Manuscript preservation in J&K gains momentum
16/03/2026
Jammu, March 16 (KIP)-The Department of Archives, Archaeology & Museums in collaboration with Indira Gandhi National Centre for Arts (IGNCA), Regional Centre J&K, today organised a 3 day workshop-cum-Training program on ‘GYAN BHARATAM MISSION’ and launch of National Survey of Manuscripts at Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine (IIIM), Canal Road Jammu.
Principal Secretary, Culture Department, Brij Mohan Sharma, highlighted various aspects of implementation of the central sponsored flagship programme besides importance of this awareness cum training programme regarding survey and conservation of manuscripts.
The Principal Secretary said that this Government of India's flagship programme was launched by the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi in September 2025 at an International Conference in Delhi. The program aims to identify, catalogue and digitize approximately one crore manuscripts across the country and conserve them using scientific technology, making the documents accessible in the public domain for scholars worldwide.
He observed that around 35,000 manuscripts have been identified in Jammu and Kashmir, with cataloguing complete. Besides, digitization is underway at private institutions and Kashmir University's Persian Department, accelerated by a Government of India cluster centre.
Director, Archives, Archeology and Museum, Kuldeep Krishan Sidha highlighted the objectives of launching of GYAN Bharatam and National Manuscripts Survey. He also elucidated the key activities including conservation, capacity building, technology and digitization, linguistic and translation, research, publication and awareness. He highlighted various other aspects regarding National Manuscripts Survey, scope of the Survey, organisational support, survey execution process, role of responsibility, ethical guidelines, monitoring and other important aspects of the programme.
Dr Jahagir Iqbal, HOD and Cluster Head Gyan Bharatam Mission, Department of Persian, Kashmir University, gave comprehensive detail about the roadmap to the concerned officers and participants about how to collect the information about Manuscripts and its conservation during surveys in their respective areas.
Coordinator, Regional Cluster Centre, Gyan Bharatam Shashvat Art Gallery, Museum and Manuscript Library, Upper Bazar Jammu, Dr Suresh Abrol, also spoke and encouraged the participants about the working in the field of survey and conservation, documentation and digitization of Manuscripts under Gyan Bharatam Mission.
Professor and Head (Conservation), IGNCA, Professor Achal Pandya, also gave a PowerPoint Presentation regarding how to collect manuscripts and its conservation and gave awareness on other aspects of the survey program.
The participants raised and highlighted queries about different aspects of the survey program.
Among others, Assistant Professor Dr Satyender Kumari, IGNCA; Project Managers, IGNCA, Jitendra Chauhan and Dr Nitin Kumar; Deputy Director, Archive, Archaeology and Museum, Dr Sangeeta Sharma besides senior officers of concerned departments and other stakeholders were present in the program.