Raipur: Long buried under the sands of time, Chhattisgarh’s Kabirdham district has emerged as a repository of the state’s proud history and cultural heritage. Under the Centre’s ‘Gyan Bharatam National Manuscript Survey Campaign’, officials have identified 38 rare and significant ancient documents or manuscripts linked to the nation’s history, culture, and tradition of knowledge, going back in time.
Prized Palm-Leaf Manuscript
The most prized of the ancient documents uncovered during the survey, piloted by the Union Ministry of Culture and spearheaded by Kabirdham Collector Gopal Verma, was a palm-leaf manuscript estimated to be nearly 375 years old. Written in Bengali, this manuscript focuses on ancient culinary arts. According to experts, this rare document serves as a vital historical source for understanding the lifestyle, dietary culture, and traditional knowledge systems of that era.
Literary and Devotional Texts
The recovered manuscripts not only embody Kabirdham’s distinct intellectual heritage but are also expected to provide fresh perspectives on the history of Central India. The national survey identified several priceless links to Indian devotional literature and poetic traditions. The discoveries included a rare manuscript of the ‘Geeta Govinda’ written in Sanskrit, dating back to 1839. Hand-written copies of the ‘Shrimad Bhagavad Gita’ and the ‘Gajendra Moksha’, dating back to 1856, were also found.
Translations and Inscriptions
The campaign also scored major breakthroughs for archival study and regional history, as the survey team recovered several crucial translations detailing the political and cultural landscape of Central India. Among these were a Hindi translation of the ‘Ramnagar’ (Mandla) inscription, a translation of the famous ‘Bhoramdeo’ inscription dating back to 1867, and a poetic translation of the ‘Madwa Mahal’ inscription from 1898.
Astronomy and Vedic Texts
Several texts reflecting astronomy, astrology, and Vedic thought also came to light during the campaign. These included Sanskrit documents featuring cosmological illustrations and texts from the Jaimini tradition.
Private Collections Yield Treasures
Most of the recovered documents came from the personal collections of Kawardha residents Aditya Srivastava and Ajay Kumar Chandravanshi. The survey team also recovered rare manuscripts on Tantric and Vedic ritual practices—such as the Mahamrityunjay Stotra, Sandhya Vidhi, Tantrik Sandhya, Shraddha Paddhati, and Jalashayaram Mathotsarg Vidhi—from the personal collection of Subhash Pandey in Basni village.
Preservation and Digitisation
The focus of the authorities and the survey teams would now shift to preserving these priceless papers, which were previously kept in private collections, for future generations. Under the ‘Gyan Bharatam’ campaign, the administration will undertake the scientific conservation and digitisation of all 38 rare documents. Experts believe that a detailed study of these texts will reveal new insights into the folk life, architecture, and ancient Indian sciences native to Chhattisgarh.
The Kabirdham collector, meanwhile, urged citizens to share information with the district administration on any ancient hand-written texts, genealogies, old manuscripts, or historical documents that they happen to be in possession of. Citizens can also download the ‘Gyan Bharatam’ mobile application to register their ancient copies online and participate in this national conservation campaign.
