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96
Vibhuti Bhatt
SAMBODHI
In 1949, Gujarat Vidya-Sabha Celebrated its centenery, when Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru inaugurated the function and delivered a speech inspiring the Institute to expand its various research activities. Prof. R. C. Parikh, the Superintendent Succeeded Dr. A. B. Dhruva as the Director. The research section started to conduct classes for post-graduate students in Sanskrit, Gujarati, Arabic-Persian and Ancient Indian Culture.
At the 17th All India Oriental Conference in 1953, The Museum Cooperated and participated by lending some exhibits for the exhibition. Some valuable old paintings, illustrated Mss, historical documents and photographs of old monuments were exhibited there. In his lecture Muni Punyavijayaji gave information about old paintings, explained some characteristics of old writings and important Mss of history as well as Sanskrit Literature.
In 1954, 17th Indian History congress was held at Ahmedabad. On this occasion, the Institute arranged an exhibition of coins and photographs of various historical sites. Harasiddhabhai Divetia, the first Vice-Chancellor of Gujarat University, Ahmedabad and Dadasaheb Mavalankar, delivered the inaugural lecture, Dr. Niranjan Chakravarti being president.
In 1959, Gujarati Sahitya Parishad was held at Ahmedabad. The Parishad was inaugurated by Shri K. M. Munshi a veteran scholar of Gujarati language. On that occasion, The Museum exhibited select Gujarati, Sanskrit Mss and charts regarding the development and the history of Gujarati Literature.
In 1960, B. J. Institute was shifted in a new building, where an independent Museum was developed, which possessed about 8,000 SanskritGujarati Mss, and documents, about 80 Coloured Paintings, 2,000 Coins, three copper-plate inscriptions, a wooden carved book-case and a big plate with miniature painting. During 1960-70 Miss Priyabala Shah, Smt. Vasumati Shah, Miss Anjana Shah and Urmila Vyas organized the Museum Hall at the 3rd floor and prepared various lists of Mss., Sculptures etc. and displayed exhibits in six permanent show-cases.
Meanwhile in 1964 Gujarat Vidya Sabha Published A Descriptive Catalogue of 3,000 Sanskrit Mss (Part-I) and A Descriptive Catalogue of 300 Arabic – Persian Mss of this collection alongwith Aparao Bholanath Library Mss and document collection, with the grant-in-aid sanctioned by Central Government. Second part of the Descriptive Catalogue of Sanskrit Mss was published in 1985. The Catalogue of Gujarati Mss and also a supplement to the Arabic, Persian Catalogue were published in 1989.
