Bhagavad Gita and Natyashastra Join UNESCO Memory of the World
Why in the news
UNESCO has inscribed two Indian texts, the Bhagavad Gita and the Natyashastra, on its Memory of the World Register. This lifts India’s tally in the register to 14.
Key facts
- Texts added: the Bhagavad Gita and Natyashastra (by Bharata Muni).
- India’s total in the Memory of the World Register: 14 entries.
- The Gita is a 700-verse dialogue between Krishna and Arjuna, found in the Mahabharata.
- The Natyashastra is described as having 36,000 verses on drama, dance, music, stagecraft and aesthetics, and it develops the idea of rasa.
| Text | Subject | Size |
|---|---|---|
| Bhagavad Gita | Spiritual, ethical and philosophical teaching | 700 verses |
| Natyashastra | Performing arts and aesthetics | 36,000 verses |
About the Memory of the World Programme
UNESCO began the programme in 1992. Its aim is to safeguard documentary heritage and make it more widely accessible. Earlier Indian inscriptions include the Rigveda, added in 2007.
Exam angle
- Remember the count of 14 Indian entries and the two texts added.
- Link the Natyashastra with Bharata Muni and the concept of rasa.
- Programme year: 1992; body: UNESCO.