The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi hailed the inclusion of the Gita and Natyashastra in UNESCO’sMemory of the World Register as a global recognition of our timeless wisdom and rich culture.

Responding to a post by Union Minister, Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat on X, Shri Modi said: “A proud moment for every Indian across the world!

The inclusion of the Gita and Natyashastra in UNESCO’s Memory of the World Register is a global recognition of our timeless wisdom and rich culture.

The Gita and Natyashastra have nurtured civilization, and consciousness for centuries. Their insights continue to inspire the world @UNESCO”

UNESCO's Memory of the World (MoW) Program is an international initiative to safeguard the documentary heritage of humanity against collective amnesia, neglect, decay over time and climatic conditions, as well as deliberate destruction.

It is a list of rare documents prepared by UNESCO to be preserved for future generations. More than 193 items from various countries around the world have been included in this book. UNESCO decided to preserve such documents for future generations, considering natural disasters, human neglect, and the reluctance to preserve them. The project was created in 1992.

The project is implemented by the 14-member International Advisory Committee (IAC) appointed by the UNESCO Director-General. This committee prepares the technical, legal and financial framework. It also has subsidiary branches such as the Bureau, Technical Subcommittee, Marketing Subcommittee and Register Subcommittee.

Any organization can nominate documents for the register. The IAC makes an appropriate decision on this. For this, time, place, people, subject, theme, form, and social-community importance etcetera are considered and then efforts are made to include them in the book.

Prior to this, Union Minister of Culture and Tourism, Government of India. MP (Lok Sabha) Jodhpur, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat had shared on ‘X’ platform:

“A historic moment for Bharat’s civilizational heritage! The Shrimad Bhagavad Gita & Bharat Muni’s Natyashastra are now inscribed in UNESCO’s Memory of the World Register. This global honor celebrates India’s eternal wisdom & artistic genius.

These timeless works are more than literary treasures—they are philosophical and aesthetic foundations that have shaped Bharat’s world view and the way we think, feel, live, and express.

With this, we now have 14 inscriptions from our country on this international register.”

With the Bhagavad Gita and Bharat Muni's Natyashastra being added to UNESCO's Memory of the World Register on Friday, India now has 14 entries on this international register that was set up in 1992 to list documentary heritage of outstanding value. “A proud moment for every Indian across the world!

The Bhagavad Gita, containing 700 verses in 18 chapters, is embedded in the Bhishmaparv (Adhyay 23-40) of the Mahabharata. The Natyashastra, preserved at the Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute and codified around the 2nd century BC (Before Christ), is associated with the Nāṭyaveda, an oral tradition of performing arts.

Among the other Indian entries are 30 Manuscripts of the Rig Veda from the archives of the Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute (BORI), Pune, that was listed in 2007, Saiva Manuscript from Pondicherry in 2005, the Gilgit Manuscript in 2017 and the Maitreyayvarakarana was listed in 2023.

The Bhagavad Gita has influenced generations with its teachings on Nishkaam Karma (selfless action) and unwavering adherence to Dharma (duty).

“The Manuscript Collection of Bhagavadgītā is an ancient Samgraha-grantha of Indian thought with world-wide readership and influence; Manuscript of the Natyaśāstra of Bharatamuni is a Seminal text of Indian Performing Art,” India’s permanent representative to UNESCO Vishal V Sharma said.