Manuscriptology and Digital Humanities Digitally Conserving Bengaluru’s Stone Inscriptions: Technology, Data, and Public History | Session 2: Data Science in Epigraphy & the Akshara Bhandara Platform

Digitally Conserving Bengaluru’s Stone Inscriptions: Technology, Data, and Public History. How 3D Scanning, Data Science, and Citizen Collaboration Are Reshaping Epigraphy

Session 2: Data Science in Epigraphy & the Akshara Bhandara Platform
This session dives into the digital infrastructure and analytical methods powering the project:

• Akshara Bhandara: A custom-built platform for archiving, analyzing, and sharing inscriptions with researchers and the public
• Data Science for Epigraphy: Applying computational tools to detect errors, analyze linguistic variation, and ensure consistency across inscriptions'
• Open Access for All: How structured metadata, searchable databases, and public APIs empower linguists, educators, and technologists
• A Model for the Future: Broader implications for digital humanities in India and the potential of citizen-led heritage conservation

Why This Matters
This project demonstrates how digital humanities can bridge the gap between academic research and public history. It offers a replicable, inclusive framework for preserving cultural heritage in the digital age—combining scholarly rigour with wide accessibility.

Speaker Bio:
Udaya Kumar P. L. is a Bangalore-based heritage conservationist, independent researcher, and the Honorary Director of the Bengaluru Inscriptions 3D Digital Conservation Project at the Mythic Society. He leads one of India’s most ambitious citizen-driven digital humanities initiatives, combining field epigraphy, 3D documentation, and public engagement to document and preserve over 1,500 stone inscriptions from the Bengaluru region, dating from 200 to 1750 CE. Originally trained as an engineer, Udaya holds a Master’s degree in Engineering Mechanics from IIT Madras and spent over three decades in leadership roles with Tata, General Electric, and Schneider Electric. He brings his interdisciplinary expertise to the field of heritage preservation, applying data science, geospatial analysis, and open-access technologies to reimagine epigraphy for the digital age. In recognition of his contributions to cultural heritage, he was awarded the Namma Bengaluru Citizen Individual of the Year in 2019.

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