Historic 200-Year-Old Ramayana Manuscript Found in Ayodhya | 07 Apr 2026

Why in News? 

A rare over 200-year-old Ramayana manuscript will be preserved at the Antarrashtriya Ram Katha Sangrahalaya in Ayodhya, highlighting efforts to safeguard India’s cultural and religious heritage. 

Key Points 

• Manuscript: A more than 200-year-old manuscript of the Ramcharitmanas written in Nagari script (which later evolved into Devanagari) will be added to the museum’s collection in Ayodhya. 
• Preservation Initiative:  The museum urged scholars and institutions to donate rare Ramayana manuscripts in Sanskrit and other Indian languages. 
  • The initiative aims to create a national repository of Ramayan manuscripts, including regional versions, commentaries, and illustrated manuscripts on palm leaves or paper. 
  • Approval has been granted to establish a conservation centre at the museum to preserve and study these historic texts. 
• International Ram Katha Museum: 
  • It was established in 1988. 
  • Dedicated to the life and legacy of Lord Rama.