Study Circle

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Study Circle

Today the Study Circle is still the only library in Gokarna.

Created by the brahmin Sri G. M. Vedeshwar, the library retains priceless historical pieces of work.

Born at the end of the 1920s in Gokarna, a sacred village in the south indian state of Karnataka, Sri G. M. Vedeshwar begins what will become the passion of his entire life when he is10 years old. Obsessed with reading, he opens Balasangha, a sort of micro-library. His first catalogue dates back to 1939. At this early stage his friends and several well-wishers help him develop his project by donating their books.

His collection expands rapidly and a few years later he gives a larger dimension to this early venture by opening the Karnataka Sangha. He then addresses himself to specialized companies, foreign ambassies, as well as indian and international publishers. He describes his ambition and asks for their help in the making of his collection, requesting them to send their publications, free of cost.

Convinced and enthusiast, to his great astonishment they accept!

Streams of publications from all over the world start pouring on the small Gokarna library.

When in 1945 Sri G. M. Vedeshwar opens the Study Circle, the Karnataka Sangha already has several thousands of books. The brahman now encounters difficulties classifying the books and spends several years cautiously re-ordering his collections.

The Study Circle is soon supported and congratulated by numerous international organisations. Scholars, men of letters and writers come here to draw informations and references.

Sri G. M. Vedeshwar’s library becomes popular amongst the indian intellectual circle.

Impressed by this marvellous work and unique collection, Sir Herbert Reed, member of the Royal Academy of London, expressed his desire to become one of the directors of the Study Circle, and gave to the collection some 400 illustrated volumes on world art history.

Few foreign dignitaries, including the editor of the litterary magazine The Encounter, Stephen Spender, donated periodics and books to the collection.

Seduced by Sri G. M. Vedeshwar’s total devotion, Sri V.Raghavan, former president of the professor council All India Sanskrit of Madras university, stated in his testimony that his personnal collection of several thousands of books will be donated to the Study Circle.

Political figures, such as the president Dr. Rajendra Prasad, also visited the Study Circle.

In 1994, the public department of Karnataka state’s libraries finally recognised this studious and dedicated work by declaring the Study Circle best library of the year.

Photographs

Article about Sri G.M. Vedeshwar et le Study Circle

Study Circle Association

Today there is not enought space in the library for keeping and consulting the collections of the brahmane Sri G.M. Vedeshwar, besides the conditions in which this precious cultural heritage is kept cause its decay and do not give justice to a whole life’s hard work.

In 2007 the indian association Study Circle was updated in order to enable the creation of a new home for the collections.

The association consists of 7 members, all of them born in Gokarna or Bangalore: the librarian, his son, a nuclear engineer, an astro-physician, a priest, a farmer and a retired man.

As stated in the status, the association’s values emphasize acces to education and knowledge in an environment encouraging diversity, open-mindedness and tolerance.

Study Circle association members

Collaboration between the two associations Study Circle et Pandrata Circle

Attachments:
File	Description	File size
Statuts_association_StudyCircle.pdf	Statuts de l'association Study Circle	140 Kb

The Library's Funds

The collection, originated in 1939 by Sri G. M. Vedeshwar, consists today of almost 70 000 works, in 38 languages (dead and still spoken).

Old sanskrit books written on palm leaves are to be found next to american encyclopaedias and french poetry!

The ancient collection

The ancient collection of the Study Circle consists of:

_ more than a thousand old (600 years) books written on palm leaves;

_ a great collection of lithography print works dating back to the 1800s;

_ 175 years old study texts, printed by the Bombay Government;

_ about 200 books in kannada and marathi, published more than a hundred years ago.

Indian literature

Amongst the numerous works of indian literature, is to be found particularly:

_ original manuscripts from writers such as Ramakrishna, Bhat, Vasista Ganapathi Muni of Andhra Pradesh, and Daivaratha Sharma, the well-known Sanskrit erudit;

_ all volumes from the critical study of Mahabharata, important study of the greatest religious adventure published by the Oriental Research Institute of Pune, as well as all publications of the Dharmashastra History, essential opus of the hindu religion written by Dr. P.V. Kane;

_ rare books on Vedas and Shastras.

Humanity History

A great part of the collection is dedicated to general knowledge, with:

_ encyclopaedias universalis, of which the one of Great-Britain and USA;

_ specialized encyclopaedias (on fine-arts, agriculture etc.);

_ more than 400 volumes on Art History;

_ books on mythology, astrology and folkloric art. Sri G.M. Vedeshwar himself has conceived and published a book from distinguished people’s written answers to the inhexaustible question of the meaning of life in general and of their lifes in particular. Amongst those influant people one can find the politician Rajendra Prasad, the doctor S.Radhakrishna, the Nobel prized scientist C.V. Raman, Julius Huxley, Arnold Toynbee, Kuvempu, Shivarama Karanth, etc.

Periodicals

The Study Circle receives every year 600 to 700 publications from the Bharatiya Vidhya Bhavan Shantiniketan, and from Calcutta, Dharwad and Mysore Universities.

Other Collections

Numismaty

The Study Circle possesses a collection of old indian coins (some of which date back to before the victorian era, at the time of the Vijaynagar empire, or of Tippu and Shivaji’s kingdoms), as well as a great number of recent coins and banknotes from all over the world.

Collection examples

Philately

The Study Circle also possesses a remarquable collection of foreign and indian postage stamps.

Collection examples

Theatre costumes

Another of Sri G. M. Vedeshwar’s passions is the making of theater setting, costumes and accessories, which are also to be seen in his collections.

Miscellaneous objects

Great admirator of rare and unusual objects, Sri G. M. Vedeshwar collected:

_ large draperies representing mantras;

_ diverse kind of paper, home-made or pure tree barks;

_ an impressive amount of home-made ink stamps;

_etc.

Collection examples