Kohima, April 27 (MExN): The Department of Art and Culture, Government of Nagaland, has launched a state-wide manuscript survey under the Gyan Bharatam Mission, a national initiative of the Ministry of Culture.
The mission aims to identify, document and create a comprehensive national database of manuscripts and historically significant records across the country, with a view to preserving India’s documentary heritage and traditional knowledge systems.
Officials said many valuable manuscripts and records remain scattered across institutions, religious centres, community repositories and private collections, with a large number yet to be documented.
In Nagaland, documentary heritage has a distinct character, as much of the state’s historical knowledge has traditionally been preserved outside formal archival systems.
Such materials are often found in church archives, missionary records, village institutions, early translations, customary records and private family collections, the department said.
The ongoing survey seeks to systematically identify these materials and document their details through a national digital platform.
The department has appealed to institutions, organisations and individuals to cooperate by sharing information about manuscripts or old records in their possession.
It clarified that the exercise is limited to documentation and recording of information and does not involve removal or transfer of materials from their custodians.
Officials stressed that public participation is crucial for the successful implementation of the mission and for ensuring that Nagaland’s documentary heritage is properly identified, documented and preserved.
