The 400-year-old manuscript of Samarth Ramdas Swami's Valmiki Ramayana—written in 1622 AD—I knew it was not meant to remain in an archive. It belonged in the hands of young scholars.

That quiet conviction has now become a movement.

We started at Punyashlok Ahilyadevi Holkar Solapur University. Then travelled to Kavikulaguru Kalidas Sanskrit University, Ramtek. Then to Moolji Jetha Autonomous College, Jalgaon. Then to the Goa University.

And on April 18, 2026, we successfully completed the fifth edition of our National Workshop on Critical Text Editing of the Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa Using the Manuscript of Śrī Samartha Rāmadāsa Svāmi at DES Pune University, Pune.

A Day of Deep Engagement

The workshop was organised by the Centre of Excellence in Indian Knowledge Systems, School of Humanities and Social Sciences, DES Pune University in association with Shri Samarth Vagdevata Mandir, Dhule.

The inaugural session was graced by Chief Guest Mr. Sameer Pande, Director of MKCL Knowledge Foundation, whose words inspired all present. We were also honoured by the presence of Prof. Dr. Rajesh Ingle, Vice Chancellor of DES Pune University, Shri Amit Kulkarni, Governing Body Member, and Dr. Sheetal Ruikar, Head of School of Humanities and Social Sciences.

A special thank you to Dr. Vasudev Aital, Convenor and Head of CoE-IKS, for his seamless coordination and vision.

Resource Persons

• Shri Sharad Kuber (Ramdasi) – Samarth Ramdasi, Bhakti Dham, Satara

• Mr. Raman Chitale – President, Shri Samarth Vagdevata Mandir, Dhule

• Dr. Nilesh Joshi – Senior Linguist, CFILT, IIT Bombay

• Ms. Nilakshi Joshi – Librarian, Geerwanjyoti Sanskrit and Oriental Library. 

What Participants Experienced

The day was packed with hands-on learning:

✍️ Transcription – Reading and copying directly from the manuscript

📜 Recension Comparison – Exploring the Lahore, Goresio, Nirnaya Sagar Bombay, and Baroda editions

🔄 Concordance Development – Mapping parallel verses across recensions

🔍 Colophon Analysis – Decoding scribe details, dates, and provenance

Participants came with curiosity and left with skills they can carry forward into their own research.

Gratitude

None of this would be possible without the dedication of many. My heartfelt thanks to:

• Mr. Raman Chitale and Shri Sharad Kuber for entrusting us with this manuscript and its legacy

• Prof. Dr. Rajesh Ingle and DES Pune University for their gracious hospitality and support

• Dr. Vasudev Aital for his tireless coordination

• Every participant who showed up with patience, curiosity, and a willingness to work

Looking Ahead

Five universities now. A growing community. A manuscript that refuses to be forgotten.

What began as a single workshop has become a collective commitment to reclaiming, understanding, and preserving what our ancestors wrote—not as museum pieces, but as living texts.

This movement welcomes you. The next workshop awaits. The journey continues.

📜 Because a manuscript unread is a story untold.

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