Founded in 1893 and formally established on September 1, 1927, by Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad III, the Oriental Institute of Baroda (also known as Prachya Vidhya Mandir) stands as a beacon of historical and cultural preservation. The institute was inspired from Oriental Research Institute of Mysore established by Maharaja Chamraja Wodeyar of Mysore. Initially affiliated with The Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda in 1949, the Institute has experienced several relocations, beginning from a building near Central Library to its current location near Kalabhavan (Senapati Bhavan), just opposite to LVP.
A Legacy of Learning
The Oriental Institute of Baroda, also known as Prachya Vidhya Mandir, was conceived as a post-graduate teaching and research institute with a vision to collect and preserve rare manuscripts and books. Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad III was instrumental in realizing this vision. The initial collection began as a ‘Sanskrit Section’ within the Central Library of Baroda and was later moved to a separate building, evolving into an independent institution by 1927.
The Collection
The Institute is renowned for its extensive collection of over 30,000 manuscripts and books. Walking through its halls is akin to a journey through a treasure trove of history, offering a paradise for history enthusiasts and researchers alike. The manuscripts span a diverse array of languages, including Sanskrit, Prakrit, Gujarati, Marathi, Persian, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Odiya, and Bengali. They are meticulously categorized based on writing materials such as palm-leaf, birch-bark, bamboo, cloth, and paper.
Among its notable treasures are the “Ayodhya Mahatmya,” a manuscript from 1656 AD authored by Harishankar, and the “Tamra Patrak,” a copper leaf page documenting the earliest known record of Baroda as the village “Vatapatraka,” dating back to the 9th century AD. The Institute is also acclaimed for its publication of several volumes of the Valmiki Ramayana between 1951 and 1975, which served as a key reference for the renowned TV series Ramayan by Ramanand Sagar.
Manuscript Conservation and Preservation
The Institute is deeply committed to the preservation and conservation of its manuscripts. It works under the aegis of the Ministry of Culture through the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA)’s National Mission for Manuscripts. A grant has been allocated for conservation efforts, focusing on vernacular manuscripts like ‘Balagyan Mala’ and ‘Kisan Mala’. The conservation team employs reversible processes and organic materials for restoration, including specialized treatments for ancient paper and palm leaf manuscripts.
For example, ancient paper manuscripts undergo distilled water baths and chemical treatments to remove acidity, while palm leaf manuscripts are encapsulated in polyester films to prevent further decomposition.
The Local Connect
The Institute houses over 1,000 manuscripts in Gujarati, with a significant number written in Gurjari lipi. It also preserves copper plates where Vadodara is mentioned for the first time in history as ‘Vadpatrak’. The Gujarati manuscripts include important works like Premanandas’ ‘Okhaharan’ and ‘Kunwarbai nu Mameru’, as well as compact versions of texts used by sadhus.
The Ayodhya Mahatmya
The Institute’s connection to the Ayodhya Ram Janmabhoomi case is notable. The original ‘Ayodhya Mahatmya’ manuscript, housed at the Institute, was crucial in the legal proceedings that determined Ram’s birthplace as Ayodhya.
Academic Works
The Institute actively contributes to the academic community through its publications and research activities. It publishes two prestigious research quarterlies: the Journal of Oriental Institute, Baroda (UGC Care listed) in English and Svadhyaya (a multilingual journal). Over 900 books have been published, including significant works such as Saundaryalahiri, Shaktisangamtantra, Sadhanamala, Natyashastra, and Ahsan-ul-Tawarikh. These publications underscore the Institute’s commitment to making ancient texts accessible to scholars and researchers worldwide.
The Institute operates four branches: Manuscript Section, Printed Section, Translation Branch, and the Critical Edition Wing. The Critical Edition Wing was introduced to prepare the Valmiki Ramayana (All seven Kandas) in 1951 and was later renamed the ‘Ramayana Department’. After completing the Ramayana in 1975, the department produced editions of the Vishnupurana and Markandeyapurana, with the Vayupurana currently in progress. The Institute also organizes workshops, lectures, and provides guidance to Ph.D. scholars while offering digitized copies of manuscripts.
The Oriental Institute of Baroda remains a vital repository of historical knowledge, dedicated to the preservation, digitisation, and translation of invaluable manuscripts, and continues to serve researchers from around the world.
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