National Mission for Manuscripts (NMM)

A comprehensive project for preservation of manuscripts for the entire country was launched by the Government of India, Department of Culture in 2003. Under the National Mission for Manuscripts project a number of Manuscripts Conservation Centres were established in different parts of the country. INTACH Conservation Institute, Lucknow was also made a Manuscript Conservation Centre under the project for the U.P. region, and an M.O.U. was signed in September 2003, between the authorities of INTACH Conservation Institute, Lucknow and the Department of Culture, G.O.I.

Manuscript Conservation Centre, Lucknow aims to preserve and enhance longevity of manuscripts heritage of the country. It is successfully implementing this important project by carrying out preventive conservation of manuscripts collections at site and also documentation at a number of institutions and with private collectors in U.P. and neighbouring States. Through this Centre, damaged handwritten ancient granths containing Vedic culture are surveyed and conserved to keep them alive. It trains owners/custodians of manuscript collections in preventive conservation, proper upkeep of manuscripts and minor curative conservation techniques. It has various equipment related to conservation of manuscripts like pH meter, paper thickness calliper, stereo microscope, suction table, leaf casting machine, ultra sonic humidifier, heat set welding machine for encapsulation of manuscripts. MCC, Lucknow also organizes Workshops, Training Programmes and Awareness Campaigns from time to time under N.M.M. It also celebrates Manuscript Day to highlight the importance of manuscripts and need for their preservation.

To fulfil the objectives of National Mission for Manuscripts, the development of Manuscript Conservation Centre, Lucknow is as follows: –

• Survey of ancient and damaged handwritten manuscripts collection.
• Survey of libraries, granthagars and private collectors.
• Organization of debates and awareness programs on manuscripts in Uttar Pradesh.
• Organization of workshops on curative and preventive conservation.
• Curative conservation of highly damaged manuscripts at the Centre

The Centre has conserved variety of manuscripts i.e. palm leaf, birch bark and paper manuscripts including illustrated, non-illustrated, illuminated manuscripts of various Institutions It has conserved various manuscripts belonging to the following Institutes:-

• Sri Parshvanath Vidyapeeth, Varanasi.
• Satya Mandir, Lucknow.
• Kanpur Sangrahalaya, Kanpur.
• Tagore Library, Lucknow.
• Sri Mahavir Digambar Jain Mandir, Ashiana, Lucknow.
• Sri Parshvanath Digambar Jain Mandir, Sahadatganj, Lucknow.
• Akhil Bhartiya Sanskrit Parishad, Lucknow.
• U.P.Sanskrit Sansthan, Lucknow.
• Jnana Pravah Centre of Cultural Research, Varanasi.
• Sri Digambar Jain Panchayati Bada Jain Mandir, Gwalior.
• Ram Katha Sangrahalaya, Ayodhya.
• Sri Mahasaraswati Vidyapeeth, Etawah.
• Valmiki Shodh Sansthan, Ayodhya.
• Sri Neminath Digambar Jain Mandir, Chowk, Lucknow.
• Sri Bharatvashiya Digambar Jain Mahasabha, Lucknow.
• Ibn Sina Academy of Medieval Medicine Science Trust, Aligarh.
• Digambar Jain Panchayati Bada Mandir, Kanpur.
• Mehrangarh Museum, Jodhpur.
• Mazhar Memorial Urdu Library, Gazipur.
• Govt. District Library, Unnao.
• Govt. District Library, Jhansi.
• Sri Digambar Jain Mandir, Kannauj.
• Rashtriya Sanskrit Sansthan, Lucknow.
• Radha Krishna Pustakalaya, Unnao.
• Hindu Mathematics Department, Lucknow University.
• Hindi Sahitya Pustakalaya, Unnao.
• Arya Vidya Gurukulam, Lucknow.

Private collection

• Sri Suresh Tiwari, Chitrakoot.
• Sri S.M. Jain, Varanasi.
• Sri Shyam Sundar Shukla, Varanasi.
• Sri Vishnu Lal, Delhi.
• Sri Ramakant Pathak, Lucknow.
• Sri Om Shankar Khare, Jhansi.
• Sri S.M. Naqvi, Lucknow.
• Sri Ashok Jain, Kanpur.
• Sri S.P. Dixit, Lucknow.
• Sri Afzal Mohammad Farooqui, Unnao.

In Uttar Pradesh, there are still a large number of manuscripts for conservation that are affected by environmental factors, improper storage, insect attack, light and lack of awareness in the libraries, archives, temples, museums and private collection.

To save the priceless heritage of manuscripts, it is very essential to conserve them and provide training to all the personnel so that they are saved from getting damaged.

Contact Person

Mr. Dharmendra Misra,
Coordinator,
INTACH Manuscript Conservation Centre,
B-42, Nirala Nagar,
Lucknow – 226020
Tel: 0522-4021617; 09899141945.
Email : intachmcclko@gmail.com