Page 20 - Mann ki Baat (English)

Signatures of Time:

Manuscripts

A Digital Map of Indian Heritage

“India’s strength lies in its millions of people.” These words of
Honourable Prime Minister Narendra Modi have become the foundation
of a new nationwide mission to preserve India’s great culture and rich
heritage. This initiative is called the ‘Gyan Bharatam Survey’.
Today, across the country, there exist millions of invaluable
manuscripts that carry the knowledge of our ancestors, written on palm
leaves, birch bark, copper plates, and paper. Now, through a remarkable
blend of modern technology and public participation, these are being
digitally preserved via ‘Gyan Bharatam App’.
People from every corner of the nation are sharing photographs
of manuscripts on this app and collectively creating a ‘visual map’ of
India’s knowledge.
How is this initiative bringing together the diverse scripts and ancient
knowledge of the entire country onto a single digital platform? Let’s take
a look at some inspiring examples:
Buddhist Philosophy Being Preserved in the Himalayan Valleys
The ancient Hemis Monastery in Ladakh is a vast and rich treasure
trove of Tibetan manuscripts. It preserves knowledge ranging from

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