India will host its inaugural global conference on manuscript heritage from September 11 to 13, 2025, at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi. The Ministry of Culture announced this event to safeguard, promote, and disseminate India’s ancient manuscript wisdom worldwide, emphasizing the country’s guru–śiṣya tradition on Guru Purnima.
Global Effort to Preserve Ancient Wisdom
The three-day international event, named “Reclaiming India’s Knowledge Legacy Through Manuscript Heritage,” will convene over 500 delegates, including 75 renowned scholars and cultural experts from India and beyond. The conference will be held in a hybrid format to facilitate both physical and online attendance for broader global engagement.
- India possesses over 10 million manuscripts in diverse scripts and languages encompassing fields such as philosophy, science, medicine, literature, rituals, and arts.
- The conference aims to safeguard this valuable knowledge and enhance its accessibility to younger generations and researchers worldwide.
A Tribute to India’s Global Vision
The event pays homage to Swami Vivekananda’s historic address at the Parliament of the World’s Religions on September 11, 1893. The chosen date signifies India’s enduring commitment to global harmony and knowledge exchange.
- The conference will showcase rare manuscript exhibitions, including UNESCO’s Memory of the World Register entries.
- Attendees can expect live conservation demonstrations, cultural performances, workshops, and displays by manuscript-focused startups.
Key Initiatives and Programmes
The conference will introduce the Manuscript Research Partner (MRP) programme, offering training, script labs, and practical workshops for young scholars. Additionally, the New Delhi Declaration on Manuscript Heritage will be unveiled, guiding future preservation, translation, and digitization efforts.
- Sessions will cover modern themes like AI-based archiving, ethical conservation, digitization, palaeography, and integrating manuscript knowledge in education.
- Researchers interested in presenting papers or case studies can submit their work by August 10, 2025, on the official website: gbm-moc.in. For inquiries and submissions, contact gbmconference@gmail.com.
Key Takeaways for Competitive Exams
- India will host its first global conference on manuscript heritage in September 2025.
- The event aims to safeguard and promote India’s ancient manuscript knowledge globally.
- The conference will feature exhibitions, workshops, and initiatives to preserve and disseminate manuscript heritage.
- It will pay tribute to Swami Vivekananda’s 1893 speech and highlight India’s commitment to global peace and knowledge sharing.
- Researchers can participate by submitting papers and case studies on the official website.
