Bihar Government Initiates Comprehensive Manuscript Conservation Drive
In a significant move to preserve Bihar's rich historical and cultural legacy, Chief Secretary Pratyaya Amrit has issued detailed directives for the conservation and digitisation of manuscripts scattered across the state. During a high-level meeting held on Wednesday in Patna, Amrit emphasized the urgent need for systematic preservation efforts, instructing officials to prepare a concrete action plan and implement it with mission-mode dedication.
Strategic Framework for Manuscript Preservation
The meeting, jointly chaired by Chief Secretary Pratyaya Amrit and Bihar Museum Director General Anjani Kumar Singh, focused on operationalizing the "Gyan Bharatam" campaign initiated by the Union Ministry of Culture. Amrit designated the Art, Culture and Youth Department as the nodal authority for this initiative, with the museum director serving as the nodal officer. To formalize this collaboration, the Bihar government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Gyan Bharatam program.
Amrit stressed that developing a comprehensive action plan is essential for successful implementation across Bihar's diverse regions. He highlighted that significant manuscripts are preserved in the record rooms of Bihar's historic districts, making their conservation critically important for maintaining the state's intellectual heritage.
District-Level Technical Teams and Monitoring Mechanism
A key component of the conservation strategy involves establishing technical teams in every district. These specialized units will conduct systematic surveys by visiting institutional and private collections, including monasteries, temples, and private libraries throughout Bihar. The teams will be responsible for discovering, cataloguing, and documenting manuscripts that represent centuries of knowledge and cultural expression.
The monitoring framework for this ambitious project will involve regular reviews every fourteen days by the Director of Bihar Museum, followed by monthly assessments conducted by the Secretary of the Art and Culture Department. This structured oversight aims to ensure consistent progress and address challenges promptly as they emerge during implementation.
Scientific Conservation and Infrastructure Development
Director General Anjani Kumar Singh provided technical guidance during the meeting, emphasizing the importance of scientific approaches to manuscript preservation. He noted that advanced conservation laboratories are already operational at Patna Museum and Bihar Museum, serving as models for potential expansion. Singh suggested establishing additional specialized laboratories across the state to facilitate scientific conservation methods that protect fragile manuscripts from environmental degradation.
To enhance coordination and expertise, Singh recommended forming a dedicated special team focused exclusively on manuscript conservation efforts. This team would work alongside district technical units to ensure standardized procedures and best practices are implemented uniformly throughout Bihar.
Recognition and Digital Integration
Chief Secretary Amrit announced that individuals and institutions making significant contributions to manuscript conservation would receive special recognition ahead of "Bihar Diwas-2026." This incentive aims to encourage broader participation from cultural organizations, educational institutions, and private collectors who possess valuable historical documents.
Another crucial aspect of the initiative involves digital preservation. Amrit confirmed that Bihar's state digital repository would be integrated with the national digital repository, creating a unified platform for researchers, scholars, and the public to access digitized manuscripts. This digital integration represents a forward-looking approach to cultural preservation, making Bihar's historical treasures accessible to global audiences while ensuring their physical conservation.
Expert Participation and Implementation Roadmap
The high-level meeting included participation from numerous subject experts and officials who contributed valuable suggestions for the conservation program. Attendees included Secretary of Art, Culture and Youth Department Pranav Kumar; Director of Museum and Archaeology Directorate Krishna Kumar; Officiating Vice-Chancellor of Nav Nalanda Mahavihara Vishwajit Kumar; Assistant Librarian of Khuda Bakhsh Oriental Public Library Md Asgar; Director of Archives Md Faizal Abdullah; historian and former Director of Khuda Bakhsh Library Imtiyaz Ahmad; Coordinator of Exploration and Excavation at Bihar Heritage Development Society Amit Ranjan; Additional Director of Patna Museum Sunil Kumar Jha; and Additional Director of Bihar Museum Ashok Kumar Sinha, along with other departmental officials.
This collaborative approach ensures that the manuscript conservation initiative benefits from diverse expertise in archaeology, library science, historical research, and museum management. The participation of institutions like Khuda Bakhsh Oriental Public Library and Nav Nalanda Mahavihara brings specialized knowledge about Bihar's manuscript traditions and preservation techniques.
The comprehensive strategy outlined during the meeting represents Bihar's commitment to safeguarding its intellectual heritage for future generations while making these cultural assets available through modern digital platforms.
