Short History
2009
FIRST PHASE
In the first phase, RBMPP successfully scanned 400 manuscripts from private collections in the Kathmandu Valley.
This effort focused on identifying rare and at risk texts that had never been digitized before. The digitized materials are now preserved in high resolution formats for further study.
2018
SECOND PHASE
In the Second Phase (2018), the Rare Buddhist Sanskrit Manuscript Preservation Project (RBSMP) at the University of the West in Los Angeles started collaborating with Buddhist Digital Resource Centre, Cambridge, MA, to scan and catalogue rare Nepalese Buddhist manuscripts in Sanskrit.
This scanning initiative encompassed digitizing 200 manuscripts held in various collections throughout the Kathmandu Valley.
2022
THIRD PHASE
In the third phase, we scanned an additional 100 manuscripts.
This phase emphasized the inclusion of underrepresented scripts and dialects. Collaborations with regional monasteries played a vital role in access and authentication. The work contributed to expanding the thematic and linguistic scope of the archive.
2025 – PRESENT
FOURTH PHASE
The fourth phase—scanning another 100 manuscripts—is currently underway in 2025.
It includes advanced conservation techniques to handle fragile and decaying texts. A key objective is to create detailed metadata for improved research accessibility. This ongoing effort marks a significant step toward completing the digital archive.
