Deputy Commissioner S.J. Somashekar has appealed to the public to actively participate in the survey and digitisation of ancient manuscripts under the Gyan Bharatam Mission, an ambitious initiative aimed at preserving the country’s intellectual and cultural heritage.
He was speaking while presiding over a preliminary meeting held at the Deputy Commissioner’s office regarding the implementation of the manuscript preservation and digitisation work plan. He directed officials to complete the survey by the end of May.
Emphasising the importance of manuscripts, he stated that they represent original sources of history, literature, culture, and knowledge, and serve as repositories of the intellectual wealth of past generations. He stressed the need to preserve manuscripts written on palm leaves, paper, and other traditional materials.
The Deputy Commissioner instructed the Departments of Archaeology and Tourism to take necessary steps to identify, collect, and digitise such documents across the district.
Highlighting Kodagu’s rich historical legacy, he said that the district possesses a valuable collection of ancient manuscripts that must be preserved for future generations. He added that manuscripts provide insights into social and cultural history and contain knowledge related to mythology, poetry, grammar, Ayurveda, and philosophical traditions.
He further noted that manuscripts help in understanding the linguistic styles and usage of old Kannada and other languages, and emphasised that they serve as a link connecting the beliefs, practices, and lifestyles of ancestors to the present generation.
The artistic elements, including illustrations and scripts found in manuscripts, reflect the sophistication of earlier times, he observed, calling for immediate action to collect and conserve these materials.
The Deputy Commissioner suggested involving historians, literary scholars, and community elders in the process. He proposed that manuscripts be collected, digitised, and safely returned to their owners, and called for the convening of further meetings to streamline the process.
He also informed that the Government has launched the Gyan Bharatam Mission in the 2025-26 Budget to systematically survey, document, conserve, and digitise manuscripts across the state.
Citizens can directly participate by uploading manuscripts available in their possession through the Gyan Bharatam mobile application or by providing information to district-level survey teams. He urged the public to contribute to preserving historical knowledge for future generations.
Rekha, Curator of the Department of Archaeology and Antiquities, informed that manuscripts are likely to be found in temples, mutts, traditional ancestral homes (Ainmane), and repositories such as DhavasaBhandaras. She cited locations including Omkareshwara Temple, PalurMahalingeshwara Temple, Armeri Math, and Kirikodli Math.
She added that the project is being implemented through the Departments of Archaeology, Museums and Heritage, along with the Tourism Department, and described manuscripts as invaluable sources for research and cultural preservation.
District Coordinator Karthikeyan stated that the survey is being conducted across Karnataka under the mission, with priority given to identifying and preserving manuscripts that reflect the unique history of Kodagu.
He also noted that the Karnataka Manuscripts Authority has been established to facilitate digitisation and urged individuals, institutions, temples, and mutts possessing manuscripts to share relevant information.
Field Marshal K.M. Cariappa College Principal, Maj. Prof. Raghava, shared insights on manuscript collection, historical significance, and scholarly study. Â Tourism Department consultant Jatin and other officials were present.
