Dear Friends,

I thank you for your help, Tim, Dhaval, Dominik, Shihong Zhao, Elliot and Christophe.
I have sent a message to the address directorrori@yahoo.in, but received no answer yet.
I also consulted the page https://jkk.artandculture.rajasthan.gov.in/content/ArtandCulture/en/rajasthan-oriental-research-institute/facilities-scholars.html, where I read the following - and rather worrying - phrase : Scholars coming from abroad will also be entertained, if they are affiliated with any Indian University, after submission of their credentials from the concerned embassy.
This seems especially difficult to reach. On the other hand, the same page also specifies :
Research facilities are available at the Institutes, headquarter and all the seven branch repositories, for which scholars may contact
1. Director, Rajasthan Oriental Research Institute, P.W.D. Road, Jodhpur. Telephone No. 2430244
2. Assistant Director, Rajasthan Oriental Research Institute, Inside Maharaja Sanskrit College, Opposite Old Assembly Hall, S.D. Bazar, Jaipur.
3. Senior Research Assistant, Rajasthan Oriental Research Institute, Mahal Chowk, Alwar.
4. Senior Research Assistant, Rajasthan Oriental Research Institute, Braja Vilas Palace, Kota.
5. Senior Research Assistant, Rajasthan Oriental Research Institute, Near R.D. Girls College, Bharatpur.
6. Senior Research Assistant, Rajasthan Oriental Research Institute, Near Govt. Press, Opp. Station, Bikaner.
As I am especially interested in manuscripts from Jaipur, Alwar, Kota and Bikaner, this is encouraging. But, while a telephone number is given for Jodhpur (for which Dhaval Patel gave me a more recent +91 94612 92170), there are no tel or Email addresses for the other branches. I wonder if it is possible to find any more up to date and useful information.
I am also trying to contact the IGNCA and to see what manuscripts this centre could help me to see and copy. The problem is that their information seems rather outdated and scanty, at least on the page https://www.namami.gov.in/major-manuscript-repositories-india.

Best regards,

Jean Michel Delire

Le jeu. 27 nov. 2025 à 13:29, Jean Michel DELIRE <jeanmicheldelire@gmail.com> a écrit :
Thanks for your advices, Dominik,

I will begin in Delhi, and visit the IGNCA. But, in order to prepare my visit, I would like to contact them beforehand. Do you have the address of somebody I could write to ?
Same question for Jodhpur, which I visited ten years ago. On the other hand, I have to check some Mss in Kota, and it is not so far away. But you know how travelling in India could be time-consuming...

Best regards,

Jean Michel

Le mer. 26 nov. 2025 à 23:02, Dominik Wujastyk <wujastyk@gmail.com> a écrit :
I think it is a good idea to write to the Jodhpur HQ in any case, out of courtesy.  If they answer, so much the better.  My experiences with branch offices (last time in about 2005) is that they really did want to see *something* official.  A letter from Jodhpur is best.  But also, be armed at least with a letter from your university or institution, as official-looking as possible.  University stamps are always good.  

IGNCA in Delhi has filmed many RORI manuscripts.  These RORI images are an exception to the general rule that the IGNCA will not give copies to scholars without a letter of permission from the host library.  For RORI, there is a RORI - IGNCA agreement that IGNCA may give scholars images of the RORI manuscripts they have filmed.  So you could start with IGNCA, since they generally answer communications.  Did they film the Euclid MSS? There used to be an online catalogue of MSS at IGNCA (or NAMAMI) but I think it has been withdrawn.

Best,
Dominik


--
Dominik Wujastyk, Professor Emeritus, Classical Indian History
University of Alberta

"The University of Alberta is committed to the pursuit of truth, 
the advancement of learning, and the dissemination of knowledge 
through teaching, research and other scholarly and creative activities and service."



On Tue, 25 Nov 2025 at 04:29, Jean Michel DELIRE via INDOLOGY <indology@list.indology.info> wrote:
Dear Colleagues,

In order to see manuscripts, I intend to visit Oriental Research Institutes in several cities of Rajasthan (RORI), but not in Jodhpur. Since Jodhpur is the seat, where one has to apply for the authorization to see manuscripts in other RORI's, does anyone know if it is possible to get this authorization without visiting Jodhpur ?

Best regards,

Jean Michel Delire

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