The Memory of the World Register is an international initiative run by UNESCO to protect and preserve humanity’s documentary heritage — meaning historically significant archives, manuscripts, books, audio-visual materials, and other documentary items. Purpose

Preservation – Safeguard important documentary heritage from decay, damage, or loss due to war, neglect, natural disasters, or technological obsolescence.

Accessibility – Ensure these materials are accessible to the public, researchers, and future generations.

Awareness – Promote recognition of documentary heritage as part of humanity’s collective memory. Origin: Launched: 1992 by UNESCO.

Reason: UNESCO observed that wars, poor storage, neglect, and lack of funding were causing irreversible loss of culturally important documents worldwide.

How it Works

Nomination – Governments, organizations, or individuals can nominate documentary heritage for inclusion.

Evaluation – An International Advisory Committee (IAC) assesses its significance and risk factors.

Listing – Approved items are added to the Memory of the World Register.

Support – UNESCO works to assist with preservation and digitization.

Examples of Items on the Register

Magna Carta (UK) – 1215 document foundational to constitutional law.

The Rigveda Manuscripts (India) – One of the oldest religious texts in the world.

The Diary of Anne Frank (Netherlands).

Bayt al-Hikma Manuscripts (Iraq) – Works from the House of Wisdom in Baghdad.

Archives of the Indian National Congress (India).

Categories of Documentary Heritage

Manuscripts

Oral traditions (in recorded form)

Rare books

Photographs

Films and sound recordings

Archives and maps

India’s Connection

India has several entries in the register, including:

The I-A Manuscripts of the Rigveda (Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute, Pune).

The Archives of the Dutch East India Company (shared with other countries).

Mahatma Gandhi’s Hind Swaraj Manuscript.Source:https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/manuscripts-of-bhagavad-gita-natyashastra-inscribed-on-unescos-memory-of-the-world-register/article69463876.ece