Berhampur University to digitise rare Ayurvedic manuscripts

New Delhi, Feb 1: In a major step to protect India’s traditional medical knowledge, the Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS) under the Ministry of Ayush and Berhampur University, Odisha, will sign an MoU to digitise and preserve rare Ayurvedic manuscripts and palm-leaf documents. Under the agreement, more than 2,000 ancient manuscripts kept at the South Odisha Cultural Study Centre will be digitally recorded, catalogued, and made available to researchers. The project will be led by the National Institute of Indian Medical Heritage, Hyderabad. The partnership aims to save fragile old texts, prepare a detailed catalogue, and gradually translate selected manuscripts into modern languages so they can be studied worldwide. The MoU will be valid for two years, with both institutions ensuring proper care, confidentiality, and ownership of the manuscripts