Nation gears up for global manuscript showcase
India’s First Global Meet on Manuscript Heritage Set for September 2025: India will host its inaugural international conference on manuscript heritage from September 11 to 13, 2025, at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi. This unique event, spearheaded by the Ministry of Culture, aims to highlight and protect India’s manuscript treasures. The announcement on Guru Purnima underscores India’s deep cultural reverence for the transmission of knowledge.
Embracing global participation
The event titled “Reclaiming India’s Knowledge Legacy Through Manuscript Heritage” is expected to bring together over 500 participants, including 75 renowned experts and researchers from India and overseas. The conference will adopt a hybrid format to encourage both virtual and in-person engagement.
India’s manuscript wealth—estimated at over 10 million texts in various classical and regional languages—covers subjects such as medicine, philosophy, science, religion, arts, and more.
Static GK fact: India’s manuscript tradition spans thousands of years, preserved across palm leaves, birch bark, and handmade paper in scripts like Devanagari, Grantha, Modi, Sharada, and others.
Symbolic date with a message
The opening day, September 11, is historically significant. It marks Swami Vivekananda’s iconic address at the 1893 Parliament of the World’s Religions in Chicago, a powerful reminder of India’s age-old values of wisdom and global cooperation.
Static GK tip: Swami Vivekananda’s speech is commemorated globally for introducing Indian spirituality and philosophy to the West.
Rare manuscripts and innovation on display
Visitors will get the opportunity to view rare and historic manuscripts, including those listed under UNESCO’s Memory of the World programme. There will also be interactive demonstrations on manuscript restoration, cultural performances, and showcases from startups developing tech solutions for manuscript conservation.
A key highlight is the Manuscript Research Partner (MRP) initiative, which will provide hands-on training through script workshops, fostering academic interest among youth in manuscript study.
Bridging tradition with technology
The event will also explore how emerging technologies are influencing the field. Topics such as AI-driven archival systems, ethical preservation practices, and the use of manuscripts in contemporary education will be discussed. Experts will present papers on palaeography, conservation techniques, and digitisation strategies.
Scholars interested in contributing to the academic sessions can send their research papers or case studies by August 10, 2025.
Declaration to guide future steps
One of the most anticipated outcomes of the event is the release of the New Delhi Declaration on Manuscript Heritage, which will outline strategic actions for manuscript conservation, digitisation, translation, and accessibility across nations.
Static GK fact: India’s National Mission for Manuscripts (NMM) has been working since 2003 to catalogue and preserve endangered manuscripts, with over 4.5 million documented so far.
Static Usthadian Current Affairs Table
India’s First Global Meet on Manuscript Heritage Set for September 2025:
| Topic | Detail |
| Conference Dates | September 11–13, 2025 |
| Venue | Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi |
| Announced By | Ministry of Culture, Government of India |
| Scholars Participating | Over 500 delegates, including 75 prominent scholars |
| Key Programme | Manuscript Research Partner (MRP) programme |
| Exhibition Feature | UNESCO Memory of the World manuscripts |
| AI Use | Focus on digitisation, ethical conservation, and AI-based archiving |
| Legacy Date Significance | Swami Vivekananda’s Chicago speech on September 11, 1893 |
| Research Paper Deadline | August 10, 2025 |
| Submission Link | https://gbm-moc.in |
