Patna: Bihar is set to undertake a major initiative to preserve its historical and cultural manuscripts. The program, part of the “Gyan Bharatam Mission” under the Ministry of Culture, will be conducted in mission mode to ensure proper cataloging, digitization, and conservation of manuscripts across the state.
Mission Mode Manuscript Survey Across Districts
In a meeting chaired by Anjani Kumar Singh, Director of Bihar Museum, the state government emphasized the importance of systematically surveying manuscripts in monasteries, temples, record rooms, and private collections. Chief Secretary Pratyaya Amrit instructed that technical teams be deployed in every district to locate, document, and list manuscripts.
The teams will work in collaboration with the Department of Art, Culture & Youth, with the Bihar Museum designated as the nodal authority and its Director as the nodal officer for monitoring the program. The survey will be reviewed every 14 days by the museum director and monthly at the secretary level of the Art & Culture Department.
Collaboration with National Initiatives
Bihar has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Ministry of Culture’s Gyan Bharatam Mission to ensure integration with national-level digital repositories. The state digital repository will be linked with the National Digital Repository, enabling better access, preservation, and scholarly research.
Scientific Preservation and Expert Involvement
Director Anjani Kumar Singh highlighted the scientific and technical aspects of manuscript preservation. He recommended setting up specialized laboratories at state museums, leveraging existing facilities at Patna Museum and Bihar Museum. A dedicated team of experts will oversee the digitization, cataloging, and long-term preservation of these invaluable manuscripts.
Recognition and Bihar Day Celebration
Chief Secretary Pratyaya Amrit emphasized that individuals and organizations contributing significantly to manuscript preservation will be honored during Bihar Day 2026, provided substantial progress is made by then. The initiative also includes documenting important manuscripts from older district record rooms, which are considered highly valuable.
Key Officials Involved
The meeting saw participation from top officials, including:
- Krishna Kumar, Director of Museum & Archaeology Department
- Prof. Vishwajeet Kumar, Acting Vice-Chancellor, Nav Nalanda Mahavihara
- M. Asgar, Assistant Librarian, Khuda Bakhsh Oriental Public Library
- Dr. M. Fazal Abdullah, Director of Archives
- Dr. Imtiaz Ahmed, Historian and Former Director, Khuda Bakhsh Library
- Dr. Sunil Kumar Jha, Deputy Director, Patna Museum
- Ashok Kumar Sinha, Deputy Director, Bihar Museum
The collaboration of these experts will help ensure the scientific preservation, cataloging, and digitization of Bihar’s rich manuscript heritage.
About Bihar Museum
Bihar Museum is a premier cultural institution in Patna dedicated to preserving the heritage and history of Bihar. As the nodal authority for this project, the museum will play a key role in manuscript conservation, research, and public engagement, strengthening Bihar’s position as a hub of historical and cultural scholarship.
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