Indian Government Welcomes Historic Agreement to Safeguard Over 2,000 Jain Manuscripts
India’s Minister of Culture and Tourism, Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, has congratulated the Institute of Jainology (IOJ) on a landmark agreement for the restitution of more than 2,000 historic Jain manuscripts from the Wellcome Collection.
In a message recognising the significance of the achievement, the Minister praised the Institute of Jainology and Dr Mehool H Sanghrajka for their leadership in securing an agreement that will protect these important works and make them accessible to future generations.
The manuscripts, preserved over centuries, represent an invaluable part of India’s cultural and spiritual heritage. They provide important insights into Jain philosophy, literature, scholarship and the wider traditions of knowledge and learning in India.
A New Model for Preserving Jain Heritage
A particularly significant feature of the agreement is the arrangement for the manuscripts to remain at the University of Birmingham, while ownership is restored to the Jain community through the Institute of Jainology.
This approach combines the restitution of cultural heritage with professional conservation, academic research and public accessibility.
The Minister described the arrangement as an innovative model of custodianship, demonstrating how restitution can create new opportunities for preservation, education and international collaboration.
Recognition of Jain Values
The Minister also acknowledged the approach adopted by the Institute of Jainology throughout the discussions, highlighting the Jain principles of Ahimsa (non-violence) and Anekantavada (recognition of multiple perspectives).
He praised the constructive dialogue and mutual respect that enabled the parties to reach an agreement serving the common good.
The Minister observed that restitution need not be concerned with the past alone. Through partnership and cooperation, it can also establish a foundation for future scholarship, education and cultural engagement.
An Important Milestone for the Institute of Jainology
The Minister congratulated the Wellcome Collection for its constructive engagement, the University of Birmingham for its commitment to the manuscripts’ future care and study, and the Institute of Jainology for representing the Jain community throughout the process.
He expressed confidence that the initiative would make a significant contribution to the international study and understanding of Jain heritage, while providing an example of what can be achieved through dialogue, scholarship and cooperation.
For the Institute of Jainology, this recognition marks an important milestone in its continuing work to preserve, promote and make accessible the rich intellectual and spiritual heritage of Jainism.
The Minister’s message reinforces the wider significance of the agreement: not only the return of ownership of historic manuscripts to the Jain community, but the establishment of a lasting partnership to safeguard and share this heritage with generations to come.