Author: Patrick Coelho
Publication: The Free Press Publication
Date: September 22, 2002
The Ananthacharya Indological Research
Institute at Cuffe parade was founded in 1974 by Dr K. K. Venkatachari,
and receives support from Sri Venkatesa Devsthanam at Fanaswadi, Girgaum.
Today, the Director, Prof. (Dr) R. M. Dave, ably runs the Institute with
the support of about ten members of his faculty including visiting professors.
The Institute has affiliations to Mumbai University and Madras University.
The institute boasts of a fine collection
of about 13,000 books in different languages and subjects that include
Sanskrit, Religion, Philosophy, Culture, Indian History, Art, Architecture,
Sculpture, painting, Dance, Archaeology, Epigraph, Numismatics and Iconography.
What's even more impressive is the collection of eight hundred palm-leaf
manuscripts that have been maintained in an air-conditioned research room
by Professor K., K. C. Lakshmi Narasimhan and his team.
The manuscripts, usually used by
Naadi astrologers from South, are over 300 years old, and have been obtained
from various priests and scholars over the years. Narasimhan, who is a
Sanskrit scholar and an expert in the preservation of ancient manuscripts,
ensures that the Institute's priceless palm-leaf manuscripts are kept free
from dust and from excess light. The manuscripts are preserved well with
the periodical application of lemon grass oil, and by fumigation., The
topics covered by the manuscripts include Vedic Samhitas, Epics, Upnishads,
Vedanta, Dharmashstra, Samskaras, Kavya, Poetics, Ganita and Medicine.
Culture buffs can avail of the Institute's
'Integrated Foundation Course in Indian Culture', a Certificate programme
that commence on 23 September 2002, and will continue till the end of March
2003.
Classes will be held every Monday
and Wednesday from 6 PM to 8 PM. Dr Dave says the course involves the study
of four main areas - ancient Indian history, ancient Indian language, Indian
philosophy and religion, ancient Indian art, architecture and art forms.
He asserts that students for their course come from all walks of life,
but with a common ground: a genuine interest in India's ancient culture
and heritage. He goes on to say that lively debates and discussions are
part of the classroom activities during a regular day
The Institute also has a six month
'Foundation Course in Sanskrit' (Spoken and written), which commences on
25 September 2002 and will continue till the end of March 2003. Classes
will be held every Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 2 PM - 4 PM. The medium
of instruction will be English and Sanskrit.
Besides these shorter courses, the
Institute conducts a three-year bachelor's degree in Vaisnavism (English
and Tamil medium) through their Institute of Correspondence Education.
This degree course is conducted in affiliation with Madras University.
The Institute also has a master's degree by Research and Ph. D. programmes
in Sanskrit, Philosophy, and Ancient Indian Culture. Both These programmes
are recognised by Mumbai University. Currently there are nine scholars
pursuing their Ph.D. degrees and four scholars for the M. a. by Research
conducted by the Institute.
So if you are really trying to get
to your roots, then Anathacharya Indological Research Institute is the
place to study in Mumbai.
(For further details contact : Ananthacharya
Indological Research Institute, Tel: 218 4174).
