The life of Sir Ramakrushna Gopal Bhandarkar and the origins of Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute
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A long thread on the occasion of 184th jayanti of Sir Bhandarkar and the 104th foundation day of the institute
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A long thread on the occasion of 184th jayanti of Sir Bhandarkar and the 104th foundation day of the institute
The decades between 1860s to 1920s was an age of reformers.
Many social, political & religious reformers lived & worked in that era. Their legacies have left an indelible mark on India’s evolution into what we are today.
Sir Ramkrushna Gopal Bhandarkar was one of them.
Many social, political & religious reformers lived & worked in that era. Their legacies have left an indelible mark on India’s evolution into what we are today.
Sir Ramkrushna Gopal Bhandarkar was one of them.
Sir R.G. Bhandarkar was born on 6th July, 1837 in Malvan, which lies in the erstwhile Ratnagiri district of Maharashtra.
He graduated from the Elphinstone College Mumbai, and belonged to one of the first graduation batches of the Mumbai university.
He graduated from the Elphinstone College Mumbai, and belonged to one of the first graduation batches of the Mumbai university.
He first started his career as a teacher and then as a headmaster. He soon joined the Elphinstone College as assistant profession, and later as the first Indian Professor of Sanskrit of Deccan College.
A great teacher in every right, his distinguished students included many luminaries of modern India, including Lokmanya Tilak and "Bharatratna" Panduranga Vaman Kane.
His genius was versatile; his areas of research included a vast range of topics such as dharma and religions, philosophy, epigraphy, numismatics and history, etc.
His contribution was pivotal in reconstructing the history of South India including the Satavahana Dynasty.
His contribution was pivotal in reconstructing the history of South India including the Satavahana Dynasty.
His legacy as reformer is equally rich.
He was active and voracious in his support for girls’ education, abolition of untouchability, widow-remarriage and abolition of child marriage.
He was active and voracious in his support for girls’ education, abolition of untouchability, widow-remarriage and abolition of child marriage.
With Justice Ranade, he was one of the founding forces behind Prarthana Samaj.
He was one of the founders of the girls’ school popularly known as Huzurpaga (est. 1885).
He was the also the first chancellor of SNDT established by Bharataratna Dhondo Keshav karve.
He was one of the founders of the girls’ school popularly known as Huzurpaga (est. 1885).
He was the also the first chancellor of SNDT established by Bharataratna Dhondo Keshav karve.
Despite their political differences, Sir Bhandarkar & Lokmanya Tilak shared a great mutual respect.
A unique anecdote comes from the book by late great Govind Talwalkar.
A unique anecdote comes from the book by late great Govind Talwalkar.
He mentions of a meeting between Lokmanya Tilak and Mr. Ketkar regarding articles in the “Jnanakosha”.
Tilak insisted on the proper examination of all articles even by the likes of V.V. Rajwade and Tilak himself, but except the article by Sir Bhandarkar.
Tilak insisted on the proper examination of all articles even by the likes of V.V. Rajwade and Tilak himself, but except the article by Sir Bhandarkar.
Sir Bhandarkar was felicitated by many national and international awards and degrees, but perhaps the greatest tribute to him came through the establishment of the Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute.
On 6 July 1915, a meeting of Pune's intellectuals was convened. The effort was led by Shri S K Belvalkar & Shri Lingesh Mahabhagwat (later Shankaracharya of Kurtakoti).
They unanimously decided to establish an Institute for the study of Indology in the honour of Sir Bhandarkar.
They unanimously decided to establish an Institute for the study of Indology in the honour of Sir Bhandarkar.
The efforts were blessed by the likes of Lokmanya Tilak. The funding for the construction came from the Tata family. Further financial assistance was later provided by Shri N.G. Sardesai, Sardar Muzumdar and Balasaheb Pant Pratinidhi of the Aundh Samsthan.
On 6th July 1917, the Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute was inaugurated.
In the first three years, three different impetuses helped carved the future path of the institute.
In the first three years, three different impetuses helped carved the future path of the institute.
First, on the day of inauguration itself, Sir Bhandarkar donated the 2600 books in his possession to the institute.
Soon after, at the behest of the Institute, Lord Willingdon (then Governor of Mumbai Province) entrusted the collection thousands of centuries-old and rare manuscripts with the Institute.
And, then in 1919, Bhandarkar Institute commenced the massive project of the Critical Edition of Mahabharata, which would go on to be one of the defining projects for the institute.
In the years to come many distinguished scholars would go on to be associated with the institute such as P.V. Kane, Dharmanand Kosambi, P.K. Gode and V.S. Sukthankar to name a very few.
Today, on the 184th jayanti of sir R.G. Bhandarkar, the institute completes 104 years of existence.
On this occasion, it was worthy to remember to legacies, on whose shoulders, the institute stands today.
On this occasion, it was worthy to remember to legacies, on whose shoulders, the institute stands today.
In the following video (marathi) Dr. Shreenand Bapat shares deeper insights on the life of Sir Bhandarkar and the origins of the Bhandarkar Institute.
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