The Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute, Pune, was founded on July 6, 1917 to commemorate the name and the work of Ramkrishna Gopal Bhandarakar, the foremost pioneer of scientific Orientology in India. The Institute concerns itself with research activity in the field of Orientology with a vision to enlighten the world about the all-comprehensive knowledge generated in the East, especially, in India. The institute has one of the largest collections of rare books and manuscripts spanning over 1,25,000 books and over 28,000 manuscripts collected over a period of 90 years covering practically every aspect of Orientology.