New Delhi, April 18: The manuscripts of the Bhagavad Gita and Bharat Muni’s Natyashastra have been included in UNESCO’s Memory of the World Register, marking what Prime Minister Narendra Modi described as a proud moment for every Indian.
In a post on X, the Prime Minister wrote, “The inclusion of the Gita and Natyashastra in UNESCO’s Memory of the World Register is a global recognition of our timeless wisdom and rich culture. The Gita and Natyashastra have nurtured civilisation, and consciousness for centuries.”
The Memory of the World Register, which aims to preserve and promote humanity’s documentary heritage, added 74 new entries on April 17, raising the total number of inscribed collections to 570. The latest additions include works from 72 countries and four international organisations, highlighting contributions to science, women’s history, and multilateralism.
Union Minister for Culture Gajendra Singh Shekhawat also welcomed the inclusion, calling it a “historic moment for Bharat’s civilisational heritage.”
“These timeless works are more than literary treasures — they are philosophical and aesthetic foundations that have shaped Bharat’s worldview and the way we think, feel, live, and express,” Shekhawat posted on X, adding that India now has 14 entries on the international register.
The Natyashastra, often described as the world’s oldest surviving text on performing arts, and the Gita, a foundational philosophical dialogue from the Mahabharata, are widely considered pillars of Indian cultural and intellectual thought.
