Granth Kutir: A National Repository Showcasing India’s Classical Literary Heritage

Why in News ?

The President of India recently inaugurated Granth Kutir at Rashtrai Bhavan, marking a significant step toward preserving and promoting India’s classical literary and manuscript heritage.

Background: India’s Manuscript and Knowledge Tradition

India possesses one of the world’s richest manuscript traditions, spanning over two millennia and covering diverse domains such as:

• Philosophy, science, medicine, and governance,
• Literature, linguistics, and devotional traditions,
• Legal and constitutional thought.

However, a large portion of this heritage remains:

• Scattered across institutions and private collections,
• Vulnerable to physical decay,
• Underutilised for academic research and public awareness.

Recognising this, the Government of India has prioritised the documentation, conservation, and dissemination of manuscripts and classical texts as part of its broader cultural and educational policy.

About Granth Kutir

Nature of the Institution: Granth Kutir is a curated repository and knowledge centre located at Rashtrapati Bhavan, dedicated to showcasing India’s classical manuscripts and literary traditions.

Languages Covered: It houses manuscripts and books in major classical and regional languages of India, including:

• Tamil, Sanskrit, Kannada, Telugu, Malayalam, Odia, Marathi,
• Pali, Prakrit, Assamese, and Bengali.

Subject Coverage: The collection spans a wide range of disciplines:

• Epics and classical literature,
• Philosophy and linguistics,
• History and governance,
• Science and knowledge systems,
• Devotional and spiritual literature,
• The Constitution of India in these classical and regional languages.

Objectives and Significance of Granth Kutir

1. Cultural Awareness and Public Engagement

• The primary aim is to enhance citizens’ awareness of India’s rich cultural and literary heritage.
• It brings classical texts into the public domain, bridging the gap between scholarship and society.

2. Preservation and Conservation

• Granth Kutir contributes to safeguarding fragile manuscripts and rare texts by providing a curated, protected environment.

3. Educational and Research Value

• It serves as a resource hub for scholars, students, researchers, and cultural institutions.
• Encourages interdisciplinary research across history, linguistics, philosophy, and governance.

4. National Integration Through Knowledge

• By representing multiple languages and traditions, it reflects India’s pluralistic and civilisational unity.

Institutional Collaboration and Development

Granth Kutir has been developed through extensive collaboration involving:

• Central Government and State Governments,
• Universities and research institutions,
• Cultural organisations,
• Individual donors from across the country.

This collaborative model ensures:

• Diverse and representative collections,
• Academic credibility,
• National ownership of cultural heritage preservation.

Alignment with Gyan Bharatam Mission

Granth Kutir supports the vision of the Gyan Bharatam Mission, a comprehensive national initiative under the Ministry of Culture, Government of India, dedicated to:

• Systematic survey of manuscripts,
• Scientific documentation,
• Long-term conservation,
• Large-scale digitisation of India’s manuscript heritage.

By providing a physical and institutional anchor for manuscript heritage, Granth Kutir complements the Mission’s digital and conservation efforts, strengthening India’s knowledge ecosystem.