The BAPS Swaminarayan Research Institute at Swaminarayan Akshardham, New Delhi, was inaugurated by Pramukh Swami Maharaj on Sunday, 4 July 2010 in the presence of leading scholars from Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu.
Since its inauguration, the Institute has become a home of innovative research and collaborative study. Its considerable growth in membership, the expansion of its research facilities, and increased affiliation with other internationally acclaimed institutes pay testament to the commitment of its members and research faculty. The Institute’s outlook toward developing a multi-disciplinary approach to academic study and toward recognizing cultural beliefs and practices on their own terms has built an interface between modern academia and traditional modes of scholarship. In doing so, the Institute allows for the possibility to amalgamate contemporary, valuable systems of transmission along with intellectually rigorous traditional scholarship.
Proud of its heritage, the BAPS Swaminarayan Research Institute constantly looks to the future and engages itself to continually expand its research and teaching programs. The Institute is focused on providing opportunities for researchers who are committed to acquiring rigorous academic experience in a profoundly multicultural and multidisciplinary community. Our internationally recognized faculty and members continue to use real-world expertise and innovative research methods to challenge academics to achieve their highest potential.
Vision
BAPS Swaminarayan Research Institute strives to encourage interdisciplinary study of various cultures, religions, philosophies, languages, and texts to promote a better understanding through comprehensive educational, research-oriented, and publication programs.
With the continued progress of globalization making communication, interaction, and opportunities more and more accessible, it is ever important to create spaces in which people can explore, study, and collaborate together for creative learning and expression. With an aim to instill such interdisciplinary learning and appreciation, the BAPS Swaminarayan Research Institute strives to foster academic dialogue and public consciousness of in-depth, reverent scholarly research.
With these goals in mind, activities within the Institute endeavor to:
- Facilitate understanding and appreciation of cultural traditions, values, and contributions.
- Encourage collaborative and comparative dialogue.
- Explore opportunities for partnerships that promote cultural learning, expression, and appreciation.
- Build sustained, engaged scholarly communities and regional and international partnerships among professionals and specialists
The Institute offers a wide range of ways to approach such interdisciplinary cultural and religious learning, awareness, and discourse. Understanding the need for personal study, reflection, and interaction, the Institute facilitates:
- Opportunities for language studies and textual research.
- Access to a broad range of research materials including publications, electronic texts, and a wide range of manuscripts.
- Spaces for private study and reflection.
- Council from experienced staff, associates, and affiliate scholars, and professionals from acclaimed national and international institutions.
- Regional and global seminars and conferences on a wide range of interdisciplinary subjects.
- Partnerships with both regional and internationally positioned academic institutes, religious organizations, and regional and international social service groups.
By providing these services and the opportunity to engage in diverse yet in-depth and collaborative research, the BAPS Swaminarayan Research Institute plays an active role in creating responsible, academic leaders. As interfaith and intercultural cooperation and religious pluralism continue to grow as social priorities, with greater participation in cross-disciplinary research, members and affiliates of the BAPS Swaminarayan Research Institute provide exceptional contributions in scholarly learning, collaboration, and expression in a diverse range of topics.
With these goals in mind, activities within the Institute endeavor to:
- Facilitate understanding and appreciation of cultural traditions, values, and contributions.
- Encourage collaborative and comparative dialogue.
- Explore opportunities for partnerships that promote cultural learning, expression, and appreciation.
- Build sustained, engaged scholarly communities and regional and international partnerships among professionals and specialists
The institute offers a wide range of ways to approach such interdisciplinary cultural and religious learning, awareness, and discourse. Understanding the need for personal study, reflection, and interaction, the institute facilitates:
- Opportunities for language studies and textual research.
- Access to a broad range of research materials including publications, electronic texts, and a wide range of manuscripts.
- Spaces for private study and reflection.
- Council from experienced staff, associates, and affiliate scholars, and professionals from acclaimed national and international institutions.
- Regional and global seminars and conferences on a wide range of interdisciplinary subjects.
- Partnerships with both regional and internationally positioned academic institutes, religious organizations, and regional and international social service groups.
By providing these services and the opportunity to engage in diverse yet in-depth and collaborative research, the BAPS Swaminarayan Research Institute plays an active role in creating responsible, academic leaders. As interfaith and intercultural cooperation and religious pluralism continue to grow as social priorities, with greater participation in cross-disciplinary research, members and affiliates of the BAPS Swaminarayan Research Institute provide exceptional contributions in scholarly learning, collaboration, and expression in a diverse range of topics.
Research
The BAPS Swaminarayan Research Institute supports well-defined academic investigation in a wide range of disciplinary studies. It encourages both collaborative and individual scholarship that advances the expression, understanding, and appreciation of culture, philosophy, religions, languages, and rich textual contributions. It further aims to encourage public awareness of both traditional and modern scholarly contributions.
Given these purposes, projects at the BAPS Swaminarayan Research Institute typically fall into the following key categories:
Cultural and Historical Studies
Philosophy
Literary and Sacred Text Studies
Language Studies
The BAPS Swaminarayan Research Institute encourages academic research in these and other areas of scholarship.