Global Manuscript Heritage Meet to Be Held in New Delhi

India’s knowledge legacy goes global

Global Manuscript Heritage Meet to Be Held in New Delhi: India will host the first-ever Global Conference on Manuscript Heritage from September 11 to 13, 2025, at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi. Organized by the Ministry of Culture, the event was officially announced on Guru Purnima, underlining India’s spiritual traditions and reverence for the guru–śiṣya parampara.

The event, titled “Reclaiming India’s Knowledge Legacy Through Manuscript Heritage”, will bring together over 500 delegates, including 75 international and national scholars, to discuss safeguarding ancient knowledge systems.

Vast manuscript tradition of India

India houses more than 10 million manuscripts in multiple scripts and languages, covering philosophy, medicine, astronomy, rituals, and literature. The aim of the conference is to preserve, digitise, and promote this priceless cultural heritage.

The event will use a hybrid format, enabling both in-person and online participation, expanding global reach and academic collaboration.

Static GK fact: The National Mission for Manuscripts (NMM) was launched in 2003 to identify, conserve, and digitise India’s manuscript wealth.

Cultural vision and symbolic date

The start date, September 11, marks the anniversary of Swami Vivekananda’s 1893 address at the Parliament of the World’s Religions. The symbolism reflects India’s enduring commitment to global peace, spiritual dialogue, and knowledge sharing.

Exhibitions will feature rare manuscripts, including some listed in UNESCO’s Memory of the World Register, along with conservation demonstrations and startup showcases.

Key programmes and new initiatives

One major initiative will be the Manuscript Research Partner (MRP) programme. It will offer training in ancient scripts, digitisation techniques, and palaeography. Workshops and labs will allow young scholars to engage directly with traditional knowledge formats.

Another major outcome will be the New Delhi Declaration on Manuscript Heritage, a document that will guide future preservation, translation, and international collaboration.

Static GK Tip: India has the world’s largest manuscript collection, with texts ranging from Vedas and Upanishads to Ayurvedic treatises and mathematical commentaries.

Tech meets tradition

The conference will explore modern solutions like AI-based archiving, ethical conservation, and manuscript-integrated pedagogy. Participants can submit research papers and case studies by August 10, 2025.

This event marks a turning point in India’s cultural diplomacy, combining technological innovation with ancient wisdom to reclaim its status as a global knowledge leader.

Static Usthadian Current Affairs Table

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