Ramcharitmanas, Panchatantra Get UNESCO Recognition

Ramcharitmanas, Panchatantra, and Sahṛdayaloka-Locana have been named to UNESCO’s Memory of the World Asia-Pacific Regional Register. This is a significant achievement for India as it has been recognized for its...

Ruby Thakur
May 15, 2024
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Ramcharitmanas, Panchatantra, and Sahṛdayaloka-Locana have been named to UNESCO’s Memory of the World Asia-Pacific Regional Register. This is a significant achievement for India as it has been recognized for its rich literary heritage and cultural legacy. The inclusion of these three literary masterpieces on the register highlights the importance of recognizing and safeguarding the diverse narratives and artistic expressions that shape our shared humanity.

Ramcharitmanas, Panchatantra Get UNESCO Recognition

Why In News

Ramcharitmanas, Panchatantra, and Sahṛdayaloka-Locana have been named to UNESCO’s Memory of the World Asia-Pacific Regional Register. This is a significant achievement for India as it has been recognized for its rich literary heritage and cultural legacy. The inclusion of these three literary masterpieces on the register highlights the importance of recognizing and safeguarding the diverse narratives and artistic expressions that shape our shared humanity.

All You Need To Know

Ramcharitmanas, Panchatantra, and Sahṛdayaloka-Locana are timeless works that have had a profound impact on Indian literature and culture. These literary works have transcended time and place, leaving an indelible mark on readers and artists both within and outside India.

They are sure to continue to inspire and enlighten future generations.
The inclusion of these three works on the register is a testament to the efforts of the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA) in promoting and preserving India’s cultural heritage.

IGNCA played a vital role in securing this historic moment during the 10th meeting of the Memory of the World Committee for Asia and the Pacific (MOWCAP) in Ulaanbaatar, 38 representatives from member states, along with 40 observers and nominees, gathered to discuss the nominations.

MoWCAP

MoW (Memory of the World) Program was launched by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in 1992.
MOWCAP was set up in 1998 during its First MOWCAP General Meeting.
MOWCAP embraces the Asia Pacific region of 43 countries – one of five UNESCO regions across the globe.

MOWCAP maintains an Asia/Pacific Regional Register of the MoW documentary heritage, a listing of the documentary heritage of influence in the Asia/Pacific region.
MOWCAP is the authority that approves inscriptions on the Asia/Pacific MoW Register. It assesses nominations from members through its Asia/Pacific Register Subcommittee.
Normally, inscriptions on the Asia/Pacific Register are made every two years.

Ramcharitmanas

Authored by 16th century Indian poet Goswami Tulsidas, ‘Ramcharitmanas’ is an epic poem that narrates the life of Lord Rama.
It is based on the Sanskrit epic Ramayana and is written in the Awadhi dialect of Hindi.

The choice to write in Awadhi reflects the Bhakti movement’s emphasis on devotion and the effort to make religious texts accessible to a wider audience.
The poem is divided into seven chapters, or Kandas, that tell the story of Lord Ram from his birth to becoming the King of Ayodhya.
The poem is also called Tulsikrit Ramayan (literally, The Ramayan composed by Tulsi or, loosely, The Ramayan of Tulsidas). Hanuman Chalisa is a combination of 40 verses from the same epic.

Panchatantra

The Panchatantra is a collection of ancient Indian animal fables that dates back to at least the 3rd century BCE.
Originally written in Sanskrit by Vishnu Sharma.
Its stories are crafted as simple yet vibrant narratives that aim to impart practical life lessons through the interactions of anthropomorphized animals.

Sahrdayaloka-Locana

Sahrdayaloka-Locana is a Sanskrit treatise on poetics written by Jagannatha Paṇḍitaraja in the 17th century.
It is considered one of the most important works of Sanskrit literary criticism.
The text discusses the concept of “Sahrdaya“, which refers to a sensitive or discerning reader or critic.

Other Listings From India In MOW Register

The I.A.S. Tamil Medical Manuscript Collection (1997)
Archives of the Dutch East India Company (2003)
Saiva Manuscript in Pondicherry (2005)
Rigveda (2007)
laghukālacakratantrarājatikā (Vimalaprabhā) (2011)
Tarikh-E-Khandan-E-Timuriyah (2011)
Shāntinātha Charitra (2013)
Gilgit Manuscript (2017)
Maitreyayvarakarana (2017)

Conclusion

It is a significant achievement for India, as it has been recognized for its rich literary heritage and cultural legacy.
The inclusion of these three literary masterpieces on the register highlights the importance of recognizing and safeguarding the diverse narratives and artistic expressions that shape our shared humanity.

World-Asia-Pacific-Regional-Register Download

Ruby Thakur

General Studies Lecturer SSBCrackExams, BSc In PCM, Trained Students For State Services Exams. Expertise in Geography ,Polity & Current Affairs. Love Travelling.