Rescuing timeless wisdom through manuscript preservation in AP

VIJAYAWADA: In a quiet room lined with ageing bundles of palm leaves, centuries of history lie preserved — tied with thread and marked by fading scripts. These manuscripts document a vast range of knowledge, from astronomy and Ayurveda to temple accounts, literature and political transitions, even reflecting changes in kingdoms through evolving scripts and numerals.Across Andhra Pradesh, a large-scale effort is underway to identify, conserve and digitise these fragile records before they are lost to time, weather and decay. The ‘Gyan Bharatam Mission’, launched to safeguard India’s manuscript heritage, is currently in its survey phase. The initiative involves four stages — survey, cataloguing, conservation and digitisation — followed by publication of unpublished material.Director (Manuscripts) Dr Indira Malapaka said about 75,000 manuscripts have been identified in the State so far, while the national count has crossed 68 lakh against a target of one crore. The survey, which began on March 16, will continue till June 16. Private organisations like Sanaathan Jeevan Trust have also contributed, digitising over 10,000 manuscript bundles and nearly 22 lakh folios.The exercise covers not only palm-leaf manuscripts but also paper records, copper plates, birch bark and sanchipat documents found in temples, mutts, libraries and private collections. Scholars emphasise that these manuscripts go far beyond mythology, covering science, medicine, administration and agriculture. Some document crop patterns and governance, while others reveal political transitions through changes in script and numerals.Tirupati has emerged as a major hub, with nearly 9,900 manuscripts at the Oriental Research Institute, 2,200 at Vedic University and over 5,000 at National Sanskrit University. In Vijayawada, around 400 manuscripts have been identified, though many more are believed to exist.Preservation remains a key challenge, as many manuscripts have deteriorated due to termites, moisture and poor storage. Conservation involves careful cleaning, chemical treatment and restoration using traditional techniques. Experts say a well-preserved palm leaf can last 200–300 years.Researchers stress that the mission is not merely about saving old records but preserving a civilisational archive. As fewer people today recognise even palm-leaf manuscripts, efforts to protect this heritage have gained urgency.