Rashtrapati Bhavan replaces colonial-era texts with Indian literature in 11 classical languages
The collection aims to enhance awareness among citizens regarding the cultural and literary heritage of India
In line with the government’s move to pivot Indian civilisational heritage over all else, Rashtrapati Bhavan on Friday replaced British-era colonial texts with Indian literature in 11 classical languages.
Called “Granth Kutir”, the collection of 2,300 books will replace an earlier collection of texts like “A Catalogue of the Original Works of William Hogarth”; “Speeches of Lord Curzon of Kedleston”; “Summary of the Administration of Lord Curzon of Kedleston” and “Life of Lord Curzon”. These texts lauding British imperial leadership have now been relocated to a separate space within the Rashtrapati Bhavan estate and digitised.
The Granth Kutir stock boasts of Indian classical texts, including the Vedas, Puranas and Upanishads in Sanskrit; Gathasaptasati, the earliest known Marathi literary work; the Vinaya Pitaka in Pali that outlines the monastic rules for Buddhist monks; Jain Agamas and Prakrit inscriptions which serve as vital historical records.
Granth Kutir a collection of 2,300 books
Granth Kutir has a collection of 2,300 books in 11 Indian classical languages of India
‘Classical Language’ status was given to Marathi, Pali, Prakrit, Assamese and Bengali languages on October 3, 2024. Before that, six languages had this status
The Granth Kutir covers a wide range of subjects such as epics, philosophy, linguistics, history, governance, science and devotional literature as well as the Constitution of India in these languages
Fifty manuscripts are also part of the collection. Many of these are handwritten on traditional materials such as palm leaf, paper, bark and cloth.
There are also the Charyapadas, ancient Buddhist Tantric texts in Assamese, Bengali and Odia; Tirukkural, classic Tamil treatise on various aspects of life; Mahabharata in Telugu; Kavirajamarga, the earliest available work on rhetoric, poetics and grammar in Kannada and Ramacharitam in Malayalam.
The collection aims to enhance awareness among citizens regarding the cultural and literary heritage of India and comes close on the heels of President House replacing the portraits of British-time ADCs with Param Vir Chakra awardees.
“In line with the national resolve of eradicating vestiges of colonial mindset, Granth Kutir has been developed to showcase the rich heritage through the prominent works while promoting the spirit of unity in diversity,” a Rashtrapati Bhavan statement said.
Speaking after the inauguration of the gallery, President Droupadi Murmu said classical languages had provided the foundation for Indian culture.
“Knowledge of science, yoga, ayurveda and literature composed in India’s classical languages has guided the world for centuries. Texts like the Thirukkural and Arthashastra remain relevant even today,” she said.
Murmu added that through these languages, mathematics, astronomy, ayurveda and grammar have been developed.
“Panini’s grammar, Aryabhata’s mathematics and the medical science of Charaka and Sushruta continue to amaze the world even today,” she added.
