Odia Virtual Academy Concludes Manuscriptology Workshop, Focuses on Preserving Ancient Knowledge

Bhubaneswar: Efforts to preserve and promote Odisha’s vast manuscript heritage received a boost with the successful conclusion of a ten-day manuscriptology workshop organised by the Odia Virtual Academy in Bhubaneswar. The programme equipped participants with the knowledge and practical skills required to identify, document and conserve valuable manuscripts.

A total of 52 students, researchers, teachers and heritage enthusiasts from different parts of the state participated in the workshop. In addition to classroom sessions, the trainees visited the Odisha State Museum, where they gained first-hand experience in manuscript handling, preservation and archival practices.

Speaking at the valedictory ceremony, Additional Chief Secretary of the Department of Electronics and Information Technology, Vishal Kumar Dev, highlighted the importance of safeguarding Odisha’s intellectual and cultural legacy. He encouraged participants to actively engage in the collection, cataloguing and transcription of manuscripts so that the state’s rich repository of traditional knowledge can be preserved and shared with a wider audience.

Dev said the skills acquired during the training would help create a new generation of researchers and enthusiasts committed to documenting Odisha’s literary and historical treasures. He also expressed confidence that the participants would contribute to future initiatives aimed at enriching and promoting the Odia language.

On the occasion, Odia Virtual Academy Secretary Dr. Pradeep Kumar Raut commended the participants for successfully completing the programme and designated them as “Manuscript Ambassadors.” He said the Academy expects them to continue supporting efforts to identify and preserve manuscripts located in different parts of the state.

The workshop featured expert lectures and interactive sessions led by renowned scholars, academicians and manuscript specialists from across the country. Participants were introduced to various aspects of manuscript studies, including preservation methods, script reading, documentation techniques and the historical significance of manuscript collections.

A book on manuscriptology was also released during the closing ceremony. Eminent scholars Dr. Prafulla Kumar Mishra and Dr. Bibhuti Bhusan Mahapatra addressed the gathering and stressed the need for systematic conservation of ancient manuscripts to ensure their availability for future generations.

Several participants shared their experiences and described the workshop as a valuable opportunity to gain practical knowledge in a specialised field that plays a crucial role in preserving cultural heritage.

The programme concluded with a vote of thanks by workshop coordinator Debananda Bhanja. Senior officials, experts and resource persons associated with the Odia Virtual Academy and the workshop were present at the event.

The Academy said such initiatives would continue to be organised to strengthen research, documentation and preservation efforts relating to Odisha’s rich manuscript tradition.