Gyan Bharatam Mission | 11 Sep 2025

Source: IE

Why in News?

The Ministry of Culture, at the first Gyan Bharatam International Conference on ‘Reclaiming India’s Knowledge Legacy through Manuscript Heritage’ under the Gyan Bharatam Mission, invited experts to present research on deciphering the Harappan (Indus Valley) script.

What is the Gyan Bharatam Mission?

• About: The Gyan Bharatam Mission, announced in Union Budget 2025-26, is a national initiative to preserve, digitise, and disseminate India’s vast manuscript heritage, combining tradition with modern technology for future generations.
• Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Culture.
• Objective:

• Mission Components:
  • Survey & Documentation: Nationwide identification and cataloguing of manuscripts.
  • Conservation & Restoration: Safeguard fragile texts through scientific and traditional methods.
  • Digitisation & Repository: AI-assisted digitisation and creation of a National Digital Repository.
  • Technology & AI Innovation: Tools like Handwritten Text Recognition and Gyan-Setu AI Challenge.
• Significance: With over 44 lakh manuscripts documented in Kriti Sampada (National Database of Manuscripts), it preserves India’s civilisational knowledge spanning philosophy, science, medicine, mathematics, arts, literature, and spirituality.
  • Supports Article 51A(f), fundamental duty to value and preserve cultural heritage.
  • Aligns with National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, integrating Indian Knowledge Systems into modern education.
  • It bridges heritage and technology, empowering youth while promoting India’s global cultural leadership.

What is the Harappan (Indus Valley) Script?

• About: It is used by Indus Valley Civilization (2600–1900 BCE) in present-day Pakistan and north-west India.
  • Discovered in the 1920s by Sir John Marshall’s team, the Indus Valley script found on seals, terracotta tablets, and metal is still undeciphered and features pictograms, animals, and human motifs.
• Writing Style & Nature: It is generally written right to left; longer texts sometimes in Boustrophedon style (alternating lines).
  • Inscriptions are brief, averaging 5 symbols, the longest text has 26 symbols.
  • Likely a logosyllabic system, combining pictograms and syllables, similar to other scripts of its era.  
    • Scholars propose a rebus principle, where symbols represent sounds or ideas indirectly.
• Purpose and Function: Used for trade, taxes, and identification, though full role is unclear. Some symbols may have educational or religious significance.
• Major Theories on Harappan Script:
  • Dravidian Hypothesis: Some argue that the script has Dravidian roots, using the rebus principle; e.g., the fish symbol may represent “star” in Dravidian. Supported by Brahui language in Balochistan and Old Tamil links.
  • Sanskrit Connection: Some suggest a link to Vedic Sanskrit, but this is largely rejected because the Aryan migration occurred after 2000 BCE.
  • Tribal Language Links: A few researchers connect it to Adivasi languages such as Santali and Gondi.
  • Non-linguistic Symbols Theory: The script may have been used for trade, taxation, or religious purposes, and may not represent a full language.

Conclusion

The Gyan Bharatam Mission uses Digital India and AI to digitize over five million manuscripts, making India’s ancient knowledge globally accessible. It engages youth and reimagines heritage as living knowledge. Aligned with the vision of a Viksit Bharat, Gyan Bharatam strengthens India’s role as a Vishwa Guru by combining heritage, innovation, and global knowledge sharing.