Ramcharitmanas Panchatantra Sahṛdayāloka-Locana: Good news for all, UNESCO’s Memory of the World Asia-Pacific Regional Register now includes the Ramcharitmanas, Panchatantra, and Sahṛdayāloka-Locana. India is truly proud of this inclusion, which attests to the rich literary and cultural legacy of the nation.
Global Efforts to Preserve Cultural Heritage
The inclusion also marks a development in international efforts to preserve cultural heritage, emphasizing how important it is to acknowledge and protect the variety of stories and artistic expressions that contribute to the formation of our common humanity.
The ageless masterpieces “Ramcharitmanas,” “Panchatantra,” and “Sahṛdayaloka-Locana” have had a profound impact on Indian literature and culture, helping to shape the moral fiber and artistic expressions of the country.
These literary masterpieces have endured beyond space and time, profoundly influencing readers and artists in India as well as abroad. Notably, Acharya Anandvardhan, Pt. Vishnu Sharma, and Goswami Tulsidas wrote “Sahṛdayaloka-Locana,” “Panchatantra,” and “Ramcharitmanas,” respectively.
IGNCA’s Key Role in MOWCAP’s 10th Meeting
The 10th meeting of the Memory of the World Committee for Asia and the Pacific (MOWCAP) was made possible in large part by the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA).
Forty observers and nominees joined 38 members of the member states at the Ulaanbaatar summit. IGNCA secured the inclusion of three Indian nominations in “UNESCO’s Memory of the World Asia-Pacific Regional Register” by advocating for them.
Successful Advocacy at the Ulaanbaatar Summit
These three Indian entries—the Ramcharitmanas, the Panchatantra, and the Sahṛdayāloka-Locana—were successfully presented by Professor Ramesh Chandra Gaur, Dean (Administration) and Head of the Department, Kala Nidhi Division, at IGNCA.
In UllanBatar, Prof. Gaur successfully defended the nominations. This accomplishment highlights IGNCA’s commitment to safeguarding and advancing India’s cultural heritage and reaffirms its support for the advancement of India’s literary legacy as well as global cultural preservation. Since its founding in 2008, this is the first time the IGNCA has submitted nominations to the Regional Register.
