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Gandhi on Indian Cultural Heritage

"It is my firm opinion that no culture has treasures so rich as ours has. We have not known it, we have been made even to deprecate its study and depreciate its value." (Source: Mahatma Gandhi – India of My Dream)

Tracing the Journey of Our Rich Heritage

• 1920: Gujarat Samshodhan Mandir
• 1920-30: Gujarat Puratattva Mandir
• 1930-1972: Publication of books on Indology
• 1972: Modernization of Indological Studies Seminar
• 1972-2018: History and Culture Department
• 2018: Oriental Studies and Heritage Management Resource Centre – Seminars and Workshops
• 2023: Gujarat Vidyapith Puratattva Mandir

Gujarat Puratattva Mandir

• Establishment: 22nd December, 1920
• Objective: Study and research in Indian Culture, History, and Literature.
• Operational Period: 1920-1930

Gujarat Puratattva Mandir’s Activities

Srimad Rajchandra Gyan Bhandar (Reference Library):

• Established with around 3,500 rare books collected by Sri Rasiklal Parikh from across the country.
• Focus on history, culture, and philosophy, with books in English, French, Arabic, and German.
• Included old files of Indian Antiquity, Modern Review, Royal Asiatic Society of Bengal Journal, etc.
• Gandhiji personally took an interest in this library.

Arya Vidya Mandir:

• Gujarat Puratattva Mandir undertook the responsibility of teaching a section of the Arya Vidya Mandir.

Aryavidya Vyakhyanmala:

• Organized by Gujarat Puratattva Mandir, these lectures were later published.

Puratattva Journal (Quarterly):

• Published from 1922-1927.
• A total of 20 issues were released, comprising nearly 2,040 pages and 128 articles.

Puratattva Granthavali (1920-1930):

• Publication of 22 books during the decade.
• Two types of books:
  • Gujarati translations of important works.
  • Readers for beginners to learn languages.

Patriotism and Puratattva

"The spirit of patriotism has moved a number of Gujarati scholars to found an Institution, the ‘Gujarat Puratattva Mandir’, for the promotion of study and research in the ancient history, antiquities, literature, languages, and arts of India in general and Gujarat in particular…. While ‘Puratattva’ seeks its inspiration in the rastriya pran, it is not by any means blind to the work of Western Scholarship, and it reviews with appreciation the Cambridge History of India and Mr. Pargiter’s Ancient Indian Historical Tradition… A spirit of genuine scientific investigation is arising in India, especially in history, and it deserves a hearty welcome.”

(Source: Mr. L.D. Barnett, Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain, 1924)

Ongoing Work

• Working with Indira Gandhi National Centre for Arts (IGNCA) on:
  • Barot Pothi
  • Vahivancha Barotvahi no Abhyas
• Working with Centre for Cultural Resources and Training (CCRT) - Collection of Stories and publishing on Digital District Repository Project of Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav (AKAM).
• Working with Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation on Historical Research of ‘Visarta jata Heritage Sthalo’
• MoU under process with National Park Service, USA

Ongoing Activities

At Gujarat Vidyapith Puratattva Mandir, we are committed to preserving and promoting our rich heritage through a variety of engaging and impactful initiatives. Our current projects include:

• Archival Research and Collection We are actively seeking and collecting books published by Gujarat Puratattva Mandir from 1920 to 1930, as well as complete copies of the Puratattva Journal. Additionally, we are gathering publications from 1930 to 1972 by Gujarat Vidyapith that align with the objectives of Gujarat Puratattva Mandir.
• Educational Programs
  • Certificate Course on Rural Heritage Management: We are in the process of executing a Certificate Course / VAC focused on Rural Heritage Management.
  • Master Course on Heritage Management: In collaboration with the Indira Gandhi National Centre for Arts (IGNCA), we are developing a comprehensive 2-year Master Course in Heritage Management.
  • Introduction to Indian Philosophy: We are introducing a 2-credit course on Indian Philosophy to enrich understanding and appreciation of our philosophical heritage.
• Collaborative Projects
  • Brihattar Bharat Project: We are contributing as a team member to the Brihattar Bharat Project led by the Government of India.
  • Memorial Chair: We are working (under process) with the Ministry of Culture, Government of India, to establish a Memorial Chair in honor of Dr. Bhagwanlal Indraji.
  • Workshop with SPA, New Delhi: We are organizing a workshop with the School of Planning and Architecture (SPA), New Delhi, to develop a Management Plan for the Bodhigaya UNESCO World Heritage Site.
  • Workshop and Conference on Terracotta Temples: We are planning a workshop-cum-conference on the Terracotta Temples of Bengal in collaboration with the Ramkrishna Mission Institute of Culture and Intech, Kolkata.
• Lecture Series We are preparing to launch a lecture series on the Indian Knowledge System, aiming to deepen public understanding and appreciation of our intellectual heritage.

Research on Indology (1930-1972)

• Publications: During the period from 1930 to 1972, the Gujarat Puratattva Mandir made significant contributions to the field of Indology, publishing a total of 35 books. These publications played a crucial role in the study and research of ancient Indian history, literature, and culture.

International Seminar on Modernization of Indological Studies (1972)

• Overview: An International Seminar on the Modernization of Indological Studies was organized by the Gujarat Vidyapith 12th to 14th December 1972.
• Participants: Thirty scholars from 13 international universities and five post-graduate and research institutions participated in this significant event.
• Significance: The seminar was a milestone in bringing together global scholars to discuss the modernization of Indological studies, reflecting the Mandir's commitment to advancing research and education in this field.

From 1972-2018

• Establishment of History Museum: A History Museum was established at Gujarat Vidyapith to orient people about the rich heritage of human civilization.
• Indian History and Culture Department: Continued the legacy of Gujarat Puratattva Mandir in the field of academic and research, furthering the study of Indian history and culture.