In a historic recognition of India’s enduring intellectual and artistic traditions, UNESCO has inscribed the Bhagavad Gita and Bharat Muni’s Natyashastra into its prestigious Memory of the World Register.
UNESCO recently added 74 new documentary heritage collections to its Memory of the World Register, bringing the total number of inscribed collections to 570.
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This global honour celebrates the depth and enduring impact of India’s philosophical and artistic contributions to humanity.
The decision places these ancient texts among globally valued documents that have shaped human thought and expression across generations.
With the inclusion of the Gita and Natyashastra, India now has 14 entries in UNESCO’s prestigious Memory of the World Register, which aims to preserve documentary heritage of global significance.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to social media, calling it “a proud moment for every Indian across the world.” He hailed the global recognition of India’s timeless spiritual and cultural values.
“These works have nurtured civilisation and consciousness for centuries. Their insights continue to inspire the world,” the PM wrote, underlining the ongoing relevance of these texts.
Union Culture Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat also welcomed the recognition, calling it “a historic moment for Bharat’s civilisational heritage. This global honour celebrates India’s eternal wisdom & artistic genius.”
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The Bhagavad Gita, a 700-verse scripture within the Mahabharata, is a spiritual and philosophical dialogue between Lord Krishna and Arjuna.
Its teachings on dharma, karma, and the nature of the self, offer a timeless guide to ethics, action, and inner life.
Bhagavad Gita is a central text in the continuous, cumulative ancient intellectual Indian tradition, synthesising various thought movements such as, Vedic, Buddhist, Jain and Cārvāka.
Celebrated across philosophies and cultures, the Gita has been translated into countless languages and is increasingly being integrated into modern educational frameworks in India.
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Penned by sage Bharat Muni, the Natyashastra, also known as the Gāndharvaveda, is regarded as the foundational text on Indian performing arts.
With 36,000 verses covering drama, music, dance, aesthetics, it remains a touchstone for performers and scholars worldwide.
This ancient text lays down an elaborate framework for various art forms, covering nāṭya (drama), abhinaya (performance), rasa (aesthetic essence), bhāva (emotion), and saṅgīta (music).
Its profound assertion that “no meaning can blossom forth without rasa” continues to influence global art and literature.
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