UNESCO’S MEMORY OF WORLD REGISTERS:
ART&CULTURE
NEWS: Bhagavad Gita and
Natyashastra added to UNESCO’s Memory of the World Register: All you need to
know
WHAT’S IN THE NEWS?
UNESCO has inscribed the manuscripts of
the Bhagavad Gita and Natyashastra into the Memory of the
World Register in 2025, recognizing their global significance in philosophy and
performing arts. With this, India now has 14 documentary heritage entries in
the prestigious register.
Bhagavad Gita Manuscripts – Inscription in UNESCO
Memory of the World Register (2025)
- The
Bhagavad Gita is a sacred Hindu philosophical scripture that forms a part
of the Indian epic Mahabharata.
- It is
specifically embedded within the Bhīṣmaparva section, spanning Chapters
23 to 40.
- The
text is believed to have been composed around the 2nd or 1st century
BCE.
- It is
presented as a dialogue between Lord Krishna and Prince Arjuna, set
on the battlefield of Kurukshetra, just before the start of a
massive war.
- The
Gita comprises 700 verses across 18 chapters, blending metaphysical
discussions with practical ethics and spiritual guidance.
- It
deals with key themes of Dharma (duty and righteousness), Karma
(action and consequence), Bhakti (devotion), and Jnana
(knowledge and self-realization).
- The
text holds profound religious, spiritual, and philosophical significance
both within and outside India, influencing thinkers across cultures.
Natyashastra Manuscripts – Inscription in UNESCO
Memory of the World Register (2025)
- The
Natyashastra is a foundational treatise on Indian performing arts,
attributed to the sage Bharatmuni.
- It is
believed to have been codified around the 2nd century BCE and is
also referred to as Nāṭyaveda.
- The
text consists of approximately 36,000 verses and is one of the most
comprehensive guides to classical performance traditions in the world.
- It
covers five major domains:
ü Nāṭya
(drama and theatrical presentation)
ü Abhinaya
(expressive gestures and body movements)
ü Rasa
(aesthetic sentiment or emotional flavor)
ü Bhāva
(psychological state or feeling)
ü Saṅgīta
(music and accompanying sound systems)
- The
Natyashastra laid the theoretical foundation for many classical dance and
drama traditions like Bharatanatyam, Kathakali, and Sanskrit theatre.
- It is
central to understanding ancient Indian concepts of aesthetics,
performance, and communication through the arts.
UNESCO Memory of the World Programme – Overview
- The
programme was launched in 1992 by UNESCO to safeguard the documentary
heritage of outstanding universal value.
- It
focuses on preserving manuscripts, rare documents, archives, and
records that are vital to cultural identity and global history.
- The
goal is to ensure long-term conservation, accessibility, and public
awareness of such heritage.
- Documentary
items included in the register are promoted globally and supported through
preservation efforts and capacity-building.
- Registration
under the Memory of the World Programme helps protect documents from neglect,
decay, conflict, and loss.
India’s Entries in the UNESCO Memory of the World
Register (As of 2025)
- With
the inclusion of Bhagavad Gita and Natyashastra manuscripts, India
now has 14 entries in the register.
- Other
major Indian inscriptions include:
- Archives
of the Dutch East India Company
- Rigveda
manuscripts
- Shantiniketan
Archives
- Tamil
Medical Manuscript Collection
- I.A.S.
Tamil Nadu State Archives
- Gilgit
Manuscripts
- Tarikh-e-Firoz
Shahi by Ziauddin Barani
- Saiva
Manuscripts in Pondicherry
- Saang
Lok Collection (2023)
- Ramcharitmanas
(2024)
- Panchatantra
(2024)
- Sahrdaya
loka-Locana (2024)
- These
entries reflect India’s rich legacy of literature, science, religion,
and the arts preserved in manuscript and archival form.
Source: https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-culture/bhagavad-gita-natyashastra-unesco-memory-of-world-register-9951786/