The New Delhi Declaration: A Global Pact to Safeguard Humanity's Written Heritage

In a momentous step towards safeguarding the irreplaceable chronicles of human history and wisdom, an international conference held in New Delhi culminated in the adoption of the 'New Delhi Declaration.' This landmark declaration is poised to galvanize global efforts to preserve, digitize, and disseminate the world's vast and often fragile treasure trove of manuscripts, ensuring their profound insights remain accessible for generations to come.

Convened by India's National Mission for Manuscripts (NMM) under the Ministry of Culture, the International Conference on 'Manuscriptology in the 21st Century: Challenges & Way Forward' drew together an extraordinary assembly of minds.

Experts, scholars, and policymakers from 11 countries and 75 institutions converged in the Indian capital, united by a shared passion for cultural heritage and the urgent need to protect these priceless handwritten legacies.

The 'New Delhi Declaration' stands as a comprehensive roadmap, a powerful testament to collective commitment.

Its core tenets emphasize the critical need for fostering robust international cooperation in manuscript preservation. It calls for standardized practices in cataloguing, conservation, and scientific analysis, creating a unified framework to tackle the myriad challenges posed by the passage of time, environmental degradation, and sometimes, neglect.

A significant thrust of the declaration is the embrace of digital innovation.

Recognizing that many manuscripts are fragile and physically inaccessible, the declaration advocates for extensive digitization programs. This not only protects the originals from further deterioration but also dramatically expands their accessibility to researchers, students, and enthusiasts worldwide, democratizing knowledge on an unprecedented scale.

Beyond technology, the declaration underscores the human element.

It prioritizes capacity building, advocating for the training of a new generation of manuscriptologists, conservators, and digital archivists. These skilled professionals are essential for meticulous handling, scientific conservation, and accurate interpretation of these ancient texts. Furthermore, it champions research and scholarly engagement, encouraging deeper dives into the historical, literary, and scientific wealth embedded within these documents.

India, a nation revered for its unparalleled textual heritage, plays a pivotal role in this global initiative.

Home to an estimated 10 million manuscripts, many still uncatalogued, India's National Mission for Manuscripts has been a torchbearer in preservation efforts. The success of this declaration will heavily rely on collaborative projects, exchange programs, and the establishment of shared digital platforms, transforming isolated efforts into a powerful, interconnected global network.

Ultimately, the New Delhi Declaration is more than just a policy document; it is a fervent pledge to humanity.

It acknowledges that manuscripts are not mere relics of the past but living conduits of ancient wisdom, philosophy, science, art, and literature. By committing to their preservation, we safeguard not only historical records but also the very essence of human intellectual and cultural evolution, ensuring that the voices of our ancestors continue to inspire and inform our future.