‘Over 5.87 Lakh Puya Already Digitised, Yet Thousands Lying Scattered in Villages Face Threat of Vanishing Without Access for Study’
Ancient manuscripts dating back to the era of Maharaja Pamheiba, many written on fragile paper, bark and cloth, are at risk of disappearing forever if not properly preserved, Retd IAS RK Nimai cautioned at a one-day workshop on manuscript conservation held today at the State Central Library, Keishampat.
He stressed that these real archival treasures are “priceless and irreplaceable,” and warned of an alarming rise in fake historical documents, even as rare records such as late 19th-century sketches of Kangla face the danger of being lost.
Organised by the Directorate of Art & Culture, in association with the National Archives of India (NAI), New Delhi, the workshop was inaugurated by R.K. Nimai as Chief Guest, who also launched a new website during the event.
Highlighting the risk of historical distortion, he pointed to examples from Tibetan and Mongolian histories that were documented largely by outsiders, and stressed the urgent need to identify and protect authentic Manipuri manuscripts.
Deputy Director of NAI, Naoroibam Raju Singh, spoke on best practices in both physical and digital archiving, also discussing how artificial intelligence and social media are reshaping archival systems globally.
He cautioned against deterioration of colour, texture and community-held manuscripts, urging citizens to treat them as shared heritage, not personal artifacts.
Presiding over the programme, Director of Art & Culture K. Dinamani Singh expressed concern over the vast number of Puya manuscripts lying scattered across villages, noting that while over 5.87 lakh manuscripts have been digitised, many more remain untouched.
He urged elders and custodians to allow responsible access for study and scientific handling, warning that restricting learning may lead to the disappearance of these invaluable records.
Technical sessions featured expert presentations from P.K. Mishra, Dr. Thingnam Sanjeev, Naoroibam Indramani Singh and Mutua Bahadur, covering preservation strategies, public records law, traditional Puya conservation and stone facsimile restoration.
The event concluded with an interactive discussion on safeguarding Manipur’s archival legacy before it slips irretrievably into the past.
