Two-Day Workshop on Conservation of Ancient Scripts and Manuscripts Inaugurated at IIAS
A two-day workshop on the theme “Heritage of Ancient Writing Traditions in the Western Himalaya—Conservation of Scripts and Manuscripts of Himachal Pradesh” was formally inaugurated today at the Indian Institute of Advanced Study (IIAS), Rashtrapati Nivas, Shimla. The workshop is being held from April 21–22, 2026, and will deliberate extensively on various aspects related to ancient scripts and manuscripts, including their conservation, reading traditions, digitization, and documentation.
The objective of the workshop is to promote the study and preservation of manuscript traditions and scripts prevalent in the Western Himalayan region, particularly in Himachal Pradesh, such as Pabuchi, Tankri, Pandavani, and Chandvani, which evolved from the Sharada script. These manuscripts contain valuable material related to the Indian knowledge tradition, especially the Vedas, Puranas, Jyotisha, and Ayurveda, and are considered highly significant from a research perspective. The inaugural session commenced with the inauguration of an exhibition of manuscripts, offering a rare glimpse into the ancient writing traditions.
The Coordinator of the workshop, Prof. Om Prakash Sharma, delivered the welcome address and introduced the theme, highlighting the objectives and relevance of the workshop. He emphasized that the manuscripts preserved in the Himalayan region constitute an invaluable heritage of the Indian knowledge system and stressed the need for their conservation.
This was followed by the keynote address delivered by National Fellow Prof. R.C. Sinha, who elaborated on the significance of manuscripts, their preservation, and various dimensions of the study of ancient writing traditions.
In his address, the Chief Guest, Prof. Himanshu Kumar Chaturvedi, stated that manuscripts are not merely historical documents but living expressions of India’s intellectual tradition. He underscored the importance of their conservation, digitization, and scientific study, and emphasized the need for coordinated institutional efforts in this direction. He further affirmed that the Indian Institute of Advanced Study remains committed to supporting this noble and creative endeavour.
Presiding over the session, Prof. Devdutt Sharma, in his presidential address, highlighted the importance of studying ancient scripts for a deeper understanding of Indian history and culture, and encouraged young researchers to engage in this field. He also presented various aspects related to the subject in an engaging and insightful manner.
The session concluded with a vote of thanks proposed by the Secretary of the Institute, Shri Mehar Chand Negi. The programme was moderated by the Public Relations Officer, Dr. Akhilesh Pathak.
It is noteworthy that the forthcoming sessions of the workshop will feature lectures and discussions by experts on manuscript conservation, script studies, technical aspects, and regional traditions.
