BALURGHAT, June 9 -- In a significant step towards preserving the district's rich historical and cultural heritage, the South Dinajpur district administration has launched a special survey to identify and digitise rare manuscripts, historical documents and old photographs under the Central government's 'Gyan Bharatam' project.
A special committee comprising the District Information and Cultural Officer, college principals and history researchers has been formed to carry out the initiative. So far, 43 manuscripts collected from different parts of the district have already been digitised.
Officials clarified that original manuscripts will remain with their owners. Authorised teams will visit individuals and institutions, scan the documents and create digital copies, which will be preserved in the Central government's database.
The administration has appealed to schools, colleges and private collectors to provide information about manuscripts in their possession. Historians believe many valuable records remain scattered across South Dinajpur and need urgent documentation and preservation. The administration hopes the ongoing survey will help uncover and preserve many more hidden treasures of the district's past.
District Magistrate Balasubramanian T urged manuscript owners to come forward and cooperate with the survey. "South Dinajpur is a district rich in history. We request all those who possess manuscripts to share information with the administration. So far, only 43 records have been documented," he said.
The district is known for its rich manuscript heritage, including palm-leaf manuscripts and those written on traditional tulot paper. The Balurghat Museum houses an extensive collection covering subjects such as the Puranas, Ayurveda, hymns and Tantric rituals. Most manuscripts recovered in the district are estimated to be 150 to 200 years old.
Among the notable finds is a manuscript of the Bhagavata Purana dated 1728 AD. Other important works include Brahmavaivarta Purana, Durga Puja Paddhati, Kali Puja Paddhati, Chaitanya Charitamrita and Premabhakti Chandrika.
Historian Samit Ghosh of Balurghat welcomed the initiative, stating that manuscripts contain invaluable information about India's history, society and culture. He noted that many such documents across the country remain neglected and vulnerable despite earlier preservation efforts, including the National Mission for Manuscripts launched by the Union Ministry of Culture in 2002.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.