Today, as I sat down to write this perspective, I felt inspired to begin with Sanskrit—a language I deeply admire, though I’m not fully fluent in it. Thankfully, AI stood by as a collaborator, guiding me through the nuances.
“यत्रपर्वू ेसन्तिपतथानः,िान्अन्तर्वच्छयथावर्वधि।”
“Where the paths laid by the ancestors exist, follow them properly and with reverence.”
The soul of Bharat is ancient, profound, and full of resilience. From the Vedic chants echoing in Gurukuls to the stone edicts of forgotten empires, our heritage is a vast reservoir of wisdom. But much of this treasure lies hidden – in unread manuscripts, eroded inscriptions, or undocumented oral traditions. Now, in the age of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Generative AI (GenAI), we are witnessing a technological renaissance that is reviving this legacy. These technologies are more than futuristic tools – they are digital sages, helping uncover truths buried under layers of time. From interpreting ancient scripts to digitally reconstructing lost cities, AI is enabling us to rediscover Bharat with renewed pride and purpose.
AI: The Digital Yogi of Modern History
Recent advancements in AI – particularly in natural language processing, machine learning, and computer vision – are being channelled into historical research. GenAI takes this even further, capable of generating lifelike imagery, realistic reconstructions, and even simulated conversations with historical personalities.
The Asiatic Society in Kolkata, housing over 52,000 rare manuscripts, recently launched Project Vidhvanika. This initiative is teaching AI to read ancient Indian scripts using deep learning – essentially training it to become a modern-day decipherer, like James Prinsep, who cracked Brahmi. Early models had a 40 per cent success rate, but with guidance from linguistic scholars, accuracy is fast improving. Similarly, scholars like Oliver Hellwig at the University of Zurich have developed AI tools that understand the intricate grammar and sandhi rules of Sanskrit, aiding in the digitisation of over 4.5 million words of ancient Indian knowledge.
Decoding Vedic and Forgotten Civilisations
India’s civilisational wisdom is encoded not just in known texts but also in mystery scripts like that of the Indus Valley Civilisation. For over a century, its symbols remained indecipherable. Now, researchers at MIT have applied machine learning models to identify patterns in such scripts, bringing us closer to understanding one of the world’s oldest urban cultures.
Deep learning is also unlocking Tamil-Brahmi inscriptions from the 3rd century BCE with 99 per cent accuracy – a major leap in reconstructing South India’s dynastic history. These translations are helping build local historical narratives, often neglected in mainstream chronicles. In essence, AI is amplifying the voice of forgotten kings, queens, scholars, and seers, ensuring their stories reach the present generation.
Rebuilding Bharat’s Past, Brick by Virtual Brick
Now imagine standing amid the ruins of Takshashila or Nalanda, and watching them come alive through a virtual headset. AI-powered 3D reconstruction tools, trained on old photos, maps, and texts, are making this possible. In Southeast Asia, researchers have used this method to digitally restore temples like Borobudur. Similar techniques are being proposed for Indian marvels, such as Konark Sun Temple or the intricate reliefs of Khajuraho.
Indian startups are taking this further. At the Ram Katha Museum in Ayodhya, immersive AI- driven exhibits are being developed to recreate scenes from the Ramayana using holograms. These aren’t just fancy visuals – they are immersive time machines, helping children and tourists experience sacred epics in ways books alone cannot.
Generative models can also repair broken artifacts, reimagining how damaged idols, murals, or pottery once looked. This doesn’t replace archaeological integrity, but offers a powerful supplement, especially for museums and digital archives.
AI as a Guru: Teaching, Storytelling, and Awakening Pride
India’s youth are digital natives. To engage them with history, we must speak in the language they understand – interactive visuals, smart chatbots, and virtual experiences. AI tools like Rig Veda Explorer now offer chat-based interpretations of Rigvedic hymns. One can ask questions about the cosmos, dharma, or rita – and receive answers based on ancient commentaries. Imagine conversing with a digital guru from the Vedic age! Artists like Madhav Kohli have gone viral by using GenAI to create lifelike portraits of ancient Indian emperors like Chandragupta, Maurya, and Ashoka. These images help people visualise and relate to the past, stirring curiosity among younger generations. Google’s “Life in Miniature” project, in collaboration with India’s National Museum, uses AI and augmented reality to animate India’s famed miniature paintings. An AI engine finds visual links between themes, allowing users to explore stories within these artworks more interactively than ever.
Guarding Truth: Ensuring Authenticity in the Age of AI
With great power comes great responsibility. AI learns from data – so if it’s trained on biased or incorrect inputs, it might create distortions. That’s why many historical AI projects follow the “human-in-the-loop” model, where historians and linguists supervise AI outputs. In projects like Vidhvanika, scholars fine-tune models and cross-check translations. AI-generated restorations are always marked as conjectural, ensuring the audience knows which parts are original and which are digitally interpreted.
Tools are now being developed to cross-verify AI-created history against official archives and encyclopedias. This helps maintain the purity of civilizational narratives, avoiding the whitewashing or distortion of Bharat’s contributions.
Cultural Pride Meets Tech Renaissance
This AI-driven historical awakening is more than technological progress – it’s a civilisational comeback.
For students, history becomes alive and immersive. For educators, tools like VR walkthroughs and AI-generated quizzes revolutionise pedagogy. For policymakers, digital archives and predictive AI offer smart solutions to heritage conservation. Even rural youth can now access digitised Vedic manuscripts from home, bridging the gap between tradition and technology. In a time when misinformation is rampant, authentic AI-powered historical education empowers citizens to discern truth from propaganda. Just as ancient Indians pioneered astronomy, mathematics, and philosophy, today’s Bharat is pioneering heritage tech – fusing ancient wisdom with digital tools.
A Nation Remembering Its Roots to Shape Its Future
From stone seals of the Harappans to chants of the Rigveda, from the grandeur of forgotten empires to the wisdom of saints – Bharat’s soul is timeless. AI and GenAI are not here to replace history; they are here to revive, retell, and reimagine it for a generation that seeks meaning in modern mediums.
Our ancestors lit the fire of knowledge. Today, we are ensuring that fire becomes a beacon, guiding future generations with truth, pride, and a sense of belonging. Let us not look at AI as mere code – but as a new Rishi, ready to script the next chapter of Bharat’s legacy.
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