Digitizing Ancient Scripts, Kukar Efforts To Preserve Cultural Heritage

TENGGARONG - The Kutai Kartanegara Regency Government (Kukar Regency Government), East Kalimantan, continues to encourage the preservation of ancient manuscripts through the digitalization program.

This effort is carried out as a form of protection against the physical legacy of the past as well as an appreciation for the identity and history of the community.

"The ancient naskahs are a very valuable source of information that records the traces of culture, science, customs, and noble values that develop in the community," said the Expert Staff for General Administration of the Kutai Kartanegara Regency Secretariat, Heldiansyah, in Tenggarong, Antara, Friday, July 25.

According to him, the preservation of ancient manuscripts is very important, especially to strengthen the awareness of the people of Kukar towards the cultural roots and identities of them as a nation. He stressed that this preservation must be a shared responsibility between the government, society, and various other elements.

As an area rich in history, Kutai Kartanegara has various ancient manuscripts spread across various places, ranging from royal archives, traditional institutions, to private collections. However, many of them have not been properly documented. Some have even begun to experience damage and are threatened with extinction.

"Through digitalization, we hope that these manuscripts can be preserved more sustainably and safely from damage," said Heldiansyah.

He added that the central government has so far shown commitment to the preservation of ancient manuscripts through regulations such as Law Number 43 of 2007 concerning libraries that mandate the preservation of library materials, including ancient manuscripts.

In addition, there is also the Regulation of the National Library of the Republic of Indonesia Number 9 of 2024 concerning Preservation of Ancient Scripts which provides technical guidelines on how to properly preserve ancient documents.

Following up on these regulations, the Kukar Regency Government has held socialization several times, including activities with the theme 'Caring for Scripts, Caring for the Archipelago' which was held two days ago. This activity aims to build collective awareness about the importance of preserving historical documents.

"This socialization is an important first step to build synergy between the government, society, academics, and all stakeholders in maintaining ancient manuscripts as part of the wealth of national culture," said Heldiansyah.

He hopes that through consistent digitization and conservation, the younger generation can get to know the history of their nation better and make it a foothold to build a characterful future.