New Delhi: The Ministry of Culture launched the landmark national initiative, Gyan Bharatam, dedicated to preserving, digitising, and disseminating India’s rich manuscript heritage. The first-ever Gyan Bharatam International Conference held from September 11-13, 2025, at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi, gathered over 1,100 scholars, experts, institutions, and cultural practitioners globally to forge a collaborative roadmap for safeguarding India’s manuscript wealth.
Conference Highlights and Leadership Participation
The conference featured the esteemed presence of the Prime Minister on September 12, who attended working group presentations and addressed the assembly. The three-day event concluded with a valedictory session chaired by the Union Culture Minister, Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat. Eminent dignitaries included Shri Vivek Agarwal (Secretary, Ministry of Culture), Prof. Manjul Bhargava (Fields Medalist), and leading scholars who deliberated on comprehensive strategies for preserving and sharing India’s knowledge legacy.
The Delhi Declaration and Gyan Setu Challenge
The formal reading and adoption of the Delhi Declaration at the conference’s conclusion marked a collective resolve to preserve India as the world’s premier hub for manuscript heritage by 2047. The declaration envisions awakening a people’s movement (‘Jan Andolan’) to involve citizens, scholars, students, and elders in manuscript preservation, digitisation, research, and global dissemination. Alongside, the Gyan Setu AI Innovation Challenge was launched, inviting AI-driven solutions for cataloguing, deciphering, and digitising ancient manuscripts, empowering a futuristic preservation framework.
Minister’s Vision and Mission Goals
Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat emphasized that Gyan Bharatam transcends academic efforts, seeking to make manuscripts a living legacy connecting with the public. He outlined that the mission aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of Viksit Bharat @2047, aiming to promote national pride by making manuscripts accessible through modern technology and social media. The minister called for integrated efforts to preserve, publish, and make India’s intellectual heritage relevant to every Indian.
Future Pathways and Cultural Impact
The Secretary, Shri Vivek Agarwal, highlighted manuscripts as invaluable repositories of human civilization’s journey and knowledge. Dr. Sachchidanand Joshi underscored the conference’s transformation into a people’s movement, inspired by the dedicated participation of many young scholars. The mission’s multifaceted vision includes cataloguing, restoration, digital preservation, research, education, global collaboration, and public engagement, setting India on a trajectory for cultural leadership worldwide.
Conclusion
The Gyan Bharatam initiative represents a transformative cultural renaissance, blending India’s rich manuscript heritage with cutting-edge technology and public participation. Through the Delhi Declaration and innovative challenges, India commits to securing its manuscript legacy as a global intellectual beacon, inspiring knowledge, creativity, and cultural unity for future generations.
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Source: PIB
