At IIAS workshop, experts stress need to conserve ancient scripts and manuscripts
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Context
The (IIAS) in Shimla hosted a two-day workshop focused on conserving the heritage of ancient writing traditions in the Western Himalaya, specifically Himachal Pradesh. The event highlighted the urgency of preserving, digitising, and studying scripts like Pabuchi, Tankri, Pandavani, and Chandvani, which evolved from the and contain significant texts related to the (IKS), including the Vedas, Puranas, Jyotisha, and Ayurveda.
UPSC Perspectives
History & Culture
This workshop underscores the rich linguistic and literary diversity of India, particularly the historical evolution of scripts in the Himalayan region. The focus on scripts like Pabuchi, Tankri, Pandavani, and Chandvani is crucial for UPSC Prelims, as these are regional variations derived from the . The itself is an offshoot of the , prominent in the north-western parts of the Indian subcontinent between the 8th and 12th centuries CE. These manuscripts are not just historical artifacts but repositories of the (IKS), encompassing traditional sciences, philosophy, and literature. For Mains (GS Paper 1), this relates to the 'salient aspects of Art Forms, Literature and Architecture from ancient to modern times.' Candidates should understand the role of such regional scripts in documenting indigenous knowledge like Ayurveda and Jyotisha, and the historical significance of preserving these 'living expressions of India’s intellectual tradition'.
Governance
The involvement of the (IIAS), a premier research institute established by the , highlights the government's role in institutionalising heritage conservation. The emphasis on 'digitisation' and 'documentation' reflects a modern approach to preserving ancient manuscripts, aligning with national initiatives like the (NMM), established in 2003 by the . The NMM's mandate is specifically to survey, document, and conserve India's vast manuscript wealth. The workshop's call for 'coordinated institutional efforts' points to a governance challenge: ensuring that academic research translates into actionable conservation strategies and makes these resources accessible to scholars worldwide, thereby safeguarding .
Social
From a societal perspective, preserving these scripts is vital for maintaining the cultural identity and historical continuity of the communities in the Western Himalayas. The emphasis on the (IKS) aligns with the broader objectives of the (NEP 2020), which advocates for the integration of traditional Indian knowledge into modern education. By encouraging 'young researchers to engage in this field', the workshop addresses the critical need for capacity building in epigraphy (the study of inscriptions) and paleography (the study of ancient writing systems). This ensures that the specialized skills required to read and interpret these ancient scripts, like Tankri or Pabuchi, are passed down to future generations, preventing the loss of indigenous knowledge systems related to medicine (Ayurveda) and astronomy (Jyotisha).