Description

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Context

Manuscripts of Bhagavad Gita & Bharata Natyashastra have been added to UNESCO Memory of World Register 2025 celebrating Indian ancient intellectual & artistic legacy.

Key Highlights

Aspect	Details
Recognition Year	2025
Announced by	UNESCO under its Memory of World (MoW) Programme
Nominated by	Ministry of Culture, Government of India
Custodian Institutions	Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute (BORI), Pune
Category of Recognition	Documentary Heritage of World Significance
Manuscripts Recognized	Bhagavad Gita (from Mahabharata) Natyashastra by Bharata Muni
Script & Language	Sanskrit
Script & Language	Written in ancient Devanagari & Grantha scripts
Material Form	Palm-leaf & paper manuscripts, dating back several centuries
Why Bhagavad Gita?	Philosophical text attributed to Vyasa Part of Mahabharata (Bhishma Parva) Discusses core themes of Dharma (duty), Karma (action), Bhakti (devotion) & Jnana (knowledge) Influential on world leaders like Mahatma Gandhi, Sri Aurobindo & many philosophers worldwide Translated into over 100 languages worldwide
Why Natyashastra?	Authored by Bharata Muni (~2nd century BCE to 2nd century CE) First comprehensive treatise on performing arts includes dance (Natya), drama, music & aesthetics Introduced concept of Rasa (emotional flavor in performance) which is central to Indian classical arts Influenced Indian performing arts for over 2000 years laying foundation for classical Indian dance & theater
Significance of Inclusion	Showcases India’s ancient intellectual & cultural traditions Enhances global recognition of Indian texts in performing arts & philosophy Boosts documentation, preservation & digitisation efforts
UNESCO MoW Programme	Launched in 1992 Aims to protect & promote world’s most valuable archival & library heritage India has 5+ entries now including Rigveda manuscripts & Saiva Siddhanta manuscripts

Detailed Overview of Texts

Bhagavad Gita

Tradition & Attribution The Bhagavad Gita is traditionally attributed to sage Vyasa & is a part of Mahabharata specifically in Bhishma Parva. It is considered one of most significant philosophical texts in world literature.

Structure & Composition The Bhagavad Gita comprises 700 verses divided into 18 chapters with a philosophical dialogue between warrior Arjuna & his charioteer Lord Krishna. It addresses Arjuna moral dilemma before great battle of Kurukshetra wherein Krishna imparts divine wisdom.

Philosophical Themes

Dharma (duty) Arjuna is advised on his duty as a warrior a central concept in Hindu ethics.

Karma (action) The idea that actions should be performed without attachment to results promoting a path to liberation.

Bhakti (devotion) Emphasis on surrendering to God through devotion as a means to attain spiritual wisdom.

Jnana (knowledge) The pursuit of spiritual wisdom & self-realization through philosophical understanding.

Historical Significance The Bhagavad Gita synthesizes philosophies of Vedas, Upanishads & other systems like Buddhism & Jainism.

It became a guide for various leaders most notably Mahatma Gandhi who described Gita as his spiritual dictionary.

Global Impact Translated into over 100 languages Bhagavad Gita has influenced global leaders, philosophers & thinkers including Aurobindo, Einstein & Carl Jung due to its profound spiritual & philosophical insights.

Natyashastra

Authorship & Historical Context The Natyashastra is attributed to sage Bharata Muni a scholar of ancient Indian performing arts. It is believed to have been composed between 500 BCE & 500 CE though UNESCO cites 2nd century BCE as most likely period for its compilation.

Content & Scope The Natyashastra is a treatise of around 36,000 verses covering a wide range of topics related to drama (Natya), performance (Abhinaya), music (Sangita), emotions (Bhava) & aesthetic experience (Rasa).

It serves as foundation of classical Indian dance, drama & theatre detailing performance techniques, staging & emotional connection between performer & audience.

Key Concept Rasa Natyashastra introduces concept of Rasa which refers to emotional flavor that a performance conveys to audience.

This is a critical concept in classical Indian arts where performer creates an emotional connection that transcends imitation of real-life emotions. Rasa is considered essence of all dramatic art forms.

Bharata Muni emphasized that no meaning can blossom forth without Rasa making it central to all forms of artistic expression.

Influence on Indian Classical Arts The Natyashastra has had a profound influence on Indian classical dance forms (like Bharatanatyam, Kathak, Odissi, etc.) & drama. It provides theoretical basis for structure & performance of these arts & has influenced generations of artists & performers for over two millennia.

Global Influence The ideas & concepts introduced in Natyashastra especially theory of Rasa have influenced modern Western theories of aesthetics & performance.

Scholars worldwide have drawn parallels between Natyashastra treatment of emotions in art & similar aesthetic theories in European drama & theater.

Why is Recognition Important?

Global Recognition The inclusion of Bhagavad Gita & Natyashastra in UNESCO Memory of World Register places them alongside other globally significant works ensuring that their cultural & intellectual value is acknowledged worldwide.

Preservation & Digitization The recognition ensures that efforts to preserve & digitize these invaluable texts will continue. It provides momentum for ongoing efforts to protect ancient manuscripts & heritage from degradation over time.

