Explained: This article explains the political background, key decisions, and possible outcomes related to Explained : ‘Past govts neglected India’s manuscripts, pushed ‘one family’ narrative and vote bank politics’: PM Modi’s sharp attack on Congress and Its Impact and why it matters right now.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday sharpened his attack on past governments, accusing them of promoting a “dynasty-driven narrative” and ignoring India’s cultural legacy due to a “colonial mindset”.
Speaking at the inauguration of the Samrat Samprati Museum at Koba Tirth on the occasion of Mahavir Jayanti, Modi said earlier regimes failed in their responsibility to preserve the country’s ancient manuscripts after Independence.
Advertisement
Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi were present at the event.
‘Colonial Mindset’ jibe at past governments
The Prime Minister said the neglect of India’s manuscript heritage was rooted in a colonial way of thinking. “It should have been the nation’s responsibility after Independence to identify and preserve ancient manuscripts. But due to a colonial mindset, no attention was paid in this direction,” he said.
Taking aim at the Indian National Congress, Modi alleged that previous governments focused more on shaping political narratives than safeguarding heritage. “They worked to set a narrative around one political family and to appease vote banks,” he said, adding that his government is now correcting those “mistakes”.
Gyan Bharatam Mission to digitise manuscripts
Highlighting the Centre’s efforts, Modi said the Gyan Bharatam Mission has been launched to conserve ancient texts through digitisation, chemical treatment and scientific research.
He said, “Today we are rectifying the error committed by previous governments when they neglected these manuscripts. With this objective in mind, we have launched the ‘Gyan Bharat Mission.’ We are leveraging technology to facilitate this undertaking. Under this mission, ancient manuscripts are being digitized. They are being preserved using scientific methods…”
PM Modi noted that citizens are also participating by uploading manuscripts as part of a nationwide survey to document India’s heritage.
Museum to showcase Jain heritage
The Prime Minister said the newly inaugurated museum, located inside the Mahavir Jain Aradhana Kendra campus, will serve as both a centre of worship and a hub for cultural preservation.
He highlighted that the museum houses rare artefacts of the Jain community, some dating back nearly 1,000 years, which have now been preserved for future generations.
The Prime Minister also credited Jain saints, including Acharya Padmasagarsurishwarji, for dedicating their lives to collecting and preserving manuscripts from across the country.