Union Human Resource Development, HRD Ministry has decided to take up preservation of Jammu and Kashmir's rich manuscript wealth under national preservation mission. Union HRD minister Kapil Sibal said that HRD ministry will also take up translation of standard books of different languages into local languages of Jammu and Kashmir and vice versa. He was speaking at a function organised by J&K Academy of Art, Culture and Languages at Srinagar last evening. Sibal's announcement came in response to proposals put forth by secretary of the Academy, Khalid Bashir Ahmad during his briefing about the ongoing and future projects of the literary body.

A power point presentation was also made on the multi-crore 'Tehzeeb Mahal', being set up in Srinagar as the hub of art, culture and literary activities. Responding to the demand by Jnanpith awardee and noted Kashmiri poet, Rehman Rahi, for restarting the practice of having national news reels and documentaries dubbed in Kashmiri language, Sibal said he would take up the matter with the concerned ministry. An exhibition of rare manuscripts, paintings, calligraphy specimen and Academy's publications was organised.

The minister evinced keen interest in the manuscripts and other displayed items which included a rare copy of Holy Quran calligraphed in 1237 AD by Fateh Ullah Kashmiri. Another manuscript on display was written in 1594 AD and is the only copy of Holy Quran in the world to be written in saffron ink. Copies of Bhagwad Geeta and Mahabharata in Persian were also displayed. Another attraction at the exhibition was a Persian manuscript written in calligraphy with nail of thumb, popularly known as 'Khat-e-Nakhun'.