PU archives reveal rare rice script Gita, Constitution copy

Chandigarh: Written painstakingly with a grain of rice, a copy of the Bhagavad Gita from the 18th century, preserved inside Panjab University’s AC Joshi Library, has long remained one of the institution’s lesser-known curiosities. Now, as the Centre pushes to identify and preserve India’s manuscript heritage, the tiny text, alongside centuries-old Persian records, Sikh writings and one of the country’s earliest printed copies of the Constitution of India, is all set for the spotlight again.
Panjab University has submitted details of its manuscript holdings under the Govt of India’s Gyan Bharatam programme. University officials said all required data related to the collections has been shared and a designated team is expected to visit the university in nearly three months for further documentation and verification.
Located on the ground floor of AC Joshi Library, the manuscripts and rare books section houses 1,492 manuscripts in Hindi, Urdu, Persian, Sanskrit, Punjabi and Sharda scripts. Beginning with Hindu scriptures, the collection extends to Persian court etiquette, poetry, writings of Sikh gurus, translations and records pertaining to Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s court.
Among the section’s prized possessions is the Gita written with a grain of rice, donated by a Panjab University alumnus from Amritsar. The repository also preserves one of the initial printed copies of the Constitution of India, among roughly 300 first prints, donated by former vice-chancellor M M Puri.
Urdu manuscripts at the library have been largely enriched through donations by Diwan Anand Kumar, forming a significant component of the archive’s Persian and Urdu holdings.
Beyond manuscripts, the library houses nearly 20,000 rare books dating from 1634 AD onwards. These include mutiny records, reports on scientific voyages such as HMS Challenger, educational records published by the Govt of India since colonial times, surveys documenting the flora and fauna of British India, historical and geographical atlases, the Imperial Gazetteer of India, writings of viceroys and governor-generals, English factory records and biographies.
The collection also contains literature related to temples, gurdwaras and mosques, works on Shakespeare and George Bernard Shaw, books on Sanskrit and Hindi literature and history, writings by medieval travellers, and scientific reports prepared by laboratories across India.
“A manuscript is not merely an old document; it carries knowledge, memory and historical continuity. Panjab University has already shared all details required under the current exercise and the concerned team is likely to visit in around three months for the next stage,” said Dr Mritunjay Kumar, University librarian, Panjab University.
Researchers from Europe, the United States and Arab countries regularly visit the repository for academic work, particularly for material related to Persian, Sikh and colonial histories. Officials said the ongoing digitisation and documentation exercise is expected to improve accessibility while strengthening preservation efforts.
The push is also likely to extend to Panjab University’s Swami Sarvanand Giri Regional Centre in Hoshiarpur, where manuscript-related documentation and preservation activity is expected to take shape as part of the broader exercise.
BOX- Hidden inside PU’s archives
1,492 manuscripts in Hindi, Urdu, Persian, Sanskrit, Punjabi and Sharda scripts
Nearly 20,000 rare books, some dating back to 1634 AD
Gita written with a grain of rice, donated by a PU alumnus from Amritsar
Rare Constitution copy donated by former VC MM Puri
Major Urdu manuscript holdings donated by Diwan Anand Kumar