Lucknow: The quest of Mughal Prince Dara Shikoh to discover a shared mystical language between Hinduism and Islam through the Upanishads resulted in the creation of a rare book titled Sirr-i-Akbar. This work captured the attention of numerous history students at a commemorative exhibition organized by the UP-State Archives to mark their 77th foundation day on Wednesday.
Significance of Sirr-i-Akbar
Professor Sushil Pandey from the political history department at Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University explained that the title Sirr-i-Akbar means 'the Great Secret'. The book aimed to build a philosophical bridge between Sufism and Vedantic thought through a deep study of 54 Upanishads. Dara Shikoh was known for his belief in spiritual unity and interfaith dialogue. Pandey also lectured students on the importance and utility of manuscripts in the Indian Knowledge System.
Context of the Exhibition
Chief guest Professor Ajay Taneja, Vice-Chancellor of Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti Language University, set the context for the special lecture by stating that India's manuscript tradition stretches back thousands of years and continues to serve as an important knowledge source for researchers and students.
Culture Minister Jaiveer Singh remarked that manuscripts represent some of India's most important intellectual treasures and that preserving them for future generations remains a priority. Additional Chief Secretary of Tourism, Culture and Religious Affairs, Amrit Abhijat, noted that the state is promoting digitization and research access to encourage greater academic engagement with archival collections.
Expert Lectures and Activities
Subject experts, including Professor Arun Kumar Yadav, head of the Pali and Buddhist Studies Department at Banaras Hindu University, spoke at length on various aspects of Indian manuscripts. Others demonstrated live preservation techniques for old books. Certificates were distributed to participants at the end of the program.
Rare Exhibits on Display
- Purushottam Mahatmya: A nearly 200-year-old Sanskrit manuscript written on palm leaves, based on stories of Lord Vishnu from the Skanda Purana.
- Vaidyak Ramvinod: A Hindi manuscript dating back to 1663 that documents remedies for 201 ailments.
- Gaj Chikitsa: A Sanskrit text on elephant healthcare.
- A number of ornately calligraphed and illustrated manuscripts on Ramcharitmanas and the Vedas.
