Ancient Manuscripts

Three important works of India's literary, historical and intellectual heritage have received fresh international recognition after their manuscripts were included in UNESCO's Memory of the World Asia-Pacific Regional Register. The selected works are Kalhana's Rajatarangini, the epic Mahabharata and Kautilya's Arthashastra.

The decision was taken during the 11th session of the Memory of the World Committee for Asia and the Pacific, held in Jakarta, Indonesia. The announcement was welcomed by India's Ministry of Culture and Union Culture Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, who described the development as a landmark moment for the country's documentary and civilisational heritage.

With these three additions, India's total number of inscriptions in UNESCO's Asia-Pacific Regional Register has increased to six. The Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA) played an important role in preparing the nomination documents for the manuscripts.

The recognition highlights three different dimensions of India's intellectual traditions: historical documentation, philosophical and ethical literature, and political administration. It also draws attention to the institutions preserving these rare manuscripts for future generations.

What is UNESCO's Memory of the World recognition?

UNESCO's Memory of the World Programme was established in 1992 to protect documentary heritage that holds significant historical, cultural and intellectual value. Its objective is to encourage the preservation of important documents, manuscripts, archives and other records while improving public access to them.

The programme operates through international, regional and national registers. The Asia-Pacific Regional Register recognises documentary heritage with particular importance to the region and its shared cultural history.

The latest Indian entries have been included in the regional register, not the separate global International Register. This distinction is important because the recognition specifically acknowledges the significance of the manuscripts within the Asia-Pacific's documentary heritage.

The three selected manuscripts are preserved at major research institutions in Pune, Mysuru and Srinagar. Their inclusion also highlights the role of libraries and academic organisations in protecting fragile historical records.

Rajatarangini: A historical window into Kashmir

One of the three recognised works is Rajatarangini, written by the 12th-century Kashmiri historian Kalhana. The Sanskrit chronicle is regarded as a major source for understanding the history of Kashmir, its ruling dynasties, political developments and social life.

Kalhana composed the work between 1148 and 1149 CE. The surviving manuscript associated with the nomination is written in the Sharada script on traditional Kashmiri birch bark, also known as bhojpatra.

The text contains 7,826 verses divided into eight sections called Tarangas. It records the reigns of rulers and major events in Kashmir's past, combining historical narration with literary composition.

What makes Rajatarangini particularly important is its effort to examine earlier accounts and organise historical events chronologically. Kalhana drew upon available records, traditions and earlier writings to construct a narrative of Kashmir's past.

The manuscript is preserved at the Oriental Research Library in the Sri Pratap Singh Library Complex in Srinagar. Its inclusion in the UNESCO regional register recognises the historical and cultural value of this record and the importance of preserving Kashmir's documentary heritage.

Mahabharata: An epic with a lasting philosophical influence

The Mahabharata is among the longest and most influential epic narratives in world literature. Traditionally attributed to sage Vyasa, it tells the story of the conflict between the Pandavas and Kauravas, culminating in the Kurukshetra war.

However, its importance extends far beyond the account of a dynastic conflict. The epic explores questions of duty, justice, morality, family relationships, leadership, power and the responsibilities of individuals in society.

One of its best-known sections is the Bhagavad Gita, which presents a philosophical dialogue between Krishna and Arjuna on duty, action and spiritual understanding.

The manuscript recognised in the latest UNESCO decision is a birch-bark document associated with the older Kashmiri version of the epic. It is preserved at the Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute in Pune.

The manuscript is significant because it provides evidence of the ways in which the epic was transmitted, preserved and interpreted across different regions and generations. The Mahabharata has influenced literature, performing arts, religious traditions and cultural narratives across South and Southeast Asia.

Its recognition therefore extends beyond the literary importance of the text to the historical value of the manuscript itself.

Arthashastra: Ancient India's ideas on governance and statecraft

The third recognised work is Kautilya's Arthashastra, a foundational Sanskrit treatise dealing with governance, economics, administration, diplomacy and military strategy.

Kautilya is also known as Chanakya or Vishnugupta and is traditionally associated with the political rise of Chandragupta Maurya. The work is an extensive examination of how a state should be organised and administered.

It discusses subjects including taxation, trade, agriculture, law enforcement, intelligence gathering, diplomacy, military organisation and the responsibilities of rulers.

The text is particularly valuable for researchers studying the history of political and economic thought in ancient India. Its detailed treatment of administration offers insights into the institutions and governing ideas associated with early Indian statecraft.

The manuscript included in the UNESCO regional register is a 16th-century palm-leaf copy written in the Grantha script. It is preserved at the Oriental Research Institute in Mysuru, Karnataka.

The surviving manuscript is structured into 15 books, 50 chapters and 180 sections, reflecting the breadth of subjects covered by the treatise.

IGNCA's role and India's growing documentary heritage

The Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts prepared the nomination dossiers for all three manuscripts. The institution has also been involved in efforts to document, preserve and promote India's traditional knowledge systems and archival collections.

India had previously secured three entries in the Asia-Pacific Regional Register in 2024. These included illustrated manuscripts of the Ramcharitmanas, a rare manuscript of the Panchatantra and Sahrdayaloka-Locana, a work on Indian poetics.

The latest additions bring the country's regional total to six.

Culture Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat welcomed the decision, saying the works represent India's traditions of historical inquiry, philosophical thought and statecraft. The announcement has also renewed attention on the institutions responsible for safeguarding ancient manuscripts.

Why the recognition matters

The inclusion of the three manuscripts is significant not simply because of their age or literary reputation, but because they preserve different forms of knowledge developed and transmitted over centuries.

Rajatarangini documents Kashmir's political and cultural history, the Mahabharata explores ethical and philosophical questions, while the Arthashastra records ideas about governance and administration.

Together, they demonstrate the breadth of India's documentary heritage and its influence on intellectual traditions across Asia.

The recognition also underlines the need for continued conservation, research and digitisation. Ancient manuscripts can be vulnerable to physical deterioration, environmental damage and the loss of specialist knowledge needed to interpret them.

For India, the latest UNESCO regional recognition provides an opportunity to strengthen public awareness of its manuscript collections and encourage further scholarly engagement with them.

The larger significance: The three inscriptions bring India's historical writing, epic literature and political thought into wider international focus, while reinforcing the importance of preserving original manuscripts as part of the shared cultural memory of the Asia-Pacific region.