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News18
08-07-2025
- Politics
- News18
'Fragile, Rare, Priceless': Modi Govt To Digitise India's Manuscript Heritage
In the next three years, the Narendra Modi-led government will digitise thousands of ancient Indian manuscripts. According to a government tender from National Archives of India (NAI), many of the manuscripts are 'fragile, rare, deteriorating, brittle and to be handled with great care". For the digitisation project, a sum of Rs 50 crore has already been approved. These priceless records – some written on palm leaf, birch bark, parchment, cloth, or handmade paper – span a vast linguistic spectrum, including Sanskrit, Bengali, Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu, Arabic, and Persian, as per the document accessed by News 18. Hailed as India's most ambitious civilisational archiving mission to date, the groundwork for this digital effort was laid much earlier. The culture ministry initiated the process with at least three other websites – Indian Cultures, Abhilekh Patal, and the Indian Mission for Manuscripts. For years, various government and affiliated institutions quietly collected and preserved neglected manuscripts from temple libraries, scholar households, and oral traditions. In Maharashtra, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, and Kashi, teams collaborated with traditional scholars and researchers to digitise and catalogue regional scriptural records long before it became a priority. Now, the Centre is formalising this mission. According to the official document, the digitisation project will involve several procedures including unbinding, flattening, cleaning, scanning, quality control, metadata creation, optical character recognition (OCR) for applicable languages, and long-term digital storage. Once fully digitised, the content will be integrated into existing national knowledge systems through platforms such as the National Manuscripts Repository (NAMAMI), the National Virtual Library of India (NVLI), the Digital Library of India, the Bharatavani multilingual platform, and the government's flagship portal. These platforms will allow the general public to access and read the documents. This project is aimed at digitally preserving India's ancient manuscripts and important documents. The tender also mentions that several manuscripts are in 'an extremely fragile condition, susceptible to damage due to age and lack of proper storage", and stressed on the need for non-invasive digitisation using high-resolution scanners that do not expose records to heat or harsh lighting. Experts involved in the project told News18 that this effort is more than just preservation; it is a cultural reclamation.
Hindustan Times
04-07-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Delhiwale: A retired man
After attending a panel discussion on 'Artificial Intelligence and Northeast' at the India International Centre, Tassadaque Hussain walks into adjacent Lodhi Garden for an evening stroll. Sitting on a bench, the Dwarka dweller agrees to become a part of our Proust Questionnaire series, in which citizens are nudged to make 'Parisian parlour confessions', all to explore our distinct experiences. Tassadaque Hussain walks into adjacent Lodhi Garden for an evening stroll. (HT) Your favourite occupation. I retired in 2020 as deputy director of the National Archives of India. Having worked there for 32 years, one gets used to seeing old documents. But I vividly remember the thrill when I touched, for the first time, the handwritten 18th century manuscripts on the weekly activities of the East India Company. Or the Gilgit manuscripts from the 5th and 6th centuries… Where would you like to live? I have lived a good part of my life in Delhi, almost 47 years. Studied history in Hindu College… but I miss my native Jorhat in Assam. What do you appreciate the most in your friends? I'm 66, and these days my mind goes back more and more towards the childhood friendships. Your idea of happiness. Walking in Lodhi Garden, and seeing Bada Gumbad and Sheesh Gumbad monuments at different times of the day… by the way, if you consider the plain flooring pattern of Bada Gumbad, and the fact that all its four sides are open, then it becomes clear that it wasn't a tomb but a gateway—that's my reading. Actually, I'm happy being around any Delhi monument. Your heroes in real life. My father, the late Inamul Husain, went far beyond the milieu of his world. My mother, Eliza, for raising four children. And my home tutor Mazifur Rahman, who stirred my interest in academics, helping me make the life-changing transition from Balya Bhavan, a Jorhat school, to Indore's Daly College, one of India's best public schools. Your favourite food. Homemade meals, especially when made by Mita, my wife. She teaches history in Bhagat Singh College. What is your present state of mind? I'm thinking of these birds chirping and flying… I have no idea how far they are intending to travel.
The Hindu
06-05-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
Over 10 crore pages of historic documents digitised by NAI, says Culture Minister
The National Archives of India (NAI) has digitised more than 10 crore pages of historic documents. Making the announcement, Union Culture Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat said the digitisation project was taken up to make historic documents in possession of the NAI more accessible to the public. 'Do revisit our glorious past, that has been digitally documented one page at a time, with this mega effort to make Bharat's archival heritage closer to the public than ever before,' he said. 10 Crore Pages of History are now at your fingertips! Gives me great joy to share that as of 4th May 2025, the #NationalArchivesOfIndia has crossed 10 crore digitised pages of historical documents that are available on #AbhilekhPatal. Do revisit our glorious past, that has… — Gajendra Singh Shekhawat (@gssjodhpur) May 6, 2025 In a post on X, Mr. Shekhawat more data related to Abhilekh Patal, the digital depository of the National Archives of India (NAI). He said the portal had 1,49,487 unique visitors, 2,70,772 website hits, and 29,507 registered users. 'Ten Crore Pages of History are now at your fingertips! Gives me great joy to share that as of 4th May 2025, the #NationalArchivesOfIndia has crossed 10 crore digitised pages of historical documents that are available on #AbhilekhPatal,' the Union Minister said. The NAI is an attached office under the Culture Ministry. It was established in 1891 as the Imperial Record Department in Calcutta (now Kolkata). Following the transfer of the capital from Calcutta to Delhi in 1911, the present building of the NAI was constructed in 1926, which was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens. The transfer of all records from Calcutta to New Delhi was completed in 1937. It is the custodian of the non-current records of the Government of India and holds them in trust for the use of administrators and researchers. Apart from its vast collection of public records, the NAI also houses a rich and ever-growing collection of private papers of eminent Indians from all walks of life, who have made significant contributions to the nation.
Deccan Herald
29-04-2025
- General
- Deccan Herald
Private papers of ex-prez APJ Abdul Kalam donated to National Archives
As a custodian of key archives, the National Archives of India (NAI) on Monday acquired the private papers of Kalam, comprising original correspondences, passport, Aadhaar card, PAN card, tour reports, and lectures delivered by him at various universities as well as organisations, officials said.
The Print
29-04-2025
- Politics
- The Print
Private papers of ex-prez APJ Abdul Kalam donated to National Archives
Kalam, widely known as the 'Missile Man of India' was an eminent scientist and served as the 11th President of India from 2002 to 2007. New Delhi, Apr 29 (PTI) Former president APJ Abdul Kalam's passport, Aadhaar card, PAN card, original correspondences and lectures delivered at various institutions are among his private papers which have now been acquired by the National Archives of India. As a custodian of key archives, the National Archives of India (NAI) on Monday acquired the private papers of Kalam, comprising original correspondences, passport, Aadhaar card, PAN card, tour reports, and lectures delivered by him at various universities as well as organisations, officials said. The collection was donated by APJM Nazema Maraikayar, his niece, and APJMJ Sheik Saleem, grand nephew of of the former president to NAI, they said. Arun Singhal, Director General, NAI, signed an agreement with Maraikayar at a function, to acquire the collection. Born on October 15, 1931 in Rameswaram in today's Tamil Nadu, into a humble family, Kalam rose through sheer hard work and determination. After studying physics and aerospace engineering, he contributed significantly to India's missile development programmes and played a pivotal role in the Pokhran-II nuclear tests of 1998, the NAI said. Working with organisations like the DRDO and ISRO, he helped strengthen India's defence and space capabilities. His achievements earned him numerous honours, including the Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian award. Beyond his scientific contributions, Kalam was deeply passionate about inspiring the youth of India. He authored several influential books such as 'Wings of Fire,' 'Ignited Minds,' and 'India 2020,' all centred around dreaming big and building a stronger nation. Known as the 'People's President' for his humble and approachable nature, Kalam dedicated his post-presidency years to education and mentoring young minds. His life remains a symbol of simplicity, perseverance, and visionary leadership, the NAI said. Kalam passed away in July 2015, leaving behind a legacy that continues to inspire generations. The NAI is the custodian of the non-current records of the government of India and holds them in trust for the use of administrators and researchers, according to the provisions of the Public Records Act, 1993. Apart from its vast collection of public records, the NAI also houses a rich and ever-growing collection of private papers of eminent Indians from all walks of life, who have made significant contributions to the nation. PTI KND DV DV This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
