Bhubaneswar: In a major step to preserve the country’s traditional medical knowledge, Berhampur University and the Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS) will sign an MoU to digitise rare Ayurvedic manuscripts stored in Odisha.
The agreement will focus on palm-leaf manuscripts and old Ayurvedic texts preserved at the South Odisha Cultural Study Centre of Berhampur University. Many of these documents remain unpublished and difficult to access.
The MoU signing will take place at the Central Ayurveda Research Institute in Bhubaneswar. Senior academicians and Ayurveda experts will attend the event, according to an official statement.
Under the collaboration, the National Institute of Indian Medical Heritage, Hyderabad, will lead the technical work. The institute functions under CCRAS.
Berhampur University holds more than 2,000 palm-leaf manuscripts. Several texts contain original Ayurvedic formulations and clinical observations. Fragile physical condition limits their use by researchers.
CCRAS will apply modern digitisation tools to preserve the manuscripts. Digital copies will be shared with the university for academic use.
The project also includes detailed cataloguing of the manuscripts. Researchers will get access to a structured database with 44 descriptive fields.
CCRAS will host the catalogue on the AMAR Portal. Scholars across the world will be able to view the metadata online.
Experts will also select important manuscripts for further work. Teams will transcribe, transliterate, and translate these texts into modern languages.
CCRAS Director General Prof. Rabinarayan Acharya said the initiative supports India’s national effort to document traditional knowledge. He stressed the need to connect ancient wisdom with present-day research.
Berhampur University Vice Chancellor Prof. Geetanjali Das said the partnership strengthens cultural preservation. She added that it improves global academic visibility for the university.
The MoU will remain valid for two years. Both institutions agreed to follow confidentiality and intellectual property norms.
Berhampur University will retain ownership of the manuscripts. The project will share knowledge responsibly with scholars and the public.
Officials from CARI Bhubaneswar, NIIMH Hyderabad, and Berhampur University will coordinate the programme.
