• Lal Ded, Habba Khatoon and Rupa Bhavani’s works translated and published;
• Gyan Bharatam mission supports documentation, digitisation of manuscript heritage
Srinagar: The Centre on Thursday said Sahitya Akademi has not published any title on celebrated Kashmiri poet Arnimal, even as it highlighted translations and publications on Lal Ded, Habba Khatoon and Rupa Bhavani, while revealing that Jammu and Kashmir received ₹44.55 lakh over the past two years under the Gyan Bharatam mission for the preservation, documentation and digitisation of manuscript heritage.
The information was shared by Union Minister for Culture and Tourism Gajendra Singh Shekhawat in a written reply to a question raised by BJP MP Sat Paul Sharma in the Lok Sabha regarding the preservation and global promotion of Kashmir’s literary heritage.
Replying to the query, the Minister said Sahitya Akademi undertakes literary translations in 24 Indian languages recognised by the institution.
He said the Akademi has published the Hindi translation of the classical verses of Lal Ded under the title Lalleshwari Ke Vakh, edited by Radhavallabh Tripathi and translated by Adwaitvadini Kaul.
According to the Minister, a monograph on Lal Ded has been published in English, Hindi and Urdu, while Habba Khatoon’s monograph is available in English, Hindi, Tamil and Urdu. A monograph on Rupa Bhavani has also been published in English.
However, the Minister informed the House that no publication on Arnimal has been brought out by the Sahitya Akademi.
On measures to preserve India’s manuscript heritage, the Minister said Gyan Bharatam, a flagship initiative of the Ministry of Culture, provides an institutional framework for the survey, documentation, conservation, digitisation, research and dissemination of manuscripts across the country.
He said research and academic engagement under the mission is undertaken in collaboration with universities, scholars, experts and institutions, with financial assistance provided as per approved guidelines.
The Minister also disclosed that Gyan Bharatam Centres in Jammu and Kashmir received ₹16.55 lakh during 2024-25 and ₹28 lakh during 2025-26, taking the total allocation to ₹44.55 lakh over the last two financial years.
On the issue of dedicated fellowships and grants for transcribing endangered oral traditions such as Wanvun and Vakhs, the Minister said support is extended through the Gyan Bharatam framework in accordance with the mission’s approved provisions, without specifying any separate scheme exclusively for Jammu and Kashmir.
