Gyan Bharatam Mission: Digitising India’s ancient wisdom | Fusion - WeRIndia

In a landmark announcement, Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the Gyan Bharatam Mission, a national initiative to digitise and preserve India’s ancient manuscripts.

He introduced the mission during the 124th episode of his radio show, Mann Ki Baat, aired on Sunday.

The mission, unveiled in the Union Budget 2025, aims to digitise over one crore manuscripts scattered across the country.

It seeks to conserve these texts and make them accessible to students, teachers, and researchers worldwide through a National Digital Repository.

PM Modi described the manuscripts as chapters of India’s soul, reflecting the country’s rich intellectual and cultural traditions.

He urged citizens to participate in preserving this invaluable legacy for future generations.

The Gyan Bharatam Mission is more than a digitisation effort; it is a structured, national endeavour to protect and share India’s knowledge systems.

It aligns with the broader vision of Viksit Bharat, promoting civilisational pride while ensuring modern digital access to ancient wisdom.

To support the mission, the Union Government has raised the budget allocation from ₹3.5 crore to ₹60 crore.

This major financial push underscores the importance of cultural preservation and intellectual revitalisation in national development.

In the same Mann Ki Baat episode, PM Modi celebrated UNESCO’s recognition of 12 Maratha forts as World Heritage Sites.

Eleven are located in Maharashtra, and one is in Tamil Nadu. The PM highlighted their historical importance, mentioning Salher Fort, where the Mughals were defeated, Shivneri Fort, the birthplace of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, and Khanderi Fort, a sea fortress symbolising strategic brilliance.

Calling Shivaji Maharaj a visionary, PM Modi praised his indomitable spirit and ability to overcome challenges by making the impossible possible.

Together, the Gyan Bharatam Mission and the recognition of Maratha forts signal a renewed focus on India’s cultural heritage, aiming to connect the past with the present and the world.

Image Credit: Prabhat8051, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Image Reference: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Shivneri_Fort_Birth_place_of_Shivaji_maharaj.jpg