Executive Summary:
The Ministry of Culture is undertaking special measures to document, conserve, and digitize manuscripts from Tamil Nadu under the Gyan Bharatam Mission, following the earlier National Mission for Manuscripts (NMM). A National Digital Repository has been announced. An amount of Rs. 1,64,79,000 has been allocated for institutions in Tamil Nadu.
Key Points / Main Content:
* **Manuscript Preservation and Digitization:** The Government is actively working to document, conserve, and digitize manuscripts from Tamil Nadu, including identifying manuscripts and training personnel.
* **National Mission for Manuscripts (NMM):** Under the NMM, 213,902 unique manuscripts were surveyed and documented.
* **Gyan Bharatam Mission:** A National Digital Repository has been announced under the Gyan Bharatam Mission.
* **Stakeholder Engagement:** The Government is addressing concerns of private manuscript holders, including their rights.
* **Funding Allocation:** Rs. 1,64,79,000 has been allocated for institutions in Tamil Nadu (details in Annexure B).
* **Regional Centers:** Multiple institutions, including those in Tamil Nadu, are associated with the Gyan Bharatam Mission.
* **Manuscript Resource Centers (MRC) Data Documented (Annexure A):**
* CPR Institute of Indological Research, Chennai: 17
* Govt. Oriental Manuscripts Library, Madras Univ., Chennai: 67,611
* Institute of Asian Studies, Kanchipuram: 2,398
* Sri Chandrashekharendra Saraswati Viswamahavidyalaya, Kanchipuram: 55,810
* Tanjore Maharaja Serfoji's Saraswati Mahal Library, Thanjavur: 35,901
* Survey Data of Tamil Nadu: 52,165
Impact Analysis:
Institutions in Tamil Nadu:
* Impact: Institutions will receive funding for manuscript documentation and conservation.
* Action Required: Utilize allocated funds for documentation and conservation of manuscripts as per Annexure B.
Private Manuscript Holders:
* Impact: Concerns regarding sharing collections are being addressed by the Government.
* Action Required: Engage with the Government to clarify access policies and legal rights.
Personnel Involved in Manuscript Conservation:
* Impact: Opportunities for training in conservation techniques will be provided.
* Action Required: Participate in available training programs.
Key Entities Referenced
Tamil Nadu: A state in southern India, focus of manuscript preservation efforts.
Gyan Bharatam Mission: A revamped mission focused on manuscripts, successor to the National Manuscripts Mission.
National Manuscripts Mission: Previous mission for surveying, documenting and digitizing manuscripts.
Kanimozhi Karunanidhi: Member of Parliament who asked the question in Lok Sabha.
Gajendra Singh Shekhawat: Minister of Culture and Tourism who provided the answer in Lok Sabha.
Lok Sabha: The lower house of the Parliament of India, where the question was raised and answered.
Union Budget 2025: The annual financial statement of the Government of India for the fiscal year 2025, which announced a National Digital Repository.
Chennai: A city in Tamil Nadu, location of some Manuscripts Resource Centres.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF CULTURE
LOK SABHA
STARRED QUESTION No.209
TO BE ANSWERED ON 04.08.2025
Preservation and Digitisation of Manuscripts in Tamil Nadu
*209 Smt. Kanimozhi Karunanidhi
Will the Minister of CULTURE be pleased to state:
a) whether the Government proposes to take special measures to document, digitize, and
conserve manuscripts from Tamil Nadu and if so, the details thereof;
b) the details of the number of manuscripts from Tamil Nadu already surveyed,
documented, or digitized under the previous National Manuscripts Mission and to be
prioritized under the revamped Gyan Bharatam Mission;
c) whether the Government proposes to address the concerns of private manuscript
holders who are hesitant to share their collections due to lack of access policy and
legal clarity;
d) the details of the funds allocated under this Mission specifically for Tamil Nadu,
Institutions-wise; and
e) whether any regional centres or digitization hubs are being planned in the State and if
so, the details thereof?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF CULTURE AND TOURISM
SHRI GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT
(a) to (e): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (A) to (E) TO LOK SABHA
STARRED QUESTION NUMBER 209 FOR REPLY ON 04.08.2025 REGARDING
PRESERVATION AND DIGITISATION OF MANUSCRIPTS IN TAMIL NADU
ASKED BY SMT. KANIMOZHI KARUNANIDHI:
(a) Yes, the Government is taking special measures to document, conserve, and digitise
manuscripts from Tamil Nadu.These efforts include the identification of manuscripts,
training of personnel in conservation techniques, and establishing strategic
partnerships with academic and cultural institutions across the States including Tamil
Nadu.
(b) Under the earlier National Mission for Manuscripts (NMM), 213902 unique verified
numbers of manuscripts were surveyed and documented. However, digitization work
has not happened in the past. Under the Gyan Bharatam, a National Digital
Repository has been announced in the Union Budget 2025(Annexure A).
(c) Yes, the Government is actively engaged with all manuscript stakeholders to address
their concerns including their rights over the manuscripts.
(d) An amount of Rs.1,64,79,000/- has been dedicatedly allocated for institutions in
Tamil Nadu. The details are given as per (Annexure B).
(e) Multiple institutions across the country including in the state of Tamil Nadu have
been associated under the Gyan Bharatam.Annexure – A
Annexure referred to in reply to part (b) of Lok Sabha Starred Question No.209 for
04.08.2025
Manuscripts Resource Centre (MRC) Tamil Nadu
Sl No. Name & Address of MRC Total Data Documented
1 CPR Institute of Indological Research 17
1 Eldam Road, Alwarpet, Chennai
2 Govt. Oriental Manuscripts Library, Madras Univ. 67,611
Campus, Chennai
3 Institute of Asian Studies 2,398
CemenceryTambaram, Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu
5 Sri 55,810
ChandrashekharendraSaraswatiViswamahavidyalaya,
Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu
6 Tanjore Maharaja Serfoji’sSaraswati Mahal Library, 35,901
Tanjavur, Tamil Nadu
7 Survey Data of Tamil Nadu 52,165
Total No of Data 2,13,902Annexure – B
Annexure referred to in reply to part (d) of Lok Sabha Starred Question No.209 for 04.08.2025
The details of funds allocated for Tamil Nadu institutions under this Mission
(Rs. In Lakh)
Financial
For Documentation of Manuscripts For Conservation of Manuscripts
year
Government Government Thanjavur Kanchipuram, Governme Government Thanjavur Tamil
Oriental Museum, Maharaja Sri nt Oriental Museum, Maharaja University,
Manuscript Egmore Serfoji'sSa Chandrashekh Manuscript Egmore Serfoji'sSaras Thanjavur
Libarary, raswathi arendraSaras Libarary, wathi Mahal
Chennai Mahal watiViswama Chennai Library,
Library, havidyalaya Thanjavur
Thanjavur
2002-03 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
2003-04 0.00 0.00 3.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
2004-05 0.00 2.40 3.00 3.00 0.00 1.50 1.50 0.00
2005-06 0.00 0.00 0.00 3.00 0.00 2.50 0.00 0.00
2006-07 0.00 2.17 3.00 3.00 0.00 2.68 1.50 0.00
2007-08 0.00 0.00 0.00 3.00 0.00 1.00 0.00 0.00
2008-09 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 3.00 1.50 0.00
2009-10 0.00 0.00 0.00 3.00 0.00 1.50 0.00 0.00
2010-11 0.00 4.50 0.00 2.96 0.00 1.50 0.00 0.00
2011-12 10.11 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 2.27 0.00 0.00
2012-13 3.50 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
2013-14 4.50 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
2014-15 9.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
2015-16 9.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
2016-17 12.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
2017-18 4.50 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
2018-19 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 2.50
2019-20 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 7.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
2020-21 1.50 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 2.50
2021-22 2.45 0.00 0.00 0.00 5.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
2022-23 1.50 0.00 0.00 0.00 9.70 0.00 0.00 3.60
2023-24 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 4.00
2024-25 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 7.95 0.00 0.00 8.00
Total 58.06 9.07 9.00 17.96 29.65 15.95 4.50 20.60
Total = 164.79 lakh