Est. 2009 · Kolkata, India
Bhaktivedanta Research Center
Preserving, researching, and promoting India’s vast literary, philosophical, and cultural heritage.
25,000+
Books
4,000
Journals
1,000+
Digitized Manuscripts
6
Global Locations
Our Story
A History of Preservation
The Bhaktivedanta Research Center (BRC) is a premier academic and research institute, founded in 2009 and headquartered in Kolkata, with branches in Mumbai, Pune, Jagannath Puri, Govardhan, and New York. It is dedicated to preserving, researching, and promoting India’s vast literary, philosophical, and cultural heritage, particularly that of the Gaudiya Vaishnava tradition.
BRC maintains a rich archive of over 25,000 books, 4,000 journals, and 1,000+ digitized manuscripts, covering subjects such as Indian philosophy, literature, culture, and religion. The central library in Kolkata supports researchers from across India and abroad, providing them with rare and valuable materials for academic study.
To enhance accessibility, BRC developed a comprehensive online catalogue using the Koha Integrated Library System in 2016. The digital platform now hosts its entire collection, accessible to scholars worldwide.
“India holds an estimated ten million manuscripts — the largest such collection in the world.”
The Origins
The origins of BRC trace back to September 2009, when Dr. Ferdinando Sardella, then a Ph.D. researcher from the University of Gothenburg, and co-founder Dennis Harrison acquired the private library of Shri Sundarananda Vidyavinode, a prominent scholar and secretary to Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura.
This collection — donated via HH Bodhayan Swami of Gopinath Gaudiya Math — comprised 3,000 rare books, journals, and manuscripts in Bengali, English, and Sanskrit. Spanning the mid-19th to mid-20th century, it laid the foundation for what would become the Bhaktivedanta Research Center.
Collaborations with institutions such as the Asiatic Society of Kolkata were established for restoration and lamination of fragile texts. A purpose-built library with study rooms, conference spaces, and digital labs was constructed to support researchers.
Growth
Over the past decade, BRC’s collection expanded significantly, adding another 14,000 books and 3,000 academic journals, with a particular focus on the intellectual history of Bengal, Odisha, Bihar, and Uttar Pradesh.
In 2017, BRC launched a new phase of research focusing on colonial Bengal, examining diaries, biographies, and period journals to explore its rich historical narrative.
Our Purpose
Mission
Looking Ahead
Future plans include launching postgraduate and doctoral programs in affiliation with Calcutta University to further strengthen its role as a leading center for Indian knowledge studies.
The mission of the Bhaktivedanta Research Center is to serve as a global institution committed to preserving and disseminating India’s intellectual, literary, and cultural heritage. Through the collection, digitization, conservation, and study of rare manuscripts and texts, BRC supports scholarly research and public education in traditional Indian knowledge systems.
Aligned with national initiatives like the National Mission for Manuscripts, BRC addresses a pressing concern — India holds an estimated ten million manuscripts, the largest such collection in the world, of which only a fraction has been preserved or digitized. Many of these materials, scattered across remote parts of the country, are deteriorating due to age, neglect, and environmental damage.
BRC responds to this challenge by undertaking the urgent task of preserving these treasures, offering both physical and digital access to researchers and learners. Beyond preservation, BRC promotes values such as compassion, selfless service, and cultural empathy, striving to inspire stewardship through academic and educational outreach.
