Jamia Hamdard (Deemed to be University) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Gyan Bharatam, a flagship programme of the Ministry of Culture, Government of India, to strengthen national efforts in the preservation, conservation, digitization, translation, and research of India’s rich manuscript heritage.
With the signing of this MoU, Jamia Hamdard has been officially designated as a Cluster Centre, entrusted with leading manuscript-related activities for its own collections and coordinating and supervising up to 20 Cluster Partner Centres across the country.
The MoU was signed by Shri Inderjeet Singh, Director, Ministry of Culture, Government of India, and Dr. Sarfaraz Ahsan, Registrar (Officiating), Jamia Hamdard, in the presence of Dr. Akhtar Parvez, University Librarian, Jamia Hamdard; Professor Anirban Dash, Project Director; and Mr. Bharat Kumar, Under Secretary, Gyan Bharatam, Ministry of Culture, Government of India.
During an interaction with senior university officials, Professor (Dr.) M. Afshar Alam, Vice-Chancellor, Jamia Hamdard, described the collaboration as a moment of pride for the institution.
“This partnership with the Ministry of Culture reflects the trust reposed in Jamia Hamdard’s academic and institutional capabilities. As a Cluster Centre, we are committed to preserving, digitizing, and promoting India’s manuscript heritage while creating world-class scholarly resources that bridge our civilizational past with contemporary research needs,” he said.
Professor Alam also conveyed his sincere appreciation to Shri Vivek Aggarwal, Secretary, Ministry of Culture, Government of India, for his gracious support and prompt action in designating Jamia Hamdard as a Cluster Centre under Gyan Bharatam.
Highlighting the scope of work, Dr. Akhtar Parvez, University Librarian, stated that Jamia Hamdard will undertake systematic survey and cataloguing of manuscripts; preventive and curative conservation; capacity-building workshops; digitization and integration with the National Digital Repository; transliteration, translation, and preparation of critical editions; as well as research, publications, exhibitions, and extensive outreach initiatives.
This partnership marks a transformative milestone for Jamia Hamdard, positioning the University at the forefront of manuscript studies, digital humanities, and cultural preservation. The establishment of the Cluster Centre is expected to significantly expand research and training opportunities for scholars and students, while enhancing national and international access to rare and invaluable knowledge traditions.
Jamia Hamdard looks forward to working closely with Gyan Bharatam to advance shared national goals in safeguarding and disseminating India’s manuscript legacy.
