National Mission for Manuscripts (NMM) - Background, Objectives, Importance, Challenges And More

India has a huge store of valuable ancient manuscripts. These manuscripts provide archaeologists with detailed insight into the rich history of ancient and medieval times. It is an invaluable treasure that helps in accurately analyzing and studying the past. In light of this, the Government of India launched the National Mission for Manuscripts in 2003 to preserve discovered manuscripts to document and disseminate knowledge. 

Source: National Mission for Manuscripts

In this article, we shall discuss all the important aspects of the topic, which include meaning, objectives, significance, repositories of manuscripts and challenges in preserving vulnerable manuscripts.

This topic is very important for UPSC CSE exams. It forms a core part of the Art and Culture subject under the General Studies Prelims syllabus and the General Studies Mains Paper 1 syllabus.

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What is the National Mission for Manuscripts (NMM)?

The National Mission of Manuscripts (NMM) is a Government of India initiative to unearth, collect and preserve the vast trove of manuscripts possessed by India. The Union Ministry of Tourism and Culture launched this mission. The Indira Gandhi National Centre for Arts is the nodal body for the national mission for manuscripts.

What is a Manuscript? 

A Manuscript is a handwritten composition on a piece of bark, palm leaves, paper, cloth, or any other material which is at least 75 years old, and this material should have scientific and historical value. However, one should remember that printed volumes and lithographs do not classify as a manuscript. 

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Objectives of National Mission for Manuscripts 

Here are the objectives for the launch of the National Mission for Manuscripts: 

• To increase the accessibility of manuscripts by preserving and digitising the most endangered and rarest ones. 
• Conduct national and regional level surveys to locate and unearth manuscripts in different parts of India. 
• Create a repository of manuscripts by documenting each and every manuscript discovered. 
• The National Mission for Manuscripts shall create a National Electronic Database of the four million manuscripts found till date in India. A whopping collection of four million manuscripts makes India the biggest database of manuscripts. 
• Carry out regular training camps and workshops to develop a whole new generation of manuscript conservators. 
• Use modern and traditional means to conserve the manuscripts discovered to date. 
• One of the most important objectives of the National Mission for Manuscript is to train the next gen scholar in studying the different aspects of the manuscript. Training should be imparted to young scholars so that they can understand the language, scripts, cataloguing of texts, editing, and eventually deciphering the contents. 
• Publish the significant extracts of unseen manuscripts via online and offline platforms to increase the accessibility of the same. 
• Conduct regular workshops, seminars, and outreach programmes so that the knowledge base of the general public will enhance concerning studying and analysing manuscripts. 

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Importance of National Mission for Manuscripts

Given below are the points that will exhibit the significance of the National Mission for Manuscripts:

• Manuscripts are one of the most critical assets for any civilisation as it helps in understanding the lifestyle and culture of the bygone era. The National Mission for Manuscripts is one of the world's biggest initiatives relating to the preservation of manuscripts. 
• There are thousands of manuscripts related to India's history lying scattered and unorganised in different parts of India, abroad, museums, and some are with private collectors. This mission will document each of them and create a national digital database of all the manuscripts related to India's history. 
• Manuscripts are invaluable assets as they highlight India's rich heritage and culture. They make us aware about past experiences, achievements as well as lessons learnt during difficult times in the history of Indian society. 
• Due to the efforts of the NMM, the Rig Veda manuscripts collected from the Bhandarker Oriental Research Institute of Pune were nominated for inscription in the Memory of World Register, 2007. 
• Shiva manuscripts found in Puducherry were accorded the "Memory of Register" status by UNESCO in 2005. 

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Challenges faced by the National Mission for Manuscripts

The challenges face by the National Mission for Manuscripts are given below: 

• There are thousands of manuscripts found in different languages and scripts. However, archaeologists have not been able to find experts in the field who could read and decipher the contents of the same. 
• The manuscripts are lying unattended and unorganised in museums, religious places, educational institutions, government offices and homes of private collectors. Hence, it is a humongous task to identify and document each and every manuscript. 
• Due to neglect for very long periods, a large number of manuscripts are in a perilous state. Some are insect and fungus ridden, torn, and brittle. As a result, the process of preservation of manuscripts without additional damage is an expensive and time consuming process. 
• Old, experienced scholars who had a good grasp of a number of languages and scripts, which helped them to understand and transmit the contents efficiently. However, new scholars who are in charge of excavation missions lack expertise in understanding and proper handling of fragile manuscripts. 

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Repositories of Manuscripts 

In total there are 32 manuscript conservation centres in India. These are divided into five geographical zones namely East, West, North, South and Central. 

North

Some of the major repositories of manuscripts in the Northern geograohical locations are as follows: 

• Department of Language and Culture, Shimla 
• Central Institute of Buddhist Studies in Leh
• Indira Gandhi National Centre for Arts in New Delhi 
• Central Library of Banaras Hindu University
• Vrindavan Research Institute in Vrindavan
• Himalayan Society for Heritage and Art Conservation in Nainital

South 

Some of the major repositories of manuscripts in the Southern geograohical locations are as follows: 

• Oriental Research Institute of Sri Venkateswara University in Tirupati 
• INTACH Chitrakal Parishath Art Conservation Centre of Bengaluru 
• Salar Jung Museum of Hyderabad 
• Centre for Heritage Studies under Hill Palace Museum in Thripunithura 
• Tamil Nadu Government Museum in Chennai 
• A.P. State Archives and Research Institute of Hyderabad

East 

Some of the major repositories of manuscripts in the Eastern geograohical locations are as follows: 

• Sri Dev Kumar Jain Oriental Research Institute of Arrah 
• Khuda Baksh Oriental Public Library of Patna 
• AITHIYA Centre of Bhubaneshwar 
• Manuscript Library of Calcutta University 
• Tawang Monastery in Arunachal Pradesh 
• Sambalpur University of Odisha 

West 

Some of the major repositories of manuscripts in the Western geograohical locations are as follows: 

• Mahaveer Digamber Jain Pandulipi Samrakshan Kendra, Jaipur 
• Rajasthan Oriental Research Institute of Jaipur 
• Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute of Pune 

Central 

Major repositories of manuscripts in central India is Scindia Oriental Research Institute of Ujjain.

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Conclusion 

The National Mission for Manuscripts is India's first organised effort from the government to locate, document and preserve manuscripts. A manuscript is one of the most important remains from the bygone era. Manuscripts found in India are written in thousands of languages and scripts, making India's trove of manuscripts a diverse one. However, the task of locating and safely preserving the manuscripts is easier said than done. It is an expensive and time consuming process and will involve a mix of modern and traditional methods. 

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