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A SHORT INTRODUCTION
TO THE RAJASTHAN ORIENTAL RESEARCH INSTITUTE
JODHPUR
The Government of Rajasthan established the Rajasthan Oriental Research Institute in the year 1951 with the following aims and objects:
1. to explore and bring to light the ancient literature of Rajasthan and
adjacent areas as available in Sanskrit, Prakrit, Apabhramsha, Rajasthani, Gujarati, Vraj, Hindi and other regional languages,
2. to collect, preserve, compile, and carry out survey of original source
material of ancient history and culture of Rajasthan i.e. architecture, paintings, arts, inscriptions, copper-plates, coins and documents etc,
3. to collect old manuscripts and prepare their pen-copies, microfilmed
and photostat copies and sound records etc,
4. to organise a well equipped reference library of books useful and
indispensable for research work in the field of Indology and
3. to investigate, record, interpret and present clearly (i) the varied folk-literature throwing light on
Rajasthan,
public
life
in
(ii) devotional and canonical literature embodied in the lyrics of
various religious sects and
(iii) all sorts of material related to the social, cultural and religious
customs and secular practices.
When independence came to India an opening was provided in its wake for the preservation of a truly great heritage. The task was not an ordinary one and howsoever limited in resources, the Institute has, within a short span of 15 years, collected and preserved about
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