The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) has bestowed global recognition upon several significant literary works from India, cementing their place in the Memory of the World Asia-Pacific Regional Register (MOWCAP). Among the distinguished compositions honoured are the revered epics “Ramcharitmanas,” the timeless fables of “Panchatantra,” and the profound literary work “Sahridayalok-Lokan.”
Memory Of The World : ‘#UNESCO’ च्या ‘मेमरी ऑफ द वर्ल्ड’मध्ये श्रीरामचरितमानस आणि पंचतंत्र यांचा समावेश !
Shri Ramcharitmanas वर टीका करणार्या नतद्रष्ट भारतीय राजकारण्यांना ‘युनेस्को’ची ही सणसणीत चपराकच म्हणावी लागेल !
वाचा :https://t.co/0jjnE6AvWl pic.twitter.com/i8GZ2s7rVP
— Sanatan Prabhat (@SanatanPrabhat) May 15, 2024
Including these masterpieces in the Memory of the World (MoW) list signifies their universal value and global significance, as recommended by UNESCO’s International Advisory Committee and Executive Board. This recognition not only highlights India’s rich literary and cultural heritage but also extends its influence to nations around the world.
The Ramcharitmanas, Panchatantra, and Sahṛdayāloka-Locana enter ‘UNESCO's Memory of the World Asia-Pacific Regional Register’#UNESCO #Ramcharitmanas pic.twitter.com/Ojsz2ZKyAE
— DD News (@DDNewslive) May 15, 2024
At the 10th meeting of the Memory of the World Committee for Asia and the Pacific (MOWCAP) in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, Professor Ramesh Chandra Gaur, Head of the Department of Arts at the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA), played a pivotal role. Representing India, he presented three entries, including manuscripts of Sahridayalok-Lokan, Panchatantra, and an illustrated manuscript of Tulsidas’ Ramacharitmanas, leading to their successful inclusion in the prestigious register.
After thorough deliberation and voting by representatives from 38 member states and 40 observer countries of the United Nations, all three nominations were successfully included in the prestigious register. These literary treasures, originating from different periods and regions of India, have left an indelible mark on the nation’s cultural landscape and continue to inspire readers and artists worldwide.
Expressing pride in India’s cultural legacy, Professor Ramesh Chandra Gaur emphasised that including these manuscripts signifies a significant step forward in global cultural preservation efforts. He reiterated that honouring these exceptional works pays tribute to their authors’ creative brilliance and ensures that their profound wisdom and timeless teachings endure for future generations.
The Ministry of Culture also issued a statement underscoring the profound impact of compositions like the Ramcharitmanas, Panchatantra, and Sahridayalok-Lokan on Indian culture and literature. UNESCO’s recognition is hailed as a moment of pride, furthering the preservation and dissemination of India’s rich cultural heritage on the global stage.
The Ramcharitmanas, penned by Goswami Tulsidas in the Avadhi language, is an epic poem. Panchatantra, originally composed in Sanskrit by Pandit Vishnu Sharma, comprises a collection of fables and folk tales. Sahridayalok-Lokan, authored by Acharya Anandvardhan in Sanskrit, is a testament to India’s literary excellence and cultural richness.
With 38 countries endorsing these works, their inclusion in the Memory of the World register is a testament to their enduring legacy and universal appeal, transcending geographical and cultural boundaries.
