERENCE
3480. Smt. D K Aruna:
Shri Chamala Kiran Kumar Reddy:
Shri Eatala Rajender:
Smt. PoonambenHematbhaiMaadam:
Will the Minister of CULTURE be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government proposes to host first-ever international Manuscript
Heritage Conference titled ‘Reclaiming India’s Knowledge Legacy Through
Manuscript Heritage’ in September, 2025 to commemorate Swami
Vivekananda’s Chicago address (September 11, 1893) as a part of Gyan
Bharatam Mission;
(b) if so, the details thereof, including the key themes and focus areas of the
conference;
(c) whether the Government has taken measures to preserve and promote
India’s rich manuscript heritage; and
(d) if so, the details thereof, including the total number of manuscripts digitized
and the total number of Manuscript Resource Centres and Manuscript
Conservation Centres set up?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF CULTURE AND TOURISM
(SHRI GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT)
(a) Yes, the Government proposes to host the first-ever international Manuscript
Heritage Conference titled ‘Reclaiming India’s Knowledge Legacy Through
Manuscript Heritage’ in September 2025. This event is planned to
commemorate the 132nd Anniversary of Swami Vivekananda's historic
address at the Parliament of the World's Religions held in Chicago on
September 11, 1893.
(b) The conference aims to bring together scholars, historians, manuscript
experts, and cultural practitioners from across the world to explore, preserve,
and promote India’s vast and diverse Manuscript Heritage. Key themes and
focus areas of the conference include:
1. Decipherment of Ancient Scripts: Indus, Gilgit and Sankha
2. Survey, Documentation, Metadata Standards and Digital Archiving3. Manuscriptology and Paleography, Codicology
4. Digitization Tools, Platforms, and Protocols (HTR, AI, IIIF)
5. Conservation and Restoration of Manuscripts
6. Decoding Manuscripts: Pathways to the Indian Knowledge System
7. Manuscripts as Tools of Cultural Diplomacy
8. Legal and Ethical Frameworks for Manuscript Preservation and Access
(c) Yes, the Government has taken several measures to preserve and promote
India’s rich manuscript heritage. Such as:
1. Establishing and supporting institutions like the ‘Gyan Bharatam’ that works
towards the Documentation, Conservation, Digitization, and Publication of rare
and Unpublished Manuscripts across the country.
2. Organizing seminars, workshops, and conferences to raise awareness about
the importance of manuscript heritage and to encourage research and
collaboration.
3. Supporting regional and local efforts to document and preserve manuscripts
in various languages and scripts.
4. National and International MoUs with Vietnam, Thailand, and Japan
These initiatives aim to safeguard India’s invaluable manuscript legacy and
ensure it continues to contribute to the nation’s cultural and intellectual
heritage.
(d) Since 2003, a total of 3.50 lakh Manuscripts have been digitized. There are 92
Manuscript Conservation Centres established so far, of which 42 are
presently active. Additionally, there are 93 Manuscript Resource Centres, with
37 currently active.
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