Is the Gyan Bharatam Portal a Historic Milestone in Safeguarding Ancient Knowledge?

New Delhi, Sep 12 (NationPress) The unveiling of the Gyan Bharatam Portal by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been recognized as a significant milestone in the effort to safeguard and promote India’s extensive manuscript heritage. This portal is designed to digitally catalog, preserve, and disseminate India’s invaluable ancient wisdom found in millions of manuscripts, many of which are dispersed globally.

Scholars, students, and experts from India and neighboring nations have shared their enthusiasm and support for this groundbreaking initiative, believing it will elevate India’s intellectual heritage on a worldwide scale.

Dr. Puneet Gupta, a distinguished expert in manuscripts, referred to the portal as a “major international-level enhancement” for India’s manuscript heritage. He noted that India possesses over a crore manuscripts, whose knowledge has influenced civilizations across the globe for millennia.

Dr. Gupta stated: “This digital connection and the eight expert committees established by the Prime Minister will ensure that these manuscripts are not only preserved but also interpreted and presented as global heritage.”

Student Akshat Bundela described the portal as “a remarkable global achievement.”

He emphasized the role of AI in the digitization process, asserting that this initiative lays a robust foundation for a developed India by 2047.

“This portal also empowers youth leadership, and the government’s commitment to retrieving manuscripts sent overseas is praiseworthy,” he mentioned.

Divya from the Indian Institute of Heritage highlighted the significance of digitization for researchers.

She stated: “Many manuscripts have remained in private collections, inaccessible to the public. This portal will grant us access to priceless knowledge.” She also commended the Prime Minister’s profound understanding of manuscripts and his charismatic presence during the launch event.

Dr. Surendra Kumar Sharma, a coordinator from Rajasthan, praised the Prime Minister for rejuvenating India’s global traditions through this portal.

“For centuries, this knowledge was limited to museums and collections. Now, through this portal, it will reach every household,” he remarked. Dr. Sharma underlined the critical need for comprehensive data collection and urged community institutions to collaborate with the government for the publication and dissemination of this knowledge.

Neeraj Dahal, Assistant Professor at Nepal Sanskrit University, acknowledged India’s role in preserving Sanskrit knowledge.

“This initiative integrates various ongoing efforts across states, simplifying access for researchers,” he noted. He regarded the portal as a crucial step toward unified preservation and study of manuscripts.

Himachal Pradesh student Kunal Bhardwaj found motivation in the Prime Minister’s address.

“We gained a lot of insight and felt inspired. Returning manuscripts to India and conserving them is vital for future generations. This mission will enable the discovery of new knowledge and benefit the world,” he shared.

Rajasthan’s Jitendra Meghwal commented on the portal’s work regarding manuscript museums, their digitization, and study methodologies. He appreciated the Prime Minister’s enthusiasm for manuscripts and his endeavors to repatriate Indian manuscripts from abroad. “This was the first time I encountered the Prime Minister up close. His interest in manuscripts is genuinely impressive,” he added.

Markandeya Tiwari from Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri National Sanskrit University, Delhi, described the government’s plan as “comprehensive and promising.” He believes the portal will restore India’s status as the “world’s guru” by conserving and promoting ancient manuscripts.

“The exhibition showcased many previously unknown manuscripts, underscoring the importance of their preservation,” he added.

PhD scholar Prachi reflected on the cultural richness highlighted by the Prime Minister’s speech. “He reminded us that to understand India, one must comprehend its culture and manuscripts, which are the source of our ancient knowledge. We are on the path to reclaiming our position as a global knowledge leader,” she expressed her gratitude to the Prime Minister.

Pankaj Kumar Sharma of Koba Gyan Mandir discussed the importance of consolidating manuscripts onto a single platform. “Each manuscript comprises hundreds of texts. Currently, there is no complete cataloging system. Once this is achieved, accessing this knowledge will be significantly easier for Indians and the global community,” he noted. He also commended the Prime Minister’s visit to Mongolia to study their manuscript preservation practices.

Dr. Uttam Singh from Agartala characterized the Gyan Bharatam portal as a tremendous opportunity for scholars and youth to access and explore ancient scriptures that have remained unpublished for centuries. “This will greatly benefit researchers and unveil forgotten knowledge,” he affirmed.

Research scholar Shivani shared her experience of seeing Prime Minister Modi in person for the first time. She remembered how the Prime Minister spoke about the Mongolian manuscripts and their connections to Indian epics like the Ramayana. “His knowledge of manuscript technology, particularly at centers like Nalanda and Mysore, is remarkable,” she noted.

Other participants like Ganesh, Ashish Kankariya from Pune, and Hemant, a PhD student from Rajasthan University, echoed similar sentiments, appreciating the portal’s potential to unlock India’s ancient knowledge treasure.