Berhampur University's Rare Ayurveda Manuscripts Undergo Digital Preservation
A significant initiative to preserve India's traditional medical heritage has commenced at Berhampur University in Odisha. A four-member expert team from the National Institute of Indian Medical Heritage (NIIMH) in Hyderabad arrived on Monday to begin the crucial work of digitizing and cataloguing rare ayurveda manuscripts preserved at the university.
Preserving Fragile Historical Documents
The university's South Odisha Cultural Study Centre (SOCSC) houses an impressive collection of over 2000 palm leaf manuscripts, most of which contain invaluable ayurvedic knowledge that remains unpublished. These fragile documents have been collected by researchers from various individuals and organizations across southern Odisha over the years.
"It will take five to seven days to complete the work," stated Geetanjali Dash, vice-chancellor of Berhampur University. "With the help of NIIMH, we will digitise these fragile documents and preserve them. The experts will use advanced digitisation techniques."
National Mission for Traditional Knowledge Preservation
This digitization project forms part of a broader national mission to document and validate India's traditional knowledge systems. The initiative follows a memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed between the Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS) and Berhampur University on January 31 last year at the Central Ayurveda Research Institute (CARI) in Bhubaneswar.
NIIMH, which operates as a peripheral unit of CCRAS, has undertaken this important preservation work. The expert team has been provided accommodation on the university campus to facilitate their important task.
Comprehensive Documentation and Research Enhancement
The digitization project includes several significant components:
- Digital copies of all manuscripts will be provided to the university for preservation and research purposes
- A comprehensive 'Descriptive Catalogue of Ayurved Manuscripts of SOCSC, BU, Odisha' will be prepared to assist researchers
- Selected manuscripts will undergo transcription and translation into modern languages
- The integration of ancient and contemporary medical discourse will be facilitated through this process
Strengthening Cultural and Medical Heritage Studies
Vice-Chancellor Geetanjali Dash emphasized the broader significance of this partnership: "The partnership will not only safeguard the fragile palm leaf manuscripts, but also enhance the university's stature as a global hub for cultural and medical heritage studies."
This initiative represents a crucial step in preserving India's rich ayurvedic heritage while making it accessible to researchers worldwide. The digitization of these rare manuscripts will ensure that valuable traditional medical knowledge is protected from physical deterioration and made available for future generations of scholars and practitioners.
