The University Grant Commission (UGC) has set up a special committee in order to develop Indian Manuscripts. The UGC sent a letter on 10th July to the National Mission for Manuscripts (NMM) informing that an eleven-member committee has been formed including experts from IITs and Sanskrit languages. The standardized syllabi will be a part of IKS and HEIs can start PG Diploma courses in Manuscriptology and Paleography using this syllabi.
India has an invaluable heritage of history insights and archives, intellects, traditions, culture, and languages but all scripted in various 80 ancient scripts. These include a spectrum of subjects like philosophy, science, literature, religion, etc in various languages. The UGC chairman Jagadesh Mamidala said, “Indian Manuscriptology has the potential of safeguarding the cultural treasure and broad scope for academic research and developments.”
The specially formed eleven-member committee consists of experts from various disciplines. Professor Prafulla Mishra (Former Director of the National Mission for Manuscripts) has been proposed as the Head of the panel. The panel includes Malhar Kulkarni Professor of IIT Mumbai, Professor Vasant Bhatt (former Director of the School of Languages Gujarat University), and Jatindra Mohan Mishra a professor of Sanskrit at NCERT, Delhi.
What is Manuscriptology?
Manuscriptology is the study of history and literature through the use of handwritten documents in various scripts and languages. These are ancient documents written on metals, leaves, sculptures, walls, etc.
Preserving Heritage of Indian Knowledge System through Manuscriptology.
India has been a diverse cultural repository through its different states since ancient times. According to the National Manuscriptology Mission (NMM), “India possesses about 10 million manuscripts in 80 ancient scripts which were on metals, leaf, cloths, and bark.” Among them, 75% of manuscripts have been written in the Sanskrit language while 25% are in regional languages.
The UGC chief said, “preserving Manuscripts sustains and enhances the country’s diversity and contributes to a deeper understanding of its heritage.” The standardized syllabus will be part of the Indian Knowledge System (IKS).
Post Graduate Diploma in Manuscriptology and Paleography
The UGC chairman in the letter sent to NMM also has informed that Higher Education Institutions would be able to use the standardized syllabus in order to promote the Indian Knowledge System (IKS). Universities can also run a Post Graduate Diploma in Manuscriptology and Paleography.
