Trilok Singh
The Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS), Ministry of Ayush, Government of India, in collaboration with the National Mission for Manuscripts (NMM), Ministry of Culture, is organizing a “Transliteration Capacity Building Workshop on Ayurvedic Manuscripts” from March 13 to March 24, 2025, at the Central Ayurveda Research Institute (CARI), Bhubaneswar.
Recognising the significance of such activity and appreciating CCRAS for the efforts, Shri Prataprao Jadhav, Union Minister of State (IC), Ministry of Ayush, stated that “India’s manuscript heritage is a treasure trove of traditional wisdom, and Ayurveda holds immense potential for modern healthcare. Through this initiative, we are not only preserving these invaluable texts but also empowering young scholars to decode and integrate them into contemporary research”.
Ayush Minister further said, “this effort strengthens our commitment to revitalising Ayurveda on a global scale, ensuring its relevance in evidence-based medicine. Moreover, by fostering expertise in manuscript studies, we are creating new employment opportunities for Ayurveda professionals while enhancing the role of traditional knowledge in public health. Such initiatives reflect India’s dedication to bridging the past with the future, making Ayurveda a cornerstone of holistic and scientific healthcare for generations to come.”
Emphasising the importance of this initiative for the scientific community, Secretary, Ministry of Ayush, Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha stated, “The transliteration of Ayurvedic manuscripts is a vital endeavour that bridges traditional wisdom with modern scientific inquiry. By equipping young scholars with the skills to critically analyse and interpret these texts, we are fostering a new wave of Ayurveda research. This initiative will enhance evidence-based validation of classical knowledge, ensuring its application in contemporary healthcare and global medical advancements.”
Aligning with the Government of India’s ‘Gyan Bharat Mission’, the workshop supports the survey, documentation, and conservation of India’s manuscript heritage. Prof. (Vaidya) Rabinarayan Acharya, Director General, CCRAS, emphasized, “The CCRAS has digitized more than 5000 medical manuscripts and also catalogued many more. Odisha holds a treasure trove of Ayurvedic manuscripts. This initiative is a step toward revitalizing India’s medical heritage for future generations while cultivating new job opportunities among young Ayurveda professionals.”
The workshop aims to train young Ayurveda researchers and Sanskrit scholars in studying, transliterating, and publishing Ayurvedic manuscripts, unlocking their vast potential for contemporary research. Odisha, with its rich manuscript heritage, presents a significant opportunity, and this workshop will help build a skilled human resource pool to preserve and promote Ayurvedic knowledge. 30 scholars from Odisha will participate under the guidance of over 10 eminent experts.
As a pioneer in Ayurvedic literary research, CCRAS has published over 94 books and developed digital initiatives such as Ayush Manuscripts Advanced Repository (AMAR) and Showcase of Ayurveda Historical Imprints (SAHI) to preserve rare manuscripts. This workshop is part of a nationwide CCRAS initiative to systematically study and critically edit Ayurvedic texts.
Through this series of workshops across the country, CCRAS is committed to strengthening Ayurveda’s literary research, ensuring that India’s traditional medical wisdom remains relevant for scientific advancements and societal well-being. Such efforts will be instrumental in bringing out the traditional knowledge for better healthcare delivery.
(With the inputs of AYUSH).
