Citizens urged to join manuscript survey to protect heritage

Raipur: Citizens have been urged to participate in the ‘Gyan Bharatam National Manuscript Survey', with emphasis on preserving ancient records as a collective duty. Manuscripts were described as a living record of civilisation, culture and intellectual wealth, and a key link to documenting the state's heritage for future generations, Chhattisgarh chief minister Vishnu Deo Sai said.The central government's ‘Gyan Bharatam' initiative aims to identify, preserve and digitise manuscripts across the country. He appealed to citizens to register details of any handwritten texts or palm-leaf manuscripts in their possession via the Gyan Bharatam mobile app. He said individual contributions are crucial to protecting cultural identity and ensuring traditional knowledge receives national recognition.The survey, which began in March 2026, seeks to make historical documents accessible through digital platforms. Chhattisgarh is actively participating in this nationwide exercise, with district-level committees formed in 26 of its 33 districts and nodal officers appointed to oversee the work. Efforts are underway to constitute committees in the remaining seven districts.District committees are currently identifying collectors and institutions holding manuscripts. Surveyors are being appointed in villages and regions, while the culture department is conducting training in coordination with regional teams.The state initially received data on 148 manuscripts from the Union government. Surveys have begun in six districts, and officials have recorded 4,191 manuscripts via the Gyan Bharatam app so far.