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About
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Introduction
The Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute, Pune, was founded on July 6, 1917
to commemorate the name and the work of Ramkrishna Gopal Bhandarakar, the
foremost pioneer of scientific Orientology in India.
The Institute is a public organization registered under Act XXI 1860 (a Public
Trust). It is partially supported by annual earmarked grants from the
Maharashtra Government.
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The Institute has
also received grants from the Government of India and the University Grants
Commission for specific research projects.
Orientology is the study of the ancient indigenous lore and wisdom of the East
or the ‘Orient’. The Institute concerns itself with research activity in the
field of Orientology with a vision to enlighten the world about the
all-comprehensive knowledge generated in the East, especially, in India.
The institute has one of the largest collections of rare books and manuscripts
spanning over 1,25,000 books and over 28,000 manuscripts collected over a
period of 90 years covering practically every aspect of Orientology. This
collection covers several languages and scripts such as Sanskrit, Prakrit,
Indian regional languages, Classical, Asean and European languages.
In addition, through the pursuits of its research projects in the Mahabharata
and Prakrit Languages it has created invaluable reference archives.
The Institute organizes learned Lectures by guest scholars under its various
Memorial Lectureships. The All India Oriental Conference, various seminars and
scholarly discussions are also organized by the Institute.
The institute publishes its annual journal ‘Annals of the Bhandarkar Oriental
Research Institute’. The most prominent publications of the Institute are:
Critical Edition of the Mahabharata, Descriptive Catalogues of Manuscripts and
The Prakrit Dictionary.
The Institute also hosts a Manuscripts Resource and Conservation Centre under
the auspices of the National Mission for Manuscripts, a project of the Cultural
Ministry of India.
In short, the Institute has been effectively playing the role of a very
significant centre of Indological Studies and Research over the last nine
decades.
The Mission-Statement
The Mission-Statement of the BORI reads:
The Institute shall be devoted to the carrying out of the following objects:-
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(1) To place
within the easy reach of advanced students of research a first-class and
up-to-date Oriental library, and to afford them all other ready-made helps in
the way of select topical bibliographies, digests, of magazine articles, card
indexes, electronic media and similar critical material.
(2) To train qualified students in the scientific methods of research by
opening postgraduate classes, founding lectureships and, in time, preparing
students for higher degrees in research.
(3) To place indigenous learning of the Shastris upon a broader and sounder
basis by making the necessary and suitable arrangements for their guidance and
training.
(4) To undertake and publish, with the co-operation of various scholars,
critical editions of texts, as also original and independent works of
historical nature bearing upon Oriental Studies, including Journals,
Proceedings, Catalogues, Reports and occasional studies.
(5) To act as a bureau for literary advice and information on all points
connected with Oriental Studies in general.
(6) And to plan and carry out all other projects not inconsistent with the
foregoing and calculated to help the promulgation of Oriental Studies in
general.
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(The Objects of the
Institute/Rule 2/ Page 1 of “Rules and By-Laws of the BORI”) |
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In other words, as
a life’s mission BORI has assumed the vow of |
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(1) Facilitating
students of Orientology,
(2) Enriching the quality of Oriental Research,
(3) Carrying the Ancient Oriental Wisdom for the knowledge, use and
enlightenment of the generations to come. |
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And the community
of Oriental scholars related in whichever way to the BORI strives hard to
realize the perpetual mission of the Visionaries of yesteryears…….. |
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