Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, June 20: The National Archives of India on the request of Minister for Tourism and Culture, Nawang Rigzin Jora has forwarded facsimile version of manuscripts of Gilgit to the State Government for its preservation besides to showcase the rich cultural heritage of Gilgit from pre-historic to modern times under one roof.
Facsimile version of these Gilgit manuscripts entitled “Lotus Sutra manuscript series 12: Gilgit Lotus Sutra manuscripts from the National Archives of India, facsimile edition has been printed recently in collaboration with the Institute of Oriental Philosophy and Soka Gakkai, Japan.
The National Archives of India in its communication has assured the State Government that original manuscripts of Gilgit are being preserved with utmost care in the National Archive Museum.
It is pertinent to mention that State Tourism and Culture Ministry has some time back wrote to Union Minister for Culture, Kumari Selji for retrieving back culture treasure of Gilgit manuscripts (5th -6th Cent A.D), considered among the oldest manuscripts in the world to the State Government, with the motive to display these in the museums for culture lovers besides general public. The scholars would afford an opportunity of access to the treasures to widen knowledge about the horizons of cultural past and to foster further research.