Lok Sabha Question No. 3480 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-08-11
Subject: International Manuscript Heritage Conference
Ministry: CULTURE
Asked by: Shri Eatala Rajender, Smt. D K Aruna, Shri Chamala Kiran Kumar Reddy, Smt. Poonamben Hematbhai Maadam

## 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 Archiving
3.  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
- 1.

(c) Yes, the Government has taken several measures to preserve and promote India's rich manuscript heritage. Such as: 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 are presently active. Additionally, there are 93 Manuscript Resource Centres, with

- Manuscript Conservation Centres established so far, of which 42 37 currently active.

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