Bharat Itihas Sanshodhan Mandal’s four new halls ready for researchers

Pune: The VK Rajwade auditorium at Bharat Itihas Sanshodhak Mandal (BISM) opened its doors on Sunday after a four-year-long restoration project.Noted scientists and author Anand Ranganathan addressed a gathering of around 150 people during the inauguration ceremony. "If we do not understand the core fundamentals of what success means, then achieving Viksit Bharat by 2047 will be a long shot," said Ranganathan. The auditorium's restoration project was done in collaboration with the Maaydesh Foundation. Ranganathan, who gave the keynote address at the inauguration event, spoke on the subject of the success the country has accomplished, stating that the country has top-notch infrastructure and has improved in life expectancy, asset management, and so much more."Our hunger index, however, is at 111, while our GDP rank in the world is 136. Clearly, we have success, but it is a game of two halves. We have to realise what led to the failures as well. If we do not understand it, we will be at an inflection point again," he said.Ranganathan emphasised the need for research organisations to ensure the country does not forget its past. "Somewhere along the way towards advancement, we have forgotten our past. Such structures are important so that we do not forget what made us great once," he said.Bharat Itihas Sanshodhak Mandal was established by historians VK Rajwade and Sardar Khanderao Mehendale on July 7, 1910. The Mandal contains multiple copper artefacts and weapons from the period of Maratha rule, 25 lakh rare documents in Modi, Parsi, Kannada and Sanskrit scripts, 45,000 books on Maratha history, 32,000 manuscripts, all rare letters of Shahaji, Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj and Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, and original paintings of rulers such as Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and Mughal Emperor Akbar. The Mandal is also a hub for historians and researchers to conduct studies and publish their papers. The newly renovated structure has four large halls for researchers with an interactive blackboard, a 100-seat auditorium, a museum displaying originals and replications of paintings and artefacts, and a library with all books for reference. It will now be open from 11am to 8pm for research scholars. The museum will be open to the general public requesting access."The inspiration of renowned researchers and founder historians VK Rajwade and Sardar Khanderao Mehendale, as well as GH Khare, SN Joshi and Padma Vibhushan Babasaheb Purandare, can be felt here. I believe that the future of history is preserved through these structures," said Arun Joshi, founder of Maaydesh Foundation. The alcoves in the cupboards of the Rajwade Hall's walls have been transformed to display information about the organisation's various activities. Painted illustrations depict the armoury, manuscripts, coins, seals, valuables and original letters. Photographs of 50 researchers from the last hundred years have been exhibited in the hall.The Mandal is now digitising the scripts so that researchers and scholars can access them from any part of the world. Pune: The VK Rajwade auditorium at Bharat Itihas Sanshodhak Mandal (BISM) opened its doors on Sunday after a four-year-long restoration project.Noted scientists and author Anand Ranganathan addressed a gathering of around 150 people during the inauguration ceremony. "If we do not understand the core fundamentals of what success means, then achieving Viksit Bharat by 2047 will be a long shot," said Ranganathan. The auditorium's restoration project was done in collaboration with the Maaydesh Foundation. Ranganathan, who gave the keynote address at the inauguration event, spoke on the subject of the success the country has accomplished, stating that the country has top-notch infrastructure and has improved in life expectancy, asset management, and so much more."Our hunger index, however, is at 111, while our GDP rank in the world is 136. Clearly, we have success, but it is a game of two halves. We have to realise what led to the failures as well. If we do not understand it, we will be at an inflection point again," he said.Ranganathan emphasised the need for research organisations to ensure the country does not forget its past. "Somewhere along the way towards advancement, we have forgotten our past. Such structures are important so that we do not forget what made us great once," he said.Bharat Itihas Sanshodhak Mandal was established by historians VK Rajwade and Sardar Khanderao Mehendale on July 7, 1910. The Mandal contains multiple copper artefacts and weapons from the period of Maratha rule, 25 lakh rare documents in Modi, Parsi, Kannada and Sanskrit scripts, 45,000 books on Maratha history, 32,000 manuscripts, all rare letters of Shahaji, Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj and Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, and original paintings of rulers such as Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and Mughal Emperor Akbar. The Mandal is also a hub for historians and researchers to conduct studies and publish their papers. The newly renovated structure has four large halls for researchers with an interactive blackboard, a 100-seat auditorium, a museum displaying originals and replications of paintings and artefacts, and a library with all books for reference. It will now be open from 11am to 8pm for research scholars. The museum will be open to the general public requesting access."The inspiration of renowned researchers and founder historians VK Rajwade and Sardar Khanderao Mehendale, as well as GH Khare, SN Joshi and Padma Vibhushan Babasaheb Purandare, can be felt here. I believe that the future of history is preserved through these structures," said Arun Joshi, founder of Maaydesh Foundation. The alcoves in the cupboards of the Rajwade Hall's walls have been transformed to display information about the organisation's various activities. Painted illustrations depict the armoury, manuscripts, coins, seals, valuables and original letters. Photographs of 50 researchers from the last hundred years have been exhibited in the hall.The Mandal is now digitising the scripts so that researchers and scholars can access them from any part of the world.