Archives dept to launch survey to find hidden manuscripts, digitise them

Panaji: To rediscover Goa’s hidden manuscripts and literature of historical value, a statewide survey is being launched under the Gyan Bharatam Mission. The department of archives will soon identify and catalogue manuscripts held by private collectors, families, and institutions.“Govt approval has been taken on paper for the creation of the Goa State Mission for Manuscripts at Altinho. We will officially start administrative work from July 1 onwards,” said an official from the archives department. “This year, we aim to complete the pilot study in this task. We appeal to the public to cooperate with us in this mission,” he added.The department expects to find literary treasures such as correspondence that once passed between neighbouring kings, letters exchanged with freedom fighters, and texts that capture the essence of Goan life through the centuries.

“Such literature needs to be documented. We don’t know where they are or with whom they are, so this information needs to be collected. With the owners’ consent, the records will be documented and catalogued.

”The department of archives is set to begin its meticulous journey through libraries, churches, temples, and then venture into the homes of prominent families — the royalty, aristocracy, and descendants of freedom fighters — in its quest to locate and document these manuscripts.

The mission, however, honours the rights of custodians to retain their treasures.“Manuscript holders, who wish to keep these delicate papers within their families or organisations, may do so. The department will merely create a detailed catalogue, registering the whereabouts and histories of these priceless documents. This will enable future generations of researchers to access this trove of knowledge seamlessly,” the official said.TOI reported in March that chief minister Pramod Sawant announced in the Goa Budget 2025 to preserve handwritten scripts and digitise them by creating a special wing in the archives department. Sawant also said in his speech that the Goa State Mission for Manuscripts will be established to use advanced technology to preserve the ancient and historical manuscripts.State govt notified the same in May. “The Goa State Mission for Manuscript shall serve as a centralised repository of the historical manuscripts and will strive for its documentation, preservation, and digitisation for posterity,” the notification read.