Bhagavad Gita & Natyashastra enter UNESCO’s Memory of the World Register

Context: Recently, UNESCO has added 74 new documentary heritage collections to its Memory of the World Register. The latest additions from India include manuscripts of the Bhagavad Gita and Bharat Muni’s Natyashastra.

Relevance of the Topic: Prelims: Key facts related to Bhagwat Gita; Natyshastra; UNESCO Memory of the World Register. 

UNESCO Memory of the World Register

• The Memory of the World (MoW) Programme was established in 1992. It serves as a global platform to recognise and safeguard manuscripts, oral traditions, archives, audio-visual materials etc.
• It aims to preserve and promote universal access to documentary heritage of outstanding value to humanity.
• Collections are added to the register by a decision of the UNESCO’s Executive Board, following the evaluation of nominations by an independent international advisory committee.
• There are now a total of 570 inscribed collections (2025). 

Bhagavad Gita

• Bhagavad Gita is a revered scripture forming part of the Mahabharata; composed as a dialogue between Krishna and Arjuna.
• Composed by the ancient sage Vyasa, also known as Krishna Dvaipayana Vyasa or Veda-Vyasa.
• It is considered a timeless philosophical and spiritual guide, and has been translated into around 80 languages.

Natyashastra

• Natyashastra is the foundational text of Indian performing arts and cultural theory, written sometime during the 2nd century BC to 2nd century AD. 
• It is a treatise on dramaturgy, performance, aesthetics and classical arts, and remains one of the most comprehensive documents on theatre and performing traditions.
• Authored by: Bharat Muni, written in Sanskrit. 

List of India's entries in the UNESCO Memory of World Register

With the latest addition, the total number of Indian inscriptions in the list becomes 14.  

1. Archives of the Dutch East India Company 
2. Rigveda 
3. Shantiniketan Archives 
4. Tamil Medical Manuscript Collection 
5. I.A.S. Tamil Nadu State Archives
6. Gilgit Manuscripts 
7. Tarikh-e-Firoz Shahi by Ziauddin Barani 
8. Saiva Manuscripts in Pondicherry 
9. Saang Lok Collection (2023)
10.  Ramcharitmanas (2024)
11.  Panchatantra (2024)
12. Sahrdaya loka-Locana (2024)
13. Bhagavad Gita Manuscripts (2025)
14. Natyashastra Manuscripts (2025)

India’s inclusion of Bhagavad Gita and Natyashastra in 2025 underlines the significance of its ancient philosophical, literary, and performance traditions in global cultural heritage.