The University of Mysore recently completed its year-long centenary celebrations. However, there are two affiliated institutions that are much older — the iconic Maharaja College and the Oriental Research Institute, both located in Mysuru. While the former carved a niche for itself in the field of higher education, the latter served as a catalyst in imparting oriental knowledge.
The Oriental Research Institute was formerly known as Oriental Library. Its main objectives were to collect, exhibit and publish rare manuscripts. Its roots can be traced back to the time of Chamarajendra Wadiyar X. Originally, it was constructed to commemorate the silver jubilee of Queen Victoria. Its foundation was laid on June 20, 1887. The building was inaugurated in October 1891, and named as Jubilee Hall. Initially, this was used as a storehouse and gallery to showcase the manuscripts in the possession of the government.
These manuscripts — written in Kannada and Sanskrit — were collected at the time of surveys conducted under B L Rice, a British historian, archaeologist and educationist. In a speech delivered to the Mysore Representative Assembly, K Sheshadri Iyer (the Dewan of Mysore) expressed interest in preserving and preparing a catalogue of these manuscripts in a more advanced manner.
R Shamasastry was chosen to head the project. Born on January 12, 1867 in Rudrapattana, a small village in Hassan district, Shamasastry moved to Mysore after his father's death at a young age. He later went on to study Sanskrit at Sanskrit Pathashala, Central College and University of Madras. In 1900, he joined Jubilee Hall, which had been renamed as 'Oriental Library', as a librarian. A Mahadeva Sastri and Kasturi Rangacharya motivated him to study further about reading and editing of manuscripts. With this, he set himself to the herculean task of preparing a catalogue of manuscripts available in the library.
It was during one of his readings that he came across the manuscript of the celebrated Arthasastra by Kautilya in 1905. After a careful reading and cross verification, he concluded that it was the same. With this discovery, Shamasastry became famous. In 1909, it was published with editorial remarks by him. This publication not only brought the institution international fame but also established Shamasastry as an expert in oriental knowledge. In 1915, he published the English translation with a scholarly foreword by J F Fleet, a veteran in the study of inscriptions and a scholar himself.
From 1912 to 1918, he served as the principal at Chamaraja Sanskrit School in Bangalore. Upon his return to Mysore in 1918, he was appointed as the curator of the Oriental Research Institute. Under him, various laurels were bestowed on the institute. For instance, in 1892, it had 1055 printed volumes and 309 manuscripts. Since then, yearly allocation made by the government helped in the procurement of manuscripts and other printed works. After 1895, the institute also spent money to purchase rare manuscripts. When the Department of Archaeological Research took over it, its activities diversified. The department gave much importance to survey and collection of manuscripts and inscriptions.
R Shamasastry took over as the director of the Department of Archaeology in 1922. As the director, he contributed immensely to the development of the department. A new era had began after he took over.
For instance, the meaning and summary of manuscripts were published more often.
Being a keen researcher and a prolific writer he devoted his life and time to research. Shamasastry was multi-lingual as well — he spoke Kannada, Sanskrit, Tamil, English, Prakrit, Greek and German. Shamasastry breathed his last on January 23, 1944.
The Oriental Research Institute was formerly known as Oriental Library. Its main objectives were to collect, exhibit and publish rare manuscripts. Its roots can be traced back to the time of Chamarajendra Wadiyar X. Originally, it was constructed to commemorate the silver jubilee of Queen Victoria. Its foundation was laid on June 20, 1887. The building was inaugurated in October 1891, and named as Jubilee Hall. Initially, this was used as a storehouse and gallery to showcase the manuscripts in the possession of the government.
These manuscripts — written in Kannada and Sanskrit — were collected at the time of surveys conducted under B L Rice, a British historian, archaeologist and educationist. In a speech delivered to the Mysore Representative Assembly, K Sheshadri Iyer (the Dewan of Mysore) expressed interest in preserving and preparing a catalogue of these manuscripts in a more advanced manner.
R Shamasastry was chosen to head the project. Born on January 12, 1867 in Rudrapattana, a small village in Hassan district, Shamasastry moved to Mysore after his father's death at a young age. He later went on to study Sanskrit at Sanskrit Pathashala, Central College and University of Madras. In 1900, he joined Jubilee Hall, which had been renamed as 'Oriental Library', as a librarian. A Mahadeva Sastri and Kasturi Rangacharya motivated him to study further about reading and editing of manuscripts. With this, he set himself to the herculean task of preparing a catalogue of manuscripts available in the library.
It was during one of his readings that he came across the manuscript of the celebrated Arthasastra by Kautilya in 1905. After a careful reading and cross verification, he concluded that it was the same. With this discovery, Shamasastry became famous. In 1909, it was published with editorial remarks by him. This publication not only brought the institution international fame but also established Shamasastry as an expert in oriental knowledge. In 1915, he published the English translation with a scholarly foreword by J F Fleet, a veteran in the study of inscriptions and a scholar himself.
From 1912 to 1918, he served as the principal at Chamaraja Sanskrit School in Bangalore. Upon his return to Mysore in 1918, he was appointed as the curator of the Oriental Research Institute. Under him, various laurels were bestowed on the institute. For instance, in 1892, it had 1055 printed volumes and 309 manuscripts. Since then, yearly allocation made by the government helped in the procurement of manuscripts and other printed works. After 1895, the institute also spent money to purchase rare manuscripts. When the Department of Archaeological Research took over it, its activities diversified. The department gave much importance to survey and collection of manuscripts and inscriptions.
R Shamasastry took over as the director of the Department of Archaeology in 1922. As the director, he contributed immensely to the development of the department. A new era had began after he took over.
For instance, the meaning and summary of manuscripts were published more often.
Being a keen researcher and a prolific writer he devoted his life and time to research. Shamasastry was multi-lingual as well — he spoke Kannada, Sanskrit, Tamil, English, Prakrit, Greek and German. Shamasastry breathed his last on January 23, 1944.