Asiatic Society’s digitisation initiative of Manuscripts will facilitate to connect future generations to rich heritage of Bharat

PARTHA ROY, Kolkata: Asiatic Society has initiated major step in conservation of rich cultural heritage of Bharat by digitisation of manuscripts available with it and others institutions and individuals across West Bengal . It organised a “Conference of The Stakeholders Of Manuscripts Repositories” on 29th August 2025 in Kolkata.Since it’s inception in 1784, The Asiatic Society is playing major role in conservation of rich Indian knowledge systems , preservation of manuscripts , historical artifacts and more.

Lt. Col Anant Sinha Administrator of Asiatic Society spearheading the initiative of digitisation of manuscripts in West Bengal in collaboration with IIT Kharagpur, IIT Delhi, CDAC & others to develop appropriate technologies of digitisation using Artificial Intelligence ( AI) , machine learning(ML) and other advance technologies. Lt. Col. Anant Sinha is transforming Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s vision in to reality. Prime Minister’s Shri Narendra Modi’s vision involves rediscovery of rich information and knowledge hidden in various Indian scriptures and in manuscripts and to make the information available to present and future generations.

Lt. Col. Anant Sinha envisions to transform Asiatic Society in to Centre of Excellence in Conservation & Digitisation of Manuscripts from ancient times to modern times. The conference was addressed by Prof. Dr. Partha Pratim Chakraborty architect of National Digital Library Mission and former Director of IIT Kharagpur and computer scientist, Prof. (Dr.) Anirban Dash, Director National Mission of Manuscripts ( NMM) , Prof. Dr. Ajay Pratap Singh Director General of National Library Kolkata, Prof. Dr. Ramesh C. Gaur Dean ( Administration,Indira Gandhi National Centre For The Arts ( IGNCA ), Prof. Dr. Prabir Kumar Biswas of IIT Kharagpur & Computer Scientist, Prof . Dr. Ratna Basu Manuscripts specialist CDAC representatives & others. Lt. Col . Anant Sinha indicated due to diverse nature ( writting materials, scripts , etc )of wide range of manuscripts , several technologies are being developed and a few of them in proof of concept and various development stages by multiple organisations including CDAC .

The Asiatic Society is developing advanced models todigitise, transcribe, andtranslate rare texts writtenin ancient and codifiedscripts with several organisations. The initiative aimsto make the vast reservoir of information and knowledge accessible notjust to scholars and researchers, but also to the wider public .Asiatic Societytoday holds over 50,000 manuscripts, many still undeciphered. Lt. Col. Sinha said: “Ourattempt is to unlock the ancient knowledge system for future generations. These manuscripts must be preservedand translated with the helpof AI and machíne learning.

“Technologies those are in the process of development when finally developed will play critically important role in preservation of manuscripts across India. At a stakeholders mee-ting, representatives from institutions, including Calcutta University, BurdwanUniversity, Viswa – Bharati, State Archives,Victoria Memorial Hall, Syama Prasad Mookherjee Port, Archeological Survey of India and severalregional libraries participated.