Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday celebrated the inscription of two iconic Indian texts—the Shrimad Bhagavad Gita and Bharat Muni’s Natyashastra—into UNESCO’s prestigious Memory of the World Register. Calling it a “proud moment,” PM Modi said the recognition reflects the global appreciation of India’s “timeless wisdom and rich culture.”
Taking to social media platform X, the Prime Minister wrote, “A proud moment for every Indian across the world! The inclusion of the Gita and Natyashastra in UNESCO’s Memory of the World Register is a global recognition of our timeless wisdom and rich culture. The Gita and Natyashastra have nurtured civilisation and consciousness for centuries. Their insights continue to inspire the world.”
UNESCO, in a release on Thursday, announced the addition of 74 new entries to its Memory of the World Register, which now holds a total of 570 collections. These entries include culturally and historically significant documents from across the globe, ranging from scientific records and archives on slavery to declarations and treaties that shaped modern international cooperation.
UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay emphasized the importance of preserving documentary heritage, calling it a “fragile yet essential element of the memory of the world.”
India’s Union Minister for Culture and Tourism, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, echoed the Prime Minister’s sentiment, describing the inscription as a “historic moment” for India’s civilizational legacy.
“With this recognition, India now has 14 inscriptions in the UNESCO Memory of the World Register. These timeless works are more than literary treasures—they are philosophical and aesthetic foundations that have shaped Bharat’s worldview and the way we think, feel, live, and express,” Shekhawat posted on X.
UNESCO’s register also now includes landmark documents such as the Geneva Conventions, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and the 1991 Windhoek Declaration, which promotes global press freedom.
The inclusion of the Bhagavad Gita and Natyashastra adds to India’s growing international cultural footprint, reinforcing the global relevance of its ancient texts in shaping both moral philosophy and artistic tradition.