In a significant step towards preserving India’s rich documentary heritage, the Telangana Department of Heritage signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Noor International Microfilm Centre, Iran Cultural House, Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran, New Delhi, on June 15, 2026.
The agreement aims to digitise, conserve, catalogue and restore thousands of rare manuscripts, paintings, books and archival records housed in Telangana’s repositories. The initiative will help safeguard centuries-old documents from deterioration while making them accessible for future generations of researchers, historians and scholars.
What Will Be Digitised?
Under the agreement, experts from Iran’s Noor International Microfilm Centre will undertake the digitisation and preservation of:
- 737 rare manuscripts
- 3,091 historical paintings
- 14,522 library books
- 101 Dastawazats (archival records)
The collections include materials written in Persian, Urdu, Arabic and several other languages that reflect the region’s diverse cultural and historical legacy.
A notable aspect of the project is that the digitisation, indexing, cataloguing and restoration work will be carried out free of cost for the Telangana government, with funding provided by the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran.
Telangana State Archives: A Treasure House of History
The initiative builds upon an earlier collaboration signed on September 7, 2022, between the Telangana State Archives and Research Institute (TSARI) in Hyderabad and the Noor International Microfilm Centre.
The archives are among the largest documentary repositories in India, housing more than 43 million historical records. Nearly 80 percent of these documents are written in classical Persian and Urdu.
The collection contains records dating back to 1406 AD and chronicles the administrative, cultural and political history of several major dynasties, including:
- The Bahmani Sultanate
- The Qutb Shahi Dynasty
- The Adil Shahi Dynasty
- The Mughal Empire
These records provide invaluable insights into governance, trade, culture, land administration and diplomacy across centuries.
Rare Manuscripts and Extraordinary Historical Artefacts
Among the most remarkable items slated for digitisation are:
- Persian translations of the Ramayana
- Persian versions of the Bhagavata Mahapurana
- Quranic verses inscribed on gold-coated paper
- A rare royal scroll measuring 10.5 metres in length
- Historic royal decrees and administrative records known as farmans
These artefacts showcase the cultural exchanges that shaped medieval India and highlight the blending of Persian and Indian intellectual traditions.
Advanced Restoration Techniques to Extend Lifespan
The conservation programme will employ modern archival techniques, including herbal restoration technologies, to strengthen fragile documents and extend their lifespan by more than 200 years.
Experts will repair damaged manuscripts, remove deterioration caused by age and environmental factors, and create high-quality digital copies to ensure long-term preservation.
Role of the Gyan Bharatam Mission
The Telangana State Archives and Research Institute is also participating in the Union Ministry of Culture’s ambitious Gyan Bharatam Mission, launched to digitise more than one crore manuscripts across India.
The mission seeks to create a comprehensive digital repository of India’s documentary heritage, ensuring wider public access while protecting priceless manuscripts from physical decay.
Why This Initiative Matters
The Telangana-Iran manuscript digitisation project is more than a conservation exercise. It represents an effort to preserve shared cultural memories, strengthen academic research and protect rare historical records from being lost forever.
By combining international expertise with modern preservation technology, the initiative will help transform centuries-old manuscripts and archival records into accessible digital resources, ensuring that future generations can continue to explore India’s rich and diverse historical legacy.
Key Facts
- Telangana signed the MoU with the Noor International Microfilm Centre, Iran, on June 15, 2026.
- The project covers 737 manuscripts, 3,091 paintings, 14,522 books and 101 archival records.
- Telangana State Archives houses over 43 million documents.
- About 80% of the archive’s holdings are in Persian and Urdu.
- The oldest records date back to 1406 AD.
- Royal orders in Indo-Persian administration are known as farmans.
- The archives contain records from the Bahmani, Qutb Shahi, Adil Shahi and Mughal periods.
- The project supports the Union Government’s Gyan Bharatam Mission for nationwide manuscript digitisation.