Tara Prakashana Partners with Culture Ministry to Digitize Ancient Manuscripts
Tara Prakashana, a Mangaluru-based non-profit trust, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Ministry of Culture. This agreement follows the organization's selection under the Gyan Bharatam Mission, a national initiative dedicated to preserving India's manuscript and knowledge traditions.
Selection Among Elite Institutions
The Ministry of Culture invited Tara Prakashana to participate in the Gyan Bharatam Mission. It is one of only eighteen institutions nationwide chosen for this prestigious program. Within Karnataka, Tara Prakashana stands as one of just two organizations receiving this invitation.
Over the past two decades, Tara Prakashana has developed innovative technologies for imaging, processing, and archiving ancient manuscripts. This expertise made the organization a natural fit for the national mission.
Objectives of the Gyan Bharatam Mission
The Gyan Bharatam Mission aims to strengthen coordinated national efforts to safeguard India's intellectual and manuscript heritage. Key goals include enhancing scholarly access and integrating modern technologies for long-term preservation. The mission also focuses on the widespread dissemination of traditional knowledge systems.
Under the new agreement, Tara Prakashana will work closely with the ministry. Their collaboration will advance the mission's objectives at regional, national, and global levels.
Leadership Perspectives on the Partnership
Prof PR Mukund, founder trustee of Tara Prakashana, expressed his enthusiasm for the partnership. "Tara Prakashana partnered with leading global technologists in the field of ancient manuscript preservation," he said. "We brought state-of-the-art technologies such as multi-spectral imaging, 3D printing, and Waferfiche to India. It is our hope that this partnership will allow us to scale these technologies to national levels."
Samar Nanda, Joint Secretary at the Ministry of Culture, highlighted the organization's importance. "Tara Prakashana will be a key partner for the successful implementation of Gyan Bharatam," he stated. "The government wants to deepen ties with institutions doing pioneering work in manuscript conservation, digitization, and research."
About Tara Prakashana
Tara Prakashana is a not-for-profit trust established in 2006. Prof PR Mukund founded it under the guidance of his Guru, the late Bannanje Govindacharya. The organization's sole intention has always been preserving and disseminating Vedic knowledge. This new partnership with the Ministry of Culture represents a significant step toward achieving that goal on a much larger scale.
