A Day out at BORI!

As a part of our curriculum under the subject 'Cultural Journalism', a study visit was organised by Prof. Ajay Joshi for all the MAJMC 1st year students at Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute on Thursday.

(MAJMC First-year students with Prof. Ajay Joshi and Nikhil Gadgil)

Arrival & Introduction

Though the visit was scheduled for 11:00 AM, students arrived at 10:30 AM as instructed by Prof. Yogesh Borate. While waiting, students explored the campus, clicked pictures of BORI's heritage building, had snacks, and engaged in lively conversations. Prof. Ajay Joshi, arriving on time as always, introduced students to Nikhil Gadgil, Keeper of the Manuscripts, who guided them throughout the visit.

Presentation at Navalmal Firodia Auditorium

The visit commenced with a screening of three informative videos:

• History of BORI

• Making of Manuscripts

• Courses Offered by BORI

A short Q&A session followed, allowing students to clear their doubts before proceeding to the four key departments of BORI: Manuscripts, Library, Publications, and Conservation.

Exploring BORI's Departments:

Manuscript Department

Students explored an impressive collection of preserved manuscripts, including:

• Berge Bark Manuscripts, Palm Leaf Manuscripts, Copperplate Manuscripts, and more, in multiple languages.

• Chikitsa Sarang, a Critical edition of Mahabharata in Sharda script from 16th-century Kashmir.

• Tabulgani is an ancient form of Ludo from Goa.

• A Copperplate manuscript with Nagari script from 1050 AD, which required heating the copperplate before engraving text on it.

Additionally, students learned about the making of colours from minerals and the origins of Rajasthani paintings.

Library

The BORI library is a haven for researchers, housing an extensive collection of original literature. The best part? It is accessible to all, with certain rare texts available for paid research purposes. The digitalization of the library has made it even more accessible worldwide.

Mahabharata Department

A special department dedicated to Mahabharata research, where G.U. Thite is currently working as a translator.

Publication Hall

Students gained insights into book publishing and explored copies of BORI’s published books.

Conservation Department

The difference between Restoration and Conservation was beautifully explained. Students learned about various types of conservation papers, such as Japanese paper, its uses, and pros & cons.

Open-Air Amphitheater

The tour concluded at the Open-Air Amphitheater, a picturesque location that transported students away from the city’s pollution and noise. 

"We really enjoyed the Visit. It was very insightful"

           - Shruti Pathak, MAJMC first-year student.

The visit ended with a memorable group photo, marking a successful and insightful study tour.

BORI: A visit to remember!