Srinagar : The Department of Persian, University of Kashmir (KU), has been designated as a Gyan Bharatam Cluster Centre for UT of Jammu & Kashmir by the Ministry of Culture, Government of India, for a period of five years, in recognition of the Department’s sustained academic performance and expertise in manuscript studies.
The Department of Persian at the University of Kashmir is set to launch extensive projects aimed at the identification, cataloguing, preservation, conservation, digitisation, and research of manuscripts throughout Jammu and Kashmir. This initiative will encompass valuable manuscripts from various repositories, including government, semi-government, public, private collections, and religious institutions such as temples and gurdwaras. Vice-Chancellor Prof. Nilofer Khan emphasized the significance of this recognition, stating that the designation of the Department as a Gyan Bharatam Cluster Centre underscores the university’s commitment to preserving the nation’s manuscript heritage. She highlighted that the project aims to safeguard invaluable intellectual traditions for future generations through systematic and scientific approaches, thereby enhancing the university’s contribution to national cultural and research priorities. Jammu and Kashmir is home to an estimated 70,000 to 90,000 manuscripts, many of whi






