- Chief Minister reviews 150-year-old Odia manuscripts preserved by families in Kondagaon’s Badekanera village under the Gyan Bharatam campaign
Raipur, June 1, 2026/ Rare Odia manuscripts dating back nearly 150 years came into focus during Chief Minister Shri Vishnu Deo Sai’s visit to Badekanera village in Kondagaon district as a part of Sushasan Tihar on Monday. Reviewing the collection preserved under the Gyan Bharatam campaign, Shri Sai praised the families that have protected the manuscripts for generations and called India’s ancient knowledge traditions an invaluable cultural legacy.
Shri Sai interacted with village resident Shri Ramuram Yadav and examined eight ancient manuscripts preserved by his family. He sought details about their history, use and preservation, and said such documents represent far more than literary records. They are living symbols of India’s civilisational heritage, cultural traditions and indigenous knowledge systems, he said, adding that preserving them helps connect future generations with their roots.
Chief Minister praised families that have protected the manuscripts for decades, saying cultural heritage cannot be preserved without community participation. Families that have safeguarded such treasures over generations are, in many ways, custodians of the country’s knowledge wealth, he remarked.
Several other manuscript custodians, including Shri Hardu Kashyap and Shri Parmeshwar Manikpuri of Badekanera, Shri Trilochan Manikpuri and Shri Pursoti Ram Maurya of Amravati, and Shri Chamru Nag of Kopra village, also interacted with Chief Minister. They informed him that the manuscripts had been passed down from their forefathers and continue to be preserved with great care.
According to the custodians, the collection includes important texts such as Panjiyar, Panji, Puranas, Panchang and Chakrakoot Panchang. These manuscripts were traditionally used for religious rituals, social practices, preservation of traditional knowledge and astrological calculations. They also contain references to local cultural traditions, religious customs and distinctive systems of timekeeping.
Shri Sai also sought information about the traditional methods used to read and interpret the manuscripts and the arrangements currently in place for their preservation. He stressed the need for collective efforts towards conservation, digitization and systematic documentation of ancient knowledge resources so that future generations remain connected to India’s cultural and intellectual heritage.
Chief Minister said the Gyan Bharatam campaign, being implemented under the guidance of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, is an important initiative aimed at preserving India’s ancient manuscripts, knowledge traditions and cultural heritage. He said the campaign is helping safeguard the country’s intellectual legacy while also reconnecting younger generations with their historical roots.
