Granthas are much more than simple historical artefacts. They're voices of ancestors. Written in Sanskrit, Prakrit, Tamil, Persian and many other languages, these texts span subjects like metaphysics, astronomy, medicine, ethics and governance. They were composed by rishis and scholars who perceived knowledge not as a personal property but as a sacred trust. Time, alas, is the greatest enemy of such texts.

Humidity, insects and neglect can erode palm-leaf manuscripts, while paper, when stored poorly, can be reduced to dust. A single fire, flood or bureaucratic oversight can erase centuries of accumulated wisdom. Digitisation is no longer optional. It's a prerogative as an emergency rescue mission.

When a grantha vanishes, we do not just lose words on a page, we lose entire world views. Brihat Samhita, a 6th-c. text, predicted solar eclipses and discussed concepts like cloud-seeding. Charaka Samhita (between 100 BCE and 200 CE) discussed surgical procedures centuries before modern medicine. These are not mere relics but reservoirs of knowledge. Without digitisation, we risk cultural amnesia, losing healing processes, ethical systems and much more that took centuries to develop that could be erased. Hence, the stakes are civilisational.

Traditional preservation through climate-controlled libraries can be insufficient. A renowned manuscript in an archive is like a bird in its cage. The true purpose behind such texts was always to enlighten, challenge and guide coming generations. Digitisation unshackles manuscripts, turning static relics into dynamic resources. Digital platforms dissolve borders and make knowledge universally accessible. Projects like Muktabodha Digital Library, Digital Library of India and Institute for Vaishnava Studies have saved thousands of pages from extinction. These sustained efforts are the beginning.

Manuscripts were meant to be debated, expanded and applied. Digitisation honours that interest by making access universal. A farmer in a remote village can now read ancient agricultural techniques from Krishisukti, or a doctor somewhere can study the Sushruta Samhita, which can provide holistic surgical insights. Digital tools can also help with interactive engagement.

Today, ML can decode faded scripts, and AI-powered platforms can decipher and translate bulk Sanskrit texts into dozens of languages. Collaborative platforms can help in annotating and interpreting scripts by renowned scholars. It can signal a revival.

To ensure preservation, governments, universities and private universities must collaborate to:

Expand digitisation efforts by prioritising endangered manuscripts in remote temples and private collections.

Developing open-access platforms by ensuring the texts are free for all and not hiding them behind a paywall.

Integrating emerging technological tools and platforms with processes to translate, restore and disseminate ancient knowledge.

It is about enriching the future. Indians, as inheritors of a legacy, have a duty to protect and reawaken the texts.