Three‑day workshop on transcription and editing of Telugu Ayurvedic manuscripts concludes at CCRAS‑NIIMH, Hyderabad

The three‑day workshop on transcription and editing of Telugu Ayurvedic manuscripts was held today in the auditorium of the National Institute of Indian Medical Heritage (NIIMH) in Hyderabad. Organized from 26 to 28 October 2026, the workshop focused on developing specialised skills for extracting, transcribing, analysing and critically editing ancient medical knowledge preserved in historic Telugu palm‑leaf and paper manuscripts.

The workshop was organised under the guidance of Ayush Ministry Secretary Padma Shri Vaidya Rajesh Kothecha and Ayush Ministry Ayurvedic Advisor Dr. Kaustubh Upadhyay. It was held under the aegis of the Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS) – National Institute of Indian Medical Heritage (NIIMH), Hyderabad, a centre for medical‑historical studies and Indian medical heritage excellence under the Ayush Ministry.

Designed as a capacity‑building and human‑resource development initiative, the workshop aimed to equip researchers and scholars with the specialised skills needed for systematic study and preservation of India’s medical heritage.

During the inaugural session, CCRAS Director‑General Prof. (Vaidya) Ravi Narayan Acharya highlighted the importance of such workshops and outlined the council’s ongoing research initiatives and projects for preserving Indian medical heritage. CCRAS Deputy Director Dr. N. Srikanth stressed the need to uncover and bring forward the vast therapeutic knowledge stored in ancient medical palm‑leaf texts.

CCRAS‑NIIMH Assistant Director and In‑Charge Dr. G.P. Prasad outlined the workshop’s main objectives and the strategic framework for manuscript transcription. The inaugural ceremony featured distinguished scholars, including former director of the National Ayurvedic Research Institute for Panchakarma (NARIP) Dr. B. Ramarao and eminent Ayurvedic scholar Pammal Satyanarayana Shastri, who attended as special guests.

The three‑day programme included intensive practical training and expert technical sessions conducted by eminent scholars, such as Shri Narsimha, custodian of the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD) library in Tirupati; manuscript‑science expert Shri P.V.S. Kumar; and manuscript‑science and literature specialist Pammal Satyanarayana Shastri.

More than 37 representatives, faculty members and postgraduate scholars took part in the practical sessions. Participants included members from leading institutions such as S.V. Ayurvedic College in Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh; Rajarajeswari Ayurvedic Medical College in Humanaabad, Bidar district, Karnataka; Basavaraj Patil Ayurvedic College in Bidar, as well as CCRAS researchers and officials.

The workshop concluded on 28 October 2026 with an afternoon closing session. Over the three days, participants gained comprehensive knowledge of various aspects of palaeography, including manuscript retrieval, transcription, editing, proof‑editing, textual analysis and different script forms.

Under the expert guidance of renowned scholars, the workshop achieved a significant milestone: the transcription, initial proof‑editing and editing of 2,040 pages from 30 Telugu Ayurvedic manuscripts were completed, contributing to the preservation and systematic documentation of India’s traditional medical knowledge.