The Shrimad Bhagavad Gita and Bharat Muni’s Natyashastra manuscripts have been added in United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization’s (UNESCO) Memory of the World Register on April 17.
With this inclusion, the total number of inscriptions from India has increased to 14.
Taking to X, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has praised the inclusion as a "proud moment for every Indian across the world”.
On the occasion of World Heritage Day 2025, UNESCO added 74 new documentary heritage collections to its Memory of the World Register. This register has a total number of 570 inscribed collections, of which 14 inscriptions are taken from India.
Audrey Azoulay, the Director General of UNESCO said, “Documentary heritage is an essential yet fragile element of the memory of the world. This is why UNESCO invests in safeguarding, such as the libraries of Chinguetti in Mauritania or the archives of Amadou Hampate Ba in Cote d’Ivoire, shares best practices, and maintains this register that records the broadest threads of human history.” On the inclusion of the inscription of Gita and Natyshastra, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Minister of Culture of India took to X and said, “This global honor celebrates India’s eternal wisdom and artistic genius. This global honor celebrates India’s eternal wisdom & artistic genius.”
Retweeting the post of Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, PM Modi stated this was ‘A proud moment for every Indian across the world.’
He also added, “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 civilization, and consciousness for centuries. Their insights continue to inspire the world.”
UNESCO’s Memory of the World Programme was launched in 1992 to safeguard and preserve the world’s documentary heritage which includes manuscripts, oral traditions, audio-visual contents and archives.
Srimad Bhagavad Gita contains 700 verses in 18 chapters. It’s a part of the Hindu scripture, Mahabharata which is formed as an exchange of dialogue between Lord Krishna and Arjuna. The core of Bhagavad Gita lies in its teaching on dharma (righteous duty) and karma (action).
Natyashastra is the earliest literature on music and drama. It was written by Bharat Muni in around 500 BC. It has hugely influenced the dance, drama and music traditions in India.
Before the inscription of Bhagavad Gita, in the year 2022, National Council Of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) textbooks had included references to Srimad Bhagavad Gita in class VI, VII and it included its shlokas in Sanskrit textbooks of class XI and XII.
