Mahabharata, Arthashastra and Rajatarangini Manuscripts Enter UNESCO's Asia-Pacific Memory of the World Register
Manuscripts of three old Indian texts were added (inscribed) to UNESCO's Memory of the World Regional Register for Asia and the Pacific. The three texts are the epic Mahabharata, Kautilya's Arthashastra and Kalhana's Rajatarangini.
The decision was taken at the 11th session of the Memory of the World Committee for Asia and the Pacific (MOWCAP), held in Jakarta, Indonesia. The Ministry of Culture announced it on 5 November 2026.
The Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA), a body under the Ministry of Culture, prepared the nomination files (dossiers) for all three works.
With these three, India now has six entries on the Asia-Pacific regional register. The first three, added in 2024, were the Ramcharitmanas, the Panchatantra and the Sahrdayaloka-Locana.
This is a regional listing. It is separate from UNESCO's International Memory of the World Register, where the Bhagavad Gita and Natyashastra manuscripts were added in April 2025.
UNESCO Memory of the World Programme
The Memory of the World Programme is UNESCO's effort to protect the world's most important documents, such as old manuscripts, books, maps, letters, films and sound recordings. UNESCO started it in 1992. It keeps lists, called registers, of documents that are so valuable that they belong to all of humanity. A place on a register brings recognition and attention, which helps in preserving the document and making it known. It does not give the owner country any legal control from UNESCO or any guaranteed money.
The Mahabharata, Arthashastra and Rajatarangini manuscripts have now been placed on the regional (Asia-Pacific) level of this programme. Students must not confuse this with the International register or with the World Heritage List.
Kautilya's Arthashastra
The Arthashastra is an ancient Sanskrit book on how to run a state. It covers how a king should rule, collect taxes, manage the economy, keep law and order, use spies, deal with other kingdoms and fight wars. It is credited to Kautilya, who is traditionally identified with Chanakya, the adviser to Chandragupta Maurya, the founder of the Maurya Empire. Many scholars believe the text was written and revised over several centuries, so its exact date is debated.
Manuscripts of the Arthashastra are now on UNESCO's Asia-Pacific Memory of the World register. This recognises it as a major part of India's knowledge tradition on governance and statecraft.
Rajatarangini: Kalhana's History of Kashmir
The Rajatarangini, meaning "River of Kings", is a long Sanskrit poem written by Kalhana in the 12th century. It tells the story of the kings of Kashmir from legendary early times up to Kalhana's own days. It is often called the first real work of history writing in India, because Kalhana tried to check his sources and judge events fairly.
Manuscripts of the Rajatarangini have been inscribed on the Asia-Pacific Memory of the World register. It joins the Mahabharata and Arthashastra as the newest Indian entries on that list.
- New Indian entries on UNESCO's Asia-Pacific Memory of the World register: Mahabharata, Arthashastra, Rajatarangini manuscripts
- Decided at: 11th session of MOWCAP, Jakarta, Indonesia; announced 5 November 2026
- Nomination dossiers prepared by: Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA), Ministry of Culture
- India's total on the Asia-Pacific regional register: 6
- Earlier regional entries (2024, 10th MOWCAP session, Ulaanbaatar): Ramcharitmanas, Panchatantra, Sahrdayaloka-Locana
- India on the International Memory of the World Register: 14 entries (Bhagavad Gita and Natyashastra added April 2025)
- Memory of the World Programme: started by UNESCO in 1992
- Rajatarangini: Kalhana, about 1148-1149 CE, about 7,826 verses in 8 Tarangas
- Arthashastra: rediscovered 1905 by R. Shamasastry, Mysuru; 15 books, 180 topics