January 20, 2026 : A rare Sanskrit manuscript of the Valmiki Ramayana, dating back more than two centuries, has been formally gifted to the Antarrashtriya Ram Katha Sangrahalaya in Ayodhya, marking an important step in preserving India’s literary and cultural legacy.

The manuscript was presented by Shrinivasa Varakhedi, Vice Chancellor of the Central Sanskrit University, to Nripendra Misra, Chairman of the Executive Council of the Prime Ministers Museum and Library, during a ceremonial handover held on Tuesday.

Composed by Ādi Kavi Valmiki and accompanied by the classical commentary Tattvadīpikāṭīkā by Maheshvara Tirtha, the manuscript is dated to Vikrama Saṁvat 1849, corresponding to 1792 CE. Written in Sanskrit using Devanāgarī script, it represents a rare and remarkably preserved textual tradition of the epic.

The collection contains five principal kāṇḍas: Bālakāṇḍa, Araṇyakāṇḍa, Kiṣkindhākāṇḍa, Sundarakāṇḍa and Yuddhakāṇḍa, capturing the narrative sweep and philosophical depth of the Rāmāyaṇa. Scholars regard it as a valuable source for research in classical Sanskrit literature and Indic Itihāsa traditions.

The manuscript had earlier been kept on loan at Rashtrapati Bhavan. Its permanent transfer to the Ram Katha Museum is expected to enhance the institution’s standing as a global centre for Rāmāyaṇa studies, while ensuring long-term conservation and broader public access.

Speaking at the event, Prof. Varakhedi said the gift would help carry forward the timeless wisdom of the Valmiki Ramayana by making it accessible to scholars, devotees and visitors from around the world in Ayodhya. Nripendra Misra described the donation as a landmark moment, noting that the manuscript would greatly enrich the cultural and spiritual resources of the Ram Katha Sangrahalaya and the wider Ram temple complex.