UNESCO Adds Three Indian Literary Gems to 'Memory of the World' Asia-Pacific Register
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) has added three significant Indian literary works to its "Memory of the World (MOW) Asia-Pacific Regional Register": The Ramcharitmanas (Rāmacaritamānasa), Panchatantra (Pañcatantra Fables), and Sahṛdayāloka-Locana.
An Overview of the News
This decision was made at the 10th meeting of the Memory of the World Committee for Asia and the Pacific (MOWCAP), which took place in Ulaanbatar, Mongolia.
During the 2024 cycle, the Asia-Pacific Member States included a total of 20 items from various countries, with three from India.
Authored by Goswami Tulsidas, Pt. Vishnu Sharma, and Acharya Anandvardhan, respectively, these literary works hold significant cultural and historical importance.
IGNCA's Role and Representation:
The Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA) played a pivotal role in ensuring the placement of The Ramcharitmanas, Panchatantra, and Sahṛdayāloka-Locana in UNESCO's Memory of the World Asia-Pacific Regional Register.
Prof. Ramesh Chandra Gaur, Dean (Administration) and Head of Department (HOD) at the Kala Nidhi Division of IGNCA in New Delhi, Delhi, effectively represented the three entries from India.
IGNCA's participation marked its first-ever submission of nominations to the Regional Register since its inception in 2008, underscoring its commitment to preserving and promoting cultural heritage.
MOWCAP:
MOWCAP, a regional arm of UNESCO's Memory of the World Programme (MOW), was inaugurated in 1998 at its inaugural General Meeting in Beijing, China.
The committee administers the Asia-Pacific register of MOW documentary heritage, updating it every two years with new inscriptions.
Its primary objective is to aid in the preservation and promotion of access to the documentary heritage of the Asia-Pacific region.
MOWCAP's mission extends to raising awareness about the significance and presence of this heritage.
It encompasses a membership of 43 countries spanning the Asia-Pacific region.
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