Students of Neerja Modi School, Jaipur, stepped beyond the classroom to explore India’s rich manuscript heritage and discover how centuries-old knowledge is being preserved for future generations.

On 28 September 2026, students from Grades VIII and XI visited the Rajasthan International Centre, Jaipur, to participate in a workshop on the National Digitization Drive, organised by the Gyan Bharatam Mission, Ministry of Culture, Government of India. The exhibition, themed “Preserving India’s Manuscript Heritage through Digitization,” introduced students to manuscripts and references related to the Ramayana, Ayurveda, Kalpasutra and Hanuman Yantra, offering insights into India’s literary, scientific, medical, spiritual and cultural traditions.

During an interactive session, Dr. Simerjit Kaur, Head – Research, Publication & Outreach, introduced students to the world of manuscripts, or pāṇḍulipi, and explained the different materials on which they were created, including palm leaves, paper, scrolls and copper plates. Students also discovered the scientific knowledge preserved in ancient texts, including the geometric principles found in the Sulba Sutras.

A particularly engaging part of the experience was learning about the Brahmi script and its evolution. Students were given an opportunity to write their own names in Brahmi using clay moulds, turning an ancient writing system into a memorable hands-on experience.

Dr. Kirti Shrivastav, Head – Conservation, further helped students understand the importance of preserving fragile manuscripts. Through her session, students learnt about traditional materials, conservation techniques and the need to handle historical records with care.

The experience connected classroom learning in history, mathematics, science, languages and culture with authentic sources of knowledge. It also helped students understand how digitisation can protect India's heritage while making its knowledge accessible to researchers, students and future generations.

Adding a meaningful student voice to the event, Mitakshi, a representative of Neerja Modi School, interacted with Prof. Anirban Dash, Project Director, Gyan Bharatam Mission, and suggested that similar exhibitions and walkthroughs be organised for schools and that manuscript heritage be introduced more extensively into school curricula. Prof. Dash shared that a school drive would be launched soon.

For the students of Neerja Modi School, the visit was a valuable reminder that preserving the past is also an investment in the future. Through experiential learning, students discovered that India's heritage is not simply something to read about—it is knowledge to explore, understand and carry forward.