Timeless Treasures: Gita and Natya Shastra Join UNESCO’s Heritage List

This is a noteworthy recognition of India's long-standing contributions to the literary, cultural, and philosophical traditions of the world.

The Bhagavad Gita, which is  regarded as the spiritual foundation of Indian philosophy, describes a holy conversation between Lord Krishna and the warrior Arjuna that takes place on the Kurukshetra battlefield. It is more than just a religious text; it is a worldwide manual for morality, responsibility, and inner fortitude. The centuries-old text preserved in elaborate calligraphy in the UNESCO-recognized manuscript represents the breadth and depth of India's biblical heritage.

Alongside it, the Natya Shastra — an ancient Sanskrit treatise attributed to the sage Bharata — has also been honored. This seminal work, believed to have been composed between 200 BCE and 200 CE, is considered the foundational text for Indian performing arts, encompassing drama, dance, music, and stagecraft. It lays out detailed principles that continue to shape classical art forms such as Bharatanatyam, Kathakali, and classical Indian theatre.

In addition to confirming these texts' historical and cultural significance, their listing in the UNESCO record also serves to highlight their continued relevance today. These manuscripts demonstrate how ancient Indian thinking has impacted fields worldwide, ranging from spirituality and ethics to aesthetics and performance, reflecting India's rich intellectual and cultural heritage.

The goal of UNESCO's "Memory of the World" initiative is to conserve and advance the world's globally significant documentary legacy. The Gita and Natya Shastra are now part of an international collection of invaluable writings that also includes manuscripts from ancient China and the Arab world, the Gutenberg Bible, and Magna Carta.

The declaration was greeted by India's Ministry of Culture, which described it as a proud occasion for the country and an acknowledgement of the ageless wisdom preserved in its legacy. The recognition is expected to stimulate fresh interest in the study and preservation of India's ancient knowledge systems as well as wider international engagement with them, according to scholars and cultural institutions.

Blog By : Harsh Pargat