Bhaktivedanta Research Center

Bhaktivedanta Research Center

Founded	2009 (2009)
Founder	Dr. Ferdinando Sardella Dennis Harrison
Type	Non-profit organization
Focus	Academic and research institute Library and Exhibits Workshops, events, & Conferences Collecting and preserving rare collection of books, shastras, journals, and manuscripts
Key people	Gauranga Das (Director Administration), Dr. Sumanta Rudra (Dean Academic Affairs)
Website	brcglobal.org

Bhaktivedanta Research Center, established in 2009 and headquartered in Kolkata, India, is a research center dedicated to the preservation, study, and dissemination of Indian philosophical traditions, with a particular emphasis on Gaudiya Vaishnavism. Founded by Dr. Ferdinando Sardella and Dennis Harrison.

History

Bhaktivedanta Research Center, established in December 2009 by Ferdinando Sarardella, a PhD student from the University of Gothenburg to continued its mission to preserve and digitize rare manuscripts and books related to Indian philosophy and the Gaudiya Vaishnava movement.The Center houses a collection of 17,000 books, 4,000 journals, and 70 manuscripts, related to Indian culture and philosophy.

In January 2025, BRC's Ph. D and postgraduate programs, recognized by the University of Mumbai and Specialised Studies Center Savitribai Phule Pune University.

Activities

In March 2023, the Bhaktivedanta Research Center launched an initiative to digitize and preserve 17th-century manuscripts related to the Saraswat practices of Bengali scholars, making them accessible to researchers. The Center's efforts focused on preserving valuable texts of Indian philosophy for academic study.

In July 2023, the Bhaktivedanta Research Center supported the Scottish Church College's Darshan Eshana project, aimed at digitizing over 1,000 rare philosophical books linked to figures including Swami Vivekananda, Srila Prabhupada, and Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose. The Center provided both financial and technical assistance, with the first phase of digitization completed in eight months.

In September 2023, the Bhaktivedanta Research Center launched the Bhakti Vinod Tagore Memorial Scholarship at Presidency University. The initiative aimed to introduce the contributions of Bhakti Vinod Tagore to the new generation, with the hope of honoring his legacy.

Collaboration

In December 2022, the Bhaktivedanta Research Center collaborated with the University of Hyderabad, Stockholm University, and Sri Padmavati Mahila Visvavidyalayam to organize an international seminar on indigenous healthcare, spiritual practices, and health psychology. The three-day seminar, attended by over 70 academicians, researchers, and students, focused on the therapeutic impact of rituals, bio-psycho-social approaches to health, and Indian contributions to the field of health psychology.

In February 2023, the Bhaktivedanta Research Center, in collaboration with Dej Publishers, reprinted the autobiography of Bhaktivinoda Thakur, originally written in 1896 and first published by his son, Lalita Prasad Dutta, in 1916. The revised edition was officially released in Mayapur by ISKCON's Jayaprataka Swami, Guruprasad Swami, Gauranga Das, and others.

In July 2024, the Bhaktivedanta Research Center collaborated with the Howrah Cultural Literary Society to digitize and preserve approximately 6,000 ancient manuscripts, most of which date back to the fifteenth century. These manuscripts, previously stored under the supervision of the Government of India, include writings on a variety of subjects such as the Ramayana, Mahabharata, Puranas, philosophy, and grammar.

In November 2024,the Bhaktivedanta Research Center collaborated with Scottish Church College to inaugurate the Abhay Charan De Seminar Hall, named in honor of A.C. Bhaktivedanta Prabhupada, at the college where he studied from 1916. The seminar hall serves as a tribute to his academic journey, where he studied.

In January 2025, the Bhaktivedanta Research Center signed an MoU with the BharatGen Initiative at IIT Bombay's Technology Incubation Hub to integrate AI into heritage research. The collaboration aims to modernize traditional knowledge, develop advanced research tools, and preserve India's cultural heritage.

In March 2025, the Bhaktivedanta Research Center signed an MoU with IIT Mandi to advance the preservation and study of ancient Indian manuscripts. The collaboration integrates modern technology into Indian philosophy research, with IIT Mandi providing infrastructure, training, and support for Sanskrit analysis, manuscript digitization, and AI-based research.

In February 2025, the Bhaktivedanta Research Center, in collaboration with the Asiatic Society, Kolkata, hosted an exhibition and lecture series to commemorate the 539th birth anniversary of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. Held at the Asiatic Society's Heritage