Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the Gyan Bharatam Portal in New Delhi on Friday, highlighting its role in accelerating manuscript digitisation and preserving India’s knowledge heritage. He stressed that while millions of manuscripts were destroyed in history, India still holds the world’s largest collection of manuscripts. He added that around one crore manuscripts are in India’s possession.
The Prime Minister noted that India’s history is more than dynastic victories and defeats; it represents cultural identity and civilisational continuity from the Himalayas to the Indian Ocean. He said manuscripts are national treasures, a matter of pride, and a symbol of India’s strength.
Modi explained that India’s knowledge tradition rests on four pillars—Preservation, Innovation, Addition, and Adaptation. He said the Gyan Bharatam Mission will support research and innovation by transforming manuscripts into a vast data bank. The global cultural and creative industry, worth $2.5 trillion, can benefit from this initiative.
He emphasised using Artificial Intelligence (AI) to study, analyse, and present ancient texts to the world. Modi urged youth, universities, and institutes to join the mission, calling it an extension of Atmanirbhar Bharat and Swadeshi spirit. He affirmed that the Gyan Bharatam Mission marks a new chapter for the future.