Cultural & Philosophical Significance Both texts offer profound insights into Indian philosophy, aesthetics & culture. They hold immense value not only for India but also for global audiences seeking to understand human emotions, nature of life & ethical principles governing action & duty.

Future of Recognition

Global Access With inclusion of Bhagavad Gita & Natyashastra in UNESCO register both texts are expected to receive heightened global visibility. This could lead to more academic collaborations & deeper intercultural exchanges between scholars & artists worldwide.

Inspiration for Future Generations These texts continue to inspire new generations of thinkers, artists & philosophers. By securing their place in MoW Register India ensures that these timeless works will be available for future scholarship & public engagement.

UNESCO Memory of World (MoW) Register

Category	Details
Establishment	1992 by UNESCO
Purpose	To preserve & promote access to world’s documentary heritage that is of outstanding significance to humanity
Administered by	UNESCO Memory of World Programme & International Advisory Committee (IAC)
Key Objective	Prevent collective amnesia Guard against loss from neglect, decay, disasters, or deliberate destruction Foster universal access to documentary heritage
Types of Recognized Materials	Manuscripts, oral traditions, audio-visual material, maps, books, music scores, archival documents, films & digital content
Evaluation Criteria	World significance Authenticity Integrity Rarity Threat status (at risk of deterioration or loss)
Nomination Process	Submitted by Member States, NGOs or heritage institutions; evaluated by experts appointed by IAC
Register Levels	International Register (Global significance) Regional Registers (Continental significance) National Registers (Country-specific heritage)
Benefits of Inclusion	Recognition of historical & cultural value Improved funding opportunities Technical support for preservation & digitization Promotes scholarly research & public access
UNESCO Support	Grants & partnerships Guidelines for preservation Training workshops MoW Digital Platform (under development)
Indian Coordination	Ministry of Culture & National Archives of India
Global Examples	Gutenberg Bible (Germany) Magna Carta (UK) Archives of Nelson Mandela (South Africa) Diaries of Anne Frank (Netherlands) Records of Indian Indentured Labourers (Mauritius, Trinidad, Fiji)
India’s First Entry	Rigveda manuscripts (2007) preserved in Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute
Recent Focus Areas	Digitization of rare manuscripts Inclusion of Indigenous & marginalized voices Addressing climate threats to archives
MoW Emblem	A stylized open book with a globe symbolizing access & preservation of knowledge for all
Criticism / Challenges	Lack of funding for developing nations Political influence in nominations Digital preservation issues due to rapid technological obsolescence
2025 Theme (Aligned with WMO)	Closing Early Warning Gap Together (for relevant meteorological data archives)

Indian Entries in UNESCO Memory of World International Register

Year of Inscription	Entry Title	Custodian / Institution	Brief Description & Significance
2007	Rigveda Manuscripts	Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute (BORI), Pune	Oldest of Vedas this collection of over 30 manuscripts is written in Devanagari & Sharada scripts. It is a cornerstone of Vedic & Sanskrit literature.
2011	Archives of Dutch East India Company (VOC) (Shared entry)	National Archives of India (NIA), New Delhi (in partnership with Netherlands, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, South Africa)	The VOC archives in India document early Dutch colonial & trading activities from 1602–1800.
2013	Gilgit Manuscripts	National Archives of India (NIA), New Delhi	These 5th–6th century CE Buddhist manuscripts are among oldest surviving manuscripts in India & provide insights into Mahayana Buddhism.
2017	Abdul Rahim Khan-i-Khanan Manuscripts	Archaeological Survey of India (ASI)	These Persian & Arabic manuscripts belong to Rahim a noble in Akbar court renowned for his poetry & translation of scientific texts.
2017	Saṅgīta Ratnākara Manuscript of Śārṅgadeva	Bharat Itihas Sanshodhak Mandal, Pune	A 13th-century treatise on classical Indian music & dance that laid foundations of Hindustani & Carnatic traditions.
2017	Saṅgīta-Ratnākara Manuscript of Śārṅgadeva (duplicate under different institution)	Maharaja Serfoji’s Sarasvati Mahal Library, Thanjavur	Another version of Śārṅgadeva seminal work preserved under royal patronage of Thanjavur Marathas.
2017	Manuscript Collection of Raza Library, Rampur	Rampur Raza Library, Uttar Pradesh	Contains rare Persian, Arabic, Urdu & Sanskrit manuscripts, including translations, poetry, medicine & theology, reflecting Indo-Islamic cultural synthesis.
2017	Shantiniketan Archives	Visva-Bharati University, West Bengal	Documents relating to Rabindranath Tagore life, educational philosophy & establishment of an alternative global university.
2018	Treaty of Amritsar (1846) (Proposed; under evaluation)	Jammu & Kashmir Archives Department	Historic document that transferred Kashmir to Maharaja Gulab Singh from British East India Company.
2023 (Proposed)	Collection of Indo-Sanskrit Astronomical Texts	Indian Institute of Astrophysics & NIA	Highlighting India historic advancements in astronomy & mathematical sciences.

For more such articles, please refer to IAS GYAN

Sources: INDIAN EXPRESS

PRACTICE QUESTION

Q. Analyze role of UNESCO Memory of World Register in preservation & promotion of ancient texts like Bhagavad Gita & Natyashastra. What are potential benefits for cultural diplomacy?