The Prime Minister
Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee launched the National Mission for
Manuscripts for the preservation of the vast wealth of manuscripts
at his residence, here today. Speaking on the occasion, Shri
Vajpayee said that the National Mission for Manuscripts would
heighten our knowledge of our spiritual, artistic, intellectual,
and scientific heritage" and added that "it will also bring
new proofs of our national unity". Former President of India,
Shri R. Venkataraman and Chairman of Indira Gandhi Centre for
Arts, Dr. L.M. Singvi were among the distinguished guests present
on the occasion. Following is the text of the speech of the
Prime Minister:
"I am very pleased
to be with you this morning. We have launched a National Mission,
which is not only important but also very unique.
India has a huge
wealth of manuscripts. Probably no other country in the world
has such an ancient and large store of manuscripts. This priceless
legacy lies scattered in many institutions and among a large
number of ordinary people. It is largely unprotected, uncatalogued,
unresearched, and unpublicised as a proof of our living civilisational
heritage.
These manuscripts
are in various languages, forms and formats. They cover a wide
variety of subjects. However, until now there was no national
initiative to survey them, collect them, preserve them and make
them available for a holistic study in the modern context.
The National Manuscripts
Mission is the first initiative of this kind.
The Ministry of
Culture deserves our praise for this work.
I wish to congratulate
Shri Jagmohanji and his officers for another reason. I had referred
to the Government’s decision to launch the National Manuscripts
Mission in my Independence Day announcements last year. The
Ministry of Culture worked with missionary zeal and requested
me for a date to launch it before the end of 2002. If there
has been a delay of 5-6 weeks, I am responsible for it.
In the past, India
has launched several national missions – National Mission for
Edible Oil, National Mission for Drinking Water, National Cotton
Mission, etc. They were successful in many ways. They yielded
many direct benefits to the people.
The National Mission
for Manuscripts is different from these earlier missions. Its
benefits are not direct or immediately visible. Nevertheless,
this mission has a great significance for India.
Why? The answer
to this question can be given by citing an example from a different
field.
It is the findings
of archeologists in Harappa and Mohenjodaro.
These findings
did not bring any direct benefit to our people. Yet, even today
we speak with great pride about the fact that Harappa and Mohenjodaro
prove the antiquity and glory of Indian civilisation.
The same is also
true about the archeological findings in Dwaraka and Lothal
in later decades.
These findings
strengthened our national self-awareness. They increased our
understanding of our cultural and historical traditions.
This intangible
benefit is immensely helpful in nation-building.
I believe that
this new National Mission will also bring to light several Harappas,
Mohenjodaros and Dwarakas in the future in the field of manuscripts.
It will heighten
our knowledge of our spiritual, artistic, intellectual, and
scientific heritage. It will also bring new proofs of our national
unity.
Friends, this mission
is important for another reason. We India have been making many
claims about the progress made by us in ancient times in diverse
fields of science and technology – in health sciences, in agriculture
and irrigation, in metallurgy, astronomy, mathematics, etc.
There is much truth
in these claims.
However, modern
science and modern mind accept only those claims as true that
are backed by evidence. Our vast treasure of manuscripts provides
will provide this evidence.
On the one hand,
modern science asks for proof from ancient science and traditional
knowledge systems. On the other hand, modern science also provides
tools that will establish the validity of ancient science and
traditional knowledge systems.
Thus, micro-filming,
digital techniques, Internet and other tools of Information
Technology have been of miraculous help to resurrecting the
wealth contained in our manuscripts.
I think that we
should pay attention to three aspects for the success of this
mission.
I am told that
India has more than 35 lakh manuscripts. These are in different
languages – both ancient and contemporary. However, most of
them are in Sanskrit. Therefore, we should take all possible
steps to further promote Sanskrit and associate Sanskrit scholars
with the mission.
Secondly, the success
of this mission lies in not being run on the lines of usual
governmental schemes. A large number of small and big governmental
and non-governmental institutions are engaged in the preservation
and study of manuscripts. One can cite the renowned Bhandarkar
Institute in Pune, the Sampoornanand University in Varanasi,
the Khuda Bakhsh Library in Patna, etc. In Delhi itself, we
have the Indira Gandhi Centre for Arts. All these institutions
should be associated actively with this mission.
One more point.
A large number of manuscripts in our country are with private
citizens. They have a certain attachment to these manuscripts,
although they cannot take good care of them. Often they wonder
whether the manuscripts lying with them can be taken good care
of, if they give them to others. Now that we have launched this
National Mission, and want to set up a National Manuscripts
Library, this apprehension can be satisfactorily addressed.
Therefore, we need to create widespread awareness about this
mission.
With these words,
I once again commend the Ministry of Culture for this initiative
and wish it all success.
Thank You".