Centre for Rajasthan Studies

(Faculty of Social Sciences)

Maharana Pratap Bhawan

University of Rajasthan, Jaipur

Profile of the Centre

&

Vision of the Centre

(2011- 13)

15th December, 2010

Centre for Rajasthan Studies

(Faculty of Social Sciences)
Maharana Pratap Bhawan
University of Rajasthan, Jaipur

Director (since14-08-2010)

Dr. Krishna Gopal Sharma
Associate Professor
Department of History Sr Indian Culture
University of Rajasthan, Jaipur- 302 004

Tel. 0141-2700147; Mob. 094601-24663

E-mail: kgmsharma@yahoo.com

The Centre for Rajasthan Studies was set up in November 1975 by the University of Rajasthan, Jaipur to co-ordinate research on historical, social, cultural, literary, economic, and environmental aspects of Rajasthan and to collect, compile and publish relevant source material. The University Grants commission, New Delhi had sanctioned an amount of Rs. 2 lakhs for the establishment of the Centre to be spent over a period of five years after which the state government was to undertake its financial liability. Prof. G.N Sharma, a renowned scholar of Rajasthan history and culture, was appointed the founder Honorary Director of the Centre. During 1976-1980 two Research Associates were employed to carry out its projects. Unfortunately the Centre remained non-functional during 1981-1984 as the State Government did not take up the financial liability after the stipulated period of five years.

It was however restarted in September, 1984 with a budgetary provision of Rs. 50,000/ p.a by the University. The Centre again had the privilege of having the services of Prof. G.N. Sharma as its Hony. Director from 1984 to 1993. Prof. V.S. Bhatnagar also was actively associated with the Centre during the period as its Hony. Executive Director. The Centre made commendable progress under the able guidance of Professor G. N. Sharma and Prof. V.S. Bhatnagar. Prof. S. N. Dube, Tagore Professor in the Department of History and Indian Culture, University of Rajasthan also served as Hony. Director of the Centre and contributed his mite to it. Dr. Shyam Singh Ratnawat, a known scholar in the field of Rajasthan history, served as

The Director of the Centre since 1996 till 13th August, 2010. The present Director, Dr. Krishna Gopal Sharma, joined the Centre on 14th August, 2010.

Over the years the Centre has been actively engaged in carrying out research projects related to collecting, cataloguing and publishing source material and organizing seminars on various themes related to the history, culture, society, economy etc. of the region. The Centre organizes at least one National level Seminar every year. Some of the Seminars held under the auspices of the Centre are mentioned below:-

1. Folk literature of Rajasthan
2. Sources for the study of Socio-Economic life in Rajasthan
3. History and Historians of Rajasthan
4. The Specific and General in the Evolution and Growth of Social Structure in Western India with special reference to Rajasthan
5. Social and Political Awakening amongst the Tribals of Western India with special reference to Rajasthan
6. Peasantry through the ages in Western India
7. The Uprising of 1857 in Rajasthan
8. Bardic Literature in Rajasthan
9. Freedom Movement in Western India with special reference to Rajasthan
10. Cultural Heritage of Rajasthan
11. Religious Movements in Rajasthan : Ideas and Antiquities.
12. Oral and Bardic Traditions in Western India

The proceedings of eight of these Seminars have already been published. Besides these, the Centre has also published the following books:-

1. The Sources of Social and Economic History of Rajasthan (Ed. Prof. G.N. Sharma), 1976
2. Bibliography of Rajasthan Studies ( Ed. LC. Tyagi), 1980
3. Kachawahan ri Vanshavali (Ed. Dr. Shyam Singh Ratnawat), 1981.
4. Social and Political Awakening among the Tribals of Rajasthan (Ed. Prof. G.N. Sharma), 1986
5. Jaswant Singh ri Khyat (Ed. Rawat Saraswat), 1987
6. New Catalogue of Approved Theses on Rajasthan, Vol. I, Pt. I & II, 1988
7. New Catalogue of Approved Theses on Rajasthan, Vol. II, 1989
8. New Catalogue of Approved Theses on Rajasthan, Vol. III, Pt. I & II, 1990
9. The Historians and Sources of the History of Rajasthan (Ed. Prof. G.N. Sharma & Prof. V.S. Bhatnagar), 1992
10. Peasantry through the ages in Western India with special reference to Rajasthan(Ed. Prof. G.N. Sharma & Prof. V.S. Bhatnagar), 1993
11. Political Awakening and Indian Freedom Movement with special reference to Rajasthan (Ed. Prof. G.N. Sharma & Prof. V.S. Bhatnagar), 1993
12. Catalogue of Approved Theses on Rajasthan (Social Sciences), Vol. II, 1995
13. Religious Movements in Rajasthan : Ideas and Antiquities (Ed. Prof. S.N. Dube), 1996
14. History of the House of Diggi by Prof. K.R. Qanungo (Ed. Dr. Shyam Singh Ratnawat),1997
15. History and Culture of Rajasthan (Ed. Dr. Shyam Singh Ratnawat & Dr. Krishna Gopal Sharma), 1999
16. Charan Sahitya Parampara (Essays on Bardic literature) (Ed. Dr. Shyam Singh Ratnawat & Dr. Krishna Gopal Sharma), 2001
17. Revised and Enlarged edition of the book "History and Culture of Rajasthan" Ed. by Dr. Shyam Singh Ratnawat & Dr. Krishna Gopal Sharma, 2004

The Centre has the distinction of having created its own fund from the sale of its publications which is generally utilized for enriching the Library of the Centre.

