NEW DELHI, April 18 (Xinhua) -- Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi Friday hailed the inclusion of the Hindu holy book Bhagavad Gita and Bharat Muni's Natyashastra (a Sanskrit treatise on the performing arts) in UNESCO's Memory of the World Register on Thursday.

"A proud moment for every Indian across the world! The inclusion of the Gita and Natyashastra in UNESCO's Memory of the World Register is a global recognition of our timeless wisdom and rich culture," Modi wrote on social media. "The Gita and Natyashastra have nurtured civilization and consciousness for centuries. Their insights continue to inspire the world."

The Memory of the World Register, initiated by UNESCO in 1992, is a prestigious list that safeguards documentary heritage of outstanding value. It is an international initiative to safeguard the documentary heritage of humanity against collective amnesia, neglect, decay over time and climatic conditions, as well as deliberate destruction.

India's federal minister of culture and tourism Gajendra Singh Shekhawat described the development as "a historic moment for Bharat's civilizational heritage."

"This global honor celebrates India's eternal wisdom and artistic genius. These timeless works are more than literary treasures -- they are philosophical and aesthetic foundations that have shaped Bharat's world view and the way we think, feel, live, and express," Shekhawat said. "With this, we now have 14 inscriptions from our country on this international register." ■