New Delhi: Under the patronage of the Chancellor Hammad Ahmed, Jamia Hamdard has launched an ambitious Manuscript Digitisation Project aimed at preserving and providing global access to its invaluable collection of handwritten texts. The university plans to digitise its entire archive of 3,800 rare manuscripts, housed in the central library, in technical collaboration with the Juma Al-Majid Center for Culture and Heritage, Dubai, UAE.
Under this initiative, each manuscript will be digitised and meticulously catalogued, complete with rich metadata to enable easy discovery and research. A descriptive catalogue, along with select sample pages, will be made available in open access, allowing researchers worldwide to identify materials relevant to their academic pursuits.
Highlighting the importance of the project, Professor (Dr.) M. Afshar Alam, Vice-Chancellor of Jamia Hamdard, emphasised the critical role of digitisation in preserving India’s rich cultural and scholarly heritage for future generations. This strategic initiative marks a significant step in Jamia Hamdard’s ongoing mission to promote research, preserve heritage, and foster international collaboration in the academic domain, Professor Alam said.
He further added that while Jamia Hamdard has already established a global presence, making the descriptive catalogue of manuscripts available on an open-access platform will further elevate our reputation as an institution of excellence.
Dr. Azzeddine Benzeghiba, representative of the Juma Al-Majid Center for Culture & Heritage, expressed satisfaction over the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Jamia Hamdard. He noted that the collaboration extends beyond digitisation to include knowledge sharing, encompassing books, periodicals, pamphlets, training programmes, conferences, and other academic initiatives. Dr. Benzeghiba also assured full technical support and training required to successfully implement the project.
Dr. Sarfaraz Ahsan, Registrar (Officiating) of Jamia Hamdard, conveyed his gratitude to the Juma Al-Majid Center for entering into this partnership and supporting the university’s commitment to academic excellence and preservation.
During a briefing session with deans and heads of academic departments, Dr. Akhtar Parvez, University Librarian, affirmed that the Manuscript Digitisation Cell is fully equipped and staffed to ensure smooth execution of the project. He shared the university’s goal to complete the digitization process by early 2026, after which the manuscripts will be made digitally accessible to researchers around the globe.