The Centre during the past thirty five years has built up a good research library consisting of 2234 books and a valuable collection of thikana records. This library is widely utilised by Indian and foreign students and scholars of History, Culture, Archaeology, Anthropology, Sociology, Literature and other disciplines.

The U.G.C team during its visit for disbursements during the X Plan Period (2003-2007) was impressed with the achievements of the Centre and sanctioned a sum of Rs. 5 Lacs for setting up a Maharana Pratap Chair in the Centre. This fund was utilized for constructing a new, separate building for the Centre for Rajasthan Studies in the university campus. The State government also provided a matching grant for the new building of the Centre whose construction was thereafter begun by the university. The new building of the Centre was finally constructed and completed in the year 2008 and it was handed over to then Director of the Centre, Dr. S. S. Ratnawat on 10-05-2008. The new building of the Centre is named as Maharana Pratap Bhawan and is located nearby and behind the South Asia Studies Centre in the University Campus. Maharana Pratap Bhawan consists of a Seminar hall and 2 rooms, one for the Director and one for the office. The assets, library and office of the Centre were thereafter shifted to the new premises. Previously the centre was functioning in a Room in the compoud of the Department of History and Indian Culture in the Humanities Block of the Campus.

In terms of equipments and assets, the Centre possesses at present 1 Photostat machine (old, non-functional), 1 manual typewriter, 1 amplifier (for public address system), 9 closed & 5 glass door steel Almirahas, 2 open book shelves, 4 wooden Tables, 2 iron frame Tables, 11 Chairs, 1 (small) Cooler, etc. The Centre in its new building, Maharana Pratap Bhawan, urgently requires furniture for its Reading room, Seminar room, office room and Director's room, 2 Computers, 1 LCD player and screen, 1 water cooler, curtains, carpets etc.

The Centre is provided a fixed financial grant of Rs. 60,000 per annum under Non-Plan.

The Centre for Rajasthan Studies remained almost non-functional during the last five years due to the lack of administrative staff and other reasons. Efforts are now being made to revive the Centre and resume its activities as earlier. Its new building, Maharana Pratap Bhawan, virtually remained closed since its completion in May, 2008.

The Centre for Rajasthan Studies has now been made functional w.e.f. 01-12-2010 in its new building Maharana Pratap Bhawan which is now being opened up regularly with the induction of non-teaching staff (1 U.D.C. from the permanent staff, 1 L.D.C.- cum-Accountant, 1 Peon, 1 Gardener - the latter 3 on contract basis).

The Centre is planning to begin M. A. Course in Rajasthani Language, Literature and Culture w.e. f. the next academic session i. e. 2011-12.

The Centre for Rajasthan Studies is one of the oldest research centres of the university and has been instrumental in promoting studies and research in Rajasthan's history and culture. In the coming years (2010-11 and onwards) the Centre would like to initiate and accomplish several academic and research activities (summarized in the Vision document of the Centre).

VISION OF THE CENTRE FOR RAJASTHAN STUDIES

(for three years i. e. 2011-2013)

Academic Vision

1. Organizing one National level Seminar and one State level Seminar every year on significant themes of Rajasthan's history and culture. The proceeding of these seminars will be published.
2. Organizing 4 lectures every year, to be delivered by eminent resource persons on Rajasthan. These would include Memorial Lectures to be held in commemorative regards for the great historians of Rajasthan viz. Prof. G. N. Sharma, Prof. Dasharath Sharma, Prof. M. S. Jain and others.
3. Publication of a research journal Rajasthan - Past and Present on an annual basis.
4. Publication of research monographs/ books concerning various aspects of the history, society and culture of Rajasthan.
5. Undertaking a Project on the Collection and Documentation of the Source Material (archaeological, archival and literary) of Rajasthan in three periods of history - ancient, medieval, and modern.
6. Undertaking a Project on the Historical Geography of Rajasthan and bringing out a Historical Atlas of Rajasthan.
7. Running an M. A. Course in Rajasthani Language, Literature and Culture. Preparation is being made to begin this course w. e. f. the next academic session i.e. 2011-12.
8. Running a Post Graduate Diploma in Rajasthan's Tourism anci Culture.
9. Running a Certificate Course in Rajasthani Language.
10. Conducting Archaeological Explorations and Excavations on sites of prehistoric and historic significance in Rajasthan, with the support of Archaeological survey of India and other agencies.
11. Building up of a small museum of antiquities from Rajasthan discovered in the course of projects undertaken by the Centre.
12. Recruitment of regular teaching faculty in the Centre for the proposed courses in Rajasthani Language, Literature and Culture.

Administrative Vision

1. Induction of 4 Research Associates urgently required in the Centre for running its research activities and programmes.
2. Immedidiate furnishing of the new building of the Centre - Maharana Pratap Bhawan - especially of its Reading room, Seminar room, Office room, Director's room required.
3. The following equipments are also immediately required: (i) 2 Computers along with Printer (ii) 1 Photostat machine (iii) 1 LCD player with LCD screen (iv) 1 Water Cooler
4. . The following non-teaching staff is also urgently required: (i) 1 Computer Operator (ii) 1 Librarian (iii) 1 Sweeper (vi) 1 Security Guard.
5. . In due course of time, the Centre would require an extension of its building especially for the creation of classrooms for its proposed courses in Rajasthani Language, Literature and Culture.