India is set to host its first-ever International Conference on Indian Manuscripts from September 11–13, 2025, a landmark initiative to preserve and share the vast knowledge hidden in ancient texts. Organized by the Union Culture Ministry, the three-day event in Delhi will bring together over 1,100 scholars, experts, institutions, and cultural practitioners from around the globe.
A Global Platform for India’s Heritage
This pioneering conference aims to create a collaborative platform for manuscript preservation, digitisation, decoding, translation, and knowledge dissemination. By doing so, it seeks to make centuries-old wisdom more accessible to researchers, students, and the public worldwide.
Key Highlights of the Conference
◆Participation from leading universities, research institutions, and museums from India and abroad.
◆Workshops and panel discussions on conservation, digital archiving, and contextualising manuscripts in modern education.
◆A showcase of rare manuscripts and traditional preservation techniques from across the country.
◆Networking sessions for scholars and institutions to collaborate on future projects.
Government’s Push for Cultural Preservation
The Union Culture Ministry’s initiative reflects India’s growing commitment to safeguarding its intangible cultural heritage. By digitising and decoding manuscripts, the government hopes to unlock India’s intellectual and cultural treasures — from ancient sciences and arts to philosophy and governance.
Why It Matters
India holds millions of manuscripts across temples, monasteries, and private collections, many of which are in fragile condition. This conference will act as a starting point for large-scale conservation, ensuring that future generations can access and learn from these timeless sources of knowledge.