The Bhandarkar Oriental Research lnstitute, Pune was founded on July 6, 1917, to commomorate the name and work of Ramakrishna Gopal Bhandarkar, who may be justifiably regarded as the foremost pioneer of scientific orientology in India. The Institute is a public organization registered under Act. XXI of 1860, and is administered by a Regulating Council duly elected by the members of the General Body and an Executive Board elected by the Regulating Council. It is partially supported by annual earmarked grants from the State Govt. The Institute has also received grants from the Govt. of India for specific research projects.

As the name of the Institute indicates its prime aim is to promote researches in oriental field. This includes studies in Sanskrit, Prakrits and provincial Indian languages. For the study of Sanskrit a knowledge of lndo-European family of languages is also essential and for studies of Buddhism a knowledge of Chinese, Japanese, Tibetan, Sinhalese, Newari etc. is also necessary. The main aim is to tackle with all the aspects of orientalogy.

The Institute has publisthed many a valuable research work and regulally brings out its issues of the 'Annals'.

M. G. Dhadphale
Hon. Secretary