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The recent inclusion of the Bhagavad Gita and Bharata's Natyashastra into UNESCO's Memory of the World Register marks a significant recognition of India's rich cultural and intellectual heritage. Prime Minister Narendra Modi aptly described this honor as a 'proud moment' for all Indians, emphasizing the enduring influence of these texts on civilization and consciousness. This addition highlights the importance of preserving and disseminating invaluable documentary heritage for present and future generations. UNESCO's Memory of the World (MoW) Programme, established in 1992, plays a crucial role in this endeavor, safeguarding against collective amnesia and ensuring access to significant historical and cultural materials. The program's central objective is to create a compendium of documents of 'world significance and outstanding universal value,' encompassing manuscripts, oral traditions, audio-visual materials, and library and archive holdings. The MoW Register, updated biennially (with some exceptions), serves as a repository of these treasures, featuring a diverse range of entries from around the globe. Examples include historical chronicles like the Mahavamsa of Sri Lanka, artistic drawings such as the Meiji-era collection of Sakubei Yamamoto of Japan, and pivotal audio recordings like the Frankfurt Auschwitz trials. India has contributed significantly to the Register, with 13 submissions, including joint entries. These contributions range from the ancient Rig Veda to the archives of the Non-Aligned Movement summit in Belgrade. The inclusion of the Bhagavad Gita and Natyashastra further enriches India's representation, showcasing the country's ancient literary and philosophical traditions.
This year's additions specifically acknowledge manuscripts of the Bhagavad Gita and Natyashastra preserved by the Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute in Pune. The Natyashastra, traditionally attributed to the sage Bharata, is an ancient Sanskrit treatise on performing arts. Comprising 36,000 verses, it presents a comprehensive framework for drama, performance, aesthetic experience, emotion, and music. UNESCO's citation emphasizes the Natyashastra's embodiment of rules defining 'natya (drama), abhinaya (performance), rasa (aesthetic experience), bhava (emotion), sangita (music).' The text's date of compilation is estimated to range from 500 BCE to 500 CE, with the Register citation suggesting codification around the 2nd century BCE. One of the Natyashastra's most notable contributions is its exposition of the concept of rasa, which refers to the essence or juice of aesthetic experience. Bharata asserts that rasa is the ultimate goal of any performance art, stating that 'no meaning can blossom forth without rasa.' This profound insight has had a lasting impact on world literature and art. The concept of rasa, as Wallace Dace explains, involves the audience 'tasting' the emotion presented by the actor's performance, creating an experience that differs fundamentally from experiencing the emotion in real life. The aim of art, therefore, is to transport the audience into a 'parallel reality' where they engage with spiritual and moral questions.
The Bhagavad Gita, traditionally attributed to the sage Vyasa, is a Sanskrit scripture consisting of 700 verses organized into 18 chapters, embedded within the Mahabharata epic. UNESCO describes the Bhagavad Gita as 'a central text in the continuous, cumulative ancient intellectual Indian tradition, synthesising various thought movements such as, Vedic, Buddhist, Jain, and Charvaka.' The text is generally dated to the first or second century BCE, although scholarly debate persists on its exact origins. Winthrop Sargeant suggests that the oral composition was likely written down for the first time in the second or third centuries CE. The Gita unfolds as a dialogue between Arjuna and Krishna on the cusp of the Mahabharata war. Arjuna, faced with the prospect of fighting his own family, expresses his profound moral and ethical misgivings to Krishna, his charioteer and an avatar of Lord Vishnu. Krishna's responses form the core teachings of the Gita, providing a spiritual and ethical foundation for navigating life's complexities. The Bhagavad Gita's enduring appeal lies in its philosophical breadth and depth, leading to its translation into numerous languages and its widespread readership across the globe. It delves into themes of duty, devotion, and the nature of reality, offering guidance on how to live a meaningful and fulfilling life, making it a treasure to the world and deserving of its inclusion in UNESCO's Memory of the World Register.
The inclusion of these two texts underscores the importance of preserving and making accessible the world's documentary heritage. The UNESCO Memory of the World program plays a crucial role in ensuring that these invaluable resources are protected and accessible to all. The program acknowledges the historical, cultural, and intellectual significance of documents and archives and emphasizes the importance of their preservation. With more than 570 entries, the register represents an ever-growing compilation of our shared heritage. This includes documents that encompass a wide array of cultures, time periods, and subject matter. By providing access to these resources, the Memory of the World program aims to promote understanding and cooperation among nations. Furthermore, the program assists countries in protecting their documentary heritage and promoting its use. This includes providing technical assistance, training, and funding for preservation projects. The inclusion of the Bhagavad Gita and Natyashastra is a testament to the enduring power of India's intellectual and cultural traditions. These texts continue to inspire and enlighten people around the world. By adding them to the Memory of the World Register, UNESCO is helping to ensure that they are preserved for future generations.
The selection process for inclusion in the Memory of the World Register is a rigorous one. Nominations are submitted by national committees or, in the absence of a national committee, by organizations and institutions. The nominations are then evaluated by an international advisory committee based on criteria such as authenticity, rarity, significance, and universal value. The advisory committee makes recommendations to the Director-General of UNESCO, who makes the final decision. The process ensures that the register includes only the most significant and valuable documents from around the world. The inscription of the Bhagavad Gita and Natyashastra into the Memory of the World Register is not only a recognition of their significance but also a call to action. It reminds us of the importance of preserving our documentary heritage and making it accessible to all. It encourages us to support efforts to protect and preserve these invaluable resources for future generations. The Memory of the World program also has a role in promoting education and research. By providing access to these resources, the program enables researchers and scholars to gain a deeper understanding of our history and culture. It promotes the development of educational materials that use these resources to teach students about the past. The program also supports the training of archivists and librarians who are responsible for preserving and managing documentary heritage. This is a critical task that ensures that these resources are available for future generations. In conclusion, the addition of the Bhagavad Gita and Natyashastra to UNESCO’s Memory of the World Register celebrates India’s profound legacy and underscores the enduring importance of safeguarding documentary heritage worldwide. These ancient texts continue to resonate with audiences globally, offering invaluable insights into human existence and the pursuit of knowledge and understanding. The UNESCO program ensures these treasures are not lost to time but remain accessible for generations to come.
Source: Bhagavad Gita and Natyashastra added to UNESCO’s Memory of the World Register: All you need to know