Oriental Institute

Introduction

A world renowned research institute conceived in 1893 by the Great Visionary Maharaja Sir Sayajirao Gaekwad III (1863-1939).Established on 1^st September 1927. Focuses on

• Collection of Manuscripts -Rare, Important and illustrated.
• Preservation of Manuscripts and ideological rare and important books.
• Publication
• Giving guidance to scholars for their Research works.

The Institute focuses on the collection of manuscripts most of which are rare, important and frequently illustrated, the preservation of these manuscripts and the rare and important books that have been donated to them.

There is a good collection of illustrated manuscripts and different types of ancient writing materials, some of which are exhibited in the manuscript section. Institute has received hundreds of manuscripts as gift from various Pandits from Baroda and nearby and the collection is still increasing by such donations of scholars. We supply photo copies, microfilms of manuscripts to the research scholars in India and abroad. Ancient and modern preservation techniques are followed Three volumes of Catalogue of manuscripts of the Institute have been published and forth volume is in progress. All the manuscripts available have been duly registered in the accession register. Scholars can also refer to manuscripts in the premises. Manuscripts in all the different scripts and also on different materials like Palm-leaf, Birch-bark, Paper etc. are well preserved in the institute. These manuscripts cover all the different subjects and sastras not only of Sanskrit but also of Prakrit, Gujarati, Marathi, Persian etc. More than 185 works have been published in the world renowned Gaekwad’s Oriental Series based upon such ancient, important and rare manuscripts.

About the university

The Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda is located in the western part of Gujarat in a city which is better known as the cultural capital of the state. The University is renowned for its diverse and vibrant academic legacy as well as a throbbing and huge campus. Every year the University attracts students and researchers not only from the other parts of Gujarat but also from states like Rajasthan, Delhi, Madhya Pradesh, Manipur and others. Established in 1949, it was groomed by visionary minds like Sri Aurobindo, Prof. I G Patel, Padma Bhushan Dr. Subramaniam, Padma Bhushan  Dr. R C Mehta and others. Its luminary alumni include Acharya Vinoba Bhave, Dada Saheb Phalke, Sri Rang Avdhoot, Sri Kakasaheb Kalelkar, Dr. K M Munshi, Sam Pitroda, Nobel Laureate Dr. Venkatraman Ramkrishnan and many others. It is a hub for research and development in disciplines ranging from natural sciences, humanities, medicine, social sciences, engineering and the performing arts. The uniqueness of the University lies in encouraging inter-disciplinary research alliances and other development based activities to give a surge to the era of knowledge.

About Sri Sayaji Gaekwad III

Born at Kavlana on the 11th March, 1863 as Shrimant Gopalrao Gaekwad; Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad III (1875-1939 AD) was selected by the British Government as successor and was accordingly adopted by Maharani Jamnabai. He was extensively tutored in administrative skills by Raja Sir T. Madhava Rao . It is acknowledged that the Maharaja Sayajirao was a prince among the educators and an educator among the princes.

On assuming the reins of government, he took up education of his subjects, uplifting of the downtrodden, judicial, agricultural and social reforms and development of Baroda’s textile industry. He had a penchant for social reforms which included a ban on child marriage, legislation of divorce, and removal of untouchability. His economic development initiatives included the establishment of a railroad and the founding in 1908 of the Bank of Baroda. His rich library became the nucleus of today’s Central Library of Baroda. He was the first Indian ruler to introduce, in 1906, compulsory and free primary education in his state. He patronized people like Dr. BabaSaheb Ambedkar, Dadabhai Navroji and Sri Aurobindo.

He recognized talent from among his people. He supported education and training of persons who in his opinion would shine in life. Those persons whom he patronized included Dr. Babasaheb Alies Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar, the architect of Indian Constitution; Dadabhai Naoroji, who started his public life as the Dewan (Minister) to the Maharaja in 1874 and thereafter went on to become the first Asian Member of the British House of Commons where he made no secret of the fact that he would also be representing 250 million of his fellow subjects in India. He also sent his Agriculture Commissioner Chintaman Vishnu Sane to The United States of America for research in that field.

Sayajirao used to visit England every year to select outstanding young people to join his service and in one of such visits he met 20-year Sri Aurobindo whom he immediately offered a job at Baroda College. Sri Aurobindo returned to India in 1893 to join the Baroda service.

The Maharaja supported and witnessed the successful flying of an unmanned aircraft constructed by Dr.Talpade in 1895, which happened eight years before the Wright brothers took to the skies. This is as per right wing RSS literature. No proof exists of this flight and neither does that aircraft in any condition.

Address

The Oriental Institute,

Fatehgunj,

Vadodara – 390 002

Phone

+91-9427347645

Website

www.msubaroda.ac.in

Institution: Indian scriptures team

References