Darbhanga/Patna: A large-scale effort to survey, preserve and digitise manuscripts more than 75 years old is under way in Darbhanga district as part of India’s Gyan Bharatam Mission.
Libraries, temples and private collections brought under preservation drive
The district administration has launched a survey to identify rare and ageing manuscripts held in libraries, temples, monasteries and private collections across the region. Key centres participating in the initiative include Lakshmeshwar Public Library, Kalyani Foundation and Kameshwar Singh Darbhanga Sanskrit University.
Gyan Bharatam app used to digitally document historical records
Using the Gyan Bharatam mobile application, officials and researchers are digitally recording details and photographs of the manuscripts to create a comprehensive archive.
Authorities urge citizens to help identify manuscripts older than 75 years
Authorities have appealed to residents and custodians of religious institutions to locate manuscripts older than 75 years and bring them under the mission’s preservation programme.
More than 85,000 manuscripts verified from five sites in the district
According to district officials, manuscripts from five sites in the district have already been surveyed and verified, with a total of 85,459 documents identified so far. The project focuses on the scientific preservation and digital conservation of historical records dating back at least seven decades.
Fragile documents to receive scientific conservation and climate-controlled storage
Documents selected under the programme will undergo cataloguing, scientific conservation and documentation before being uploaded to the Gyan Bharatam digital portal. Manuscripts in fragile condition will be stored in controlled environments with regulated temperature and humidity to prevent further deterioration.
Mission linked to Union budget plan to preserve India’s ancient knowledge heritage
All surveyed manuscripts will be digitally scanned and uploaded to the mission’s national digital repository, making them accessible to the public and researchers. Officials said the historical records would also be systematically classified to improve accessibility and long-term preservation.
The initiative forms part of a broader commitment announced in India’s 2025-26 Union budget to preserve more than 10 million ancient manuscripts and documents nationwide.
Initiative aims to safeguard Mithila’s cultural legacy for future generations
In Darbhanga, officials said the mission’s central aim is to protect the cultural and intellectual heritage of the Mithila region for future generations.
