UNESCO recognises Rajatarangini, Mahabharata & Arthashastra in Asia-Pacific Memory Register

Omar, LG hail UNESCO recognition of Rajatarangini manuscript

07/11/2026

JAMMU, Nov 6: The 12th-century historical chronicle Rajatarangini by Kalhana, the epic Mahabharata and Kautilya's Arthashastra have been inscribed in UNESCO's Memory of the World Asia-Pacific Regional Register, bringing international recognition to India's rich historical, literary and intellectual heritage.
The decision was taken at the 11th Session of the Memory of the World Asia-Pacific Regional Register held in Jakarta, Indonesia, officials said. The Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA) played an important role in preparing the nomination dossiers for all three manuscripts.
According to the certificates issued by UNESCO, the inscription of Rajatarangini recognises the manuscript preserved at the Oriental Research Library, Sri Pratap Singh Library Complex, Srinagar. The other two inscriptions include the birch-bark manuscript of Mahabharata, housed at the Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute, Pune, and Kautilya's ancient palm-leaf manuscript of Arthashastra, preserved at the Oriental Research Institute, Mysuru.
The recognition has taken India's total number of inscriptions in the Asia-Pacific Regional Register to six. In 2024, illustrated manuscripts of Ramcharitmanas, a rare 15th-century manuscript of Panchatantra and the manuscript of Sahrdayaloka-Locana, a work on Indian poetics, were also included in the register.
Union Culture Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat described the latest inscriptions as a landmark recognition of India's documentary and civilisational heritage. He said the three works represented India's traditions of historical inquiry, philosophical thought and statecraft, whose wisdom continued to inspire humanity.
Meanwhile, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha welcomed the recognition, describing it as a proud moment for Jammu and Kashmir and the country.
In a post on X, Sinha said the inclusion of Rajatarangini celebrated Jammu and Kashmir's rich intellectual heritage and reaffirmed the enduring value of India's civilisational traditions and their contribution to humanity. He also emphasised the collective responsibility to preserve and promote this invaluable knowledge for future generations.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah also congratulated the people of Jammu and Kashmir on the inscription of Kalhana's Rajatarangini manuscript in the UNESCO register.
He said the 12th-century chronicle, preserved at the Oriental Research Library in Srinagar, was an invaluable repository of Kashmir's history, documenting its rulers, society, traditions and cultural evolution.
Describing the international recognition as a moment of immense pride, Omar said it brought global attention to Jammu and Kashmir's historical and cultural legacy and its enduring contribution to literature and historical scholarship.
The Chief Minister said the recognition underscored the importance of safeguarding invaluable manuscripts and historical records for future generations. He expressed hope that it would strengthen efforts to preserve, document and promote the region's cultural heritage and enhance its international visibility.
The inscription of Rajatarangini is particularly significant for Jammu and Kashmir, as Kalhana's chronicle is regarded as one of the earliest systematic historical accounts of the Indian subcontinent.

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