Technology and the Preservation of Indian Literary Heritage: Digitization and Beyond

The National Digital Library of India (NDLI) is a flagship project of the Ministry of Education, Government of India, aimed at preserving and promoting Indian literary heritage by digitizing rare manuscripts, books, and other cultural artifacts.

The primary objective of the Digital Library of India (DLI) is to provide free and open access to digitized Indian literary works, including books, manuscripts, journals, and other resources, to researchers, scholars, and the general public.

As of 2023, Hindi has the largest collection of digitized books and manuscripts in the National Digital Library of India (NDLI), followed by English, Sanskrit, and Tamil.

Digitizing Indian literary works has multiple benefits, including ensuring the preservation and longevity of rare and fragile manuscripts, facilitating wider access to literary works for researchers and scholars, and promoting the study and appreciation of Indian literature globally.

In 1985, the Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute in Pune, India, undertook the ambitious project of digitizing the Mahabharata, making it one of the earliest examples of digitization of an Indian literary work.

The digitization of Indian literary works faces several challenges, including the vastness and diversity of Indian literature, the fragility and poor condition of many manuscripts, and the lack of standardized digitization protocols.

Technology can contribute to the preservation of Indian literary heritage beyond digitization by developing virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) experiences, creating interactive digital archives and exhibits, and using artificial intelligence (AI) for text analysis and translation.

Rabindranath Tagore was a pioneer in the use of technology for the preservation of Indian literary heritage. He established the Visva-Bharati University in Santiniketan, West Bengal, in 1921, which became a center for the study and preservation of Indian literature and culture.

Libraries and archives play a crucial role in the preservation of Indian literary heritage in the digital age by digitizing and preserving rare manuscripts and books, providing access to digital resources for researchers and scholars, and collaborating with institutions and organizations to promote Indian literature.

In 2018, researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay used artificial intelligence (AI) to translate the Bhagavad Gita into English, making it the first Indian literary work to be translated into a foreign language using AI.

The digitization of Indian literary works raises several ethical considerations, including ensuring the accuracy and integrity of digitized content, respecting the intellectual property rights of authors and publishers, and preserving the cultural and historical context of literary works.

Technology can be leveraged to promote the study and appreciation of Indian literature among younger generations by developing interactive digital platforms for reading and learning, creating gamified experiences based on Indian literary works, and using social media and digital marketing to engage young audiences.

Raja Lakshmi's Garland, written by C. Rajagopalachari in 1927, is considered the first modern novel in an Indian language.

The Indian Culture Portal is a digital platform launched by the Ministry of Culture, Government of India, to promote Indian literature and culture globally.

The Panchatantra, a collection of fables and stories, is considered the first major work of prose in an Indian language.