Jan 24: President Droupadi Murmu yesterday inaugurated the Granth Kutir at Rashtrapati Bhavan, a unique cultural initiative dedicated to preserving and promoting India’s classical languages and literary heritage. The newly inaugurated Kutir houses a rich collection of around 50 rare manuscripts and nearly 2,300 books written in 11 Indian classical languages.
The collection reflects the vast intellectual and cultural legacy of India, covering diverse subjects such as epics, philosophy, linguistics, history, governance, science, devotional literature, and the Constitution of India translated into classical languages. The initiative aims to enhance public awareness about India’s ancient knowledge traditions while reinforcing the spirit of unity in diversity.
Addressing the gathering, President Murmu said that Granth Kutir represents a collective effort of Rashtrapati Bhavan towards the preservation and promotion of India’s classical languages. She highlighted that these languages have played a crucial role in shaping modern Indian languages and continue to be a source of timeless knowledge.
The President noted that classical Indian languages have guided humanity for centuries through their contributions to science, yoga, Ayurveda, literature, and philosophy. She stressed the need to promote the study of classical languages in universities and encouraged young people to learn at least one classical language to remain connected with India’s civilisational roots.
Emphasising accessibility, President Murmu said that making more books available in libraries is essential for preserving and promoting classical languages. She underlined that increased exposure and availability would help future generations appreciate the depth and relevance of ancient Indian knowledge systems.
Granth Kutir also supports the vision of the Gyan Bharatam Mission, a national initiative aimed at preserving, digitising, and disseminating India’s vast manuscript heritage. The Kutir has been developed through collaboration with the central and state governments, universities, research institutions, cultural organisations, and individual donors from across the country.
The inauguration of Granth Kutir marks an important step towards safeguarding India’s literary treasures and inspiring citizens, especially youth, to engage with the nation’s classical knowledge traditions.
