The Union Budget 2025 has introduced the Gyan Bharatam Mission, a major initiative aimed at surveying, documenting, and conserving India’s vast manuscript heritage. This ambitious project aims to cover over one crore manuscripts, ensuring their preservation and accessibility for future generations.
Expanding the Scope of Manuscript Conservation
The mission seeks to identify and document manuscripts across academic institutions, museums, libraries, and private collections throughout the country. Given India’s rich literary and cultural history, manuscripts hold immense value, containing knowledge spanning various disciplines, including philosophy, science, medicine, and art.
A Boost to the National Manuscripts Mission (NMM)
The Gyan Bharatam Mission appears to be a significant enhancement of the existing National Manuscripts Mission (NMM). Established under the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA), the NMM has played a crucial role in preserving and digitizing ancient texts. However, due to limited funding, its operations have remained restricted.
The latest budget allocation signals a shift in priorities, with the funding for NMM increasing from ₹3.5 crore to ₹60 crore. This suggests a potential restructuring, possibly transforming NMM into an autonomous body for greater efficiency and outreach.
Why Manuscript Preservation Matters
Manuscripts are not just historical artifacts; they are repositories of knowledge that can provide insights into India’s cultural, philosophical, and scientific advancements over centuries. However, many of these ancient texts are fragile, poorly stored, or inaccessible to researchers and the public.
By strengthening manuscript conservation efforts, Gyan Bharatam Mission aims to:
– Safeguard rare and endangered texts from damage and loss.
– Digitize manuscripts to make them more accessible to scholars and the general public.
– Encourage research and knowledge dissemination based on India’s historical texts.
Budget Allocation and Cultural Priorities
The overall budget for the Ministry of Culture has seen an increase of approximately ₹100 crore, bringing the total outlay to ₹3,360.96 crore. The key allocations include:
– Archaeological Survey of India (ASI): ₹1,278.49 crore (slight increase).
– National Libraries and Archives: ₹156.55 crore.
– Museums (National Museum, National Gallery of Modern Art): ₹126.63 crore.
However, funding for centenaries, anniversaries, and international cultural collaborations has been significantly reduced, indicating a shift in priorities towards heritage conservation over commemorative events.
Future Prospects
The Gyan Bharatam Mission represents a renewed commitment to preserving India’s intellectual and cultural legacy. If implemented effectively, this initiative could revolutionize manuscript conservation, enabling greater academic research, cultural awareness, and national pride in India’s rich literary heritage.