Bhagavad Gita & Natyashastra Added to UNESCO’s Memory of the World Register

India has added another feather to its civilisational cap with the inclusion of the Bhagavad Gita manuscripts and Bharat Muni’s Natyashastra in UNESCO’s Memory of the World Register. This move globally acknowledges India’s rich intellectual and cultural heritage. The Prime Minister and Union Culture Minister have celebrated this moment as a significant milestone. With these additions, India now has 14 documentary heritages inscribed on the prestigious list.

Key Highlights

What is the Memory of the World Register?

• Established in 1992, UNESCO’s Memory of the World (MoW) Programme aims to preserve and provide access to documentary heritage of global significance. It safeguards manuscripts, archives, oral traditions, audio-visual content, and library collections.

India’s Inclusion in 2025

• On April 17, 2025, Bhagavad Gita manuscripts and Natyashastra by Bharat Muni were added to the register.
• India’s total entries in the list now stand at 14.

Bhagavad Gita’s Significance

• A core spiritual text of Hinduism, part of the Mahabharata’s Bhishma Parva.
• Considered a universal guide to philosophy, dharma (duty), and spirituality.
• Translated into nearly 80 languages globally.

Natyashastra’s Significance

• An ancient treatise on dramaturgy, theatre, and performance arts, attributed to Bharat Muni.
• Covers various aspects like acting, stage design, music, dance, and aesthetics (rasa theory).
• A foundational text for classical Indian dance and drama traditions.

Official Reactions

• PM Narendra Modi hailed the announcement as a “proud moment for every Indian” and acknowledged the Gita and Natyashastra for nurturing civilisation and consciousness.
• Culture Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat called it a “historic moment” for Bharat’s civilisational heritage.

Global Perspective

• A total of 74 new collections were added in 2025, bringing the global total to 570.
• 14 of the new entries are related to scientific documentary heritage, including contributions by women and multilateral institutions.

UNESCO’s Statement

• UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay emphasized that documentary heritage is fragile but essential to human memory.
• The register supports preservation efforts, knowledge sharing, and serves as a global archive.

UNESCO’s Broader Programme

• UNESCO supports the creation of regional and national registers.
• Over 100 countries now have Memory of the World committees.
• The programme promotes the universal access to heritage documents.