Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Dec 31: In a significant step towards strengthening manuscript preservation, the Shashvat Art Gallery, Museum and Manuscript Library, Jammu has been designated as a Cluster Centre under Gyan Bharatham, the flagship initiative of the Union Ministry of Culture.
The designation was formalised through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between Gyan Bharatham and the Shashvat Art Gallery located at Upper Bazar, Dhountly in Jammu.
As a Cluster Centre, the Jammu based institution will function as a centre for manuscript related activities in the region. Its key responsibilities will include the identification, documentation, conservation, cataloguing and digitisation of manuscripts both within its own collection and across its designated Cluster Partner Centres.
The Centre will also provide technical support, training and quality oversight to ensure that manuscript conservation and digitisation adhering national standards.
Gyan Bharatham is a comprehensive national programme of the Union Ministry of Culture aimed at safeguarding India’s diverse manuscript heritage.
The programme seeks to identify undocumented manuscripts, scientifically conserve fragile materials and digitise rare and endangered texts to prevent irreversible loss to the traditional knowledge.
The Cluster Centre will further engage in research, publication and outreach, encouraging academic research based on manuscripts of scientific, historical, literary and aesthetic value.
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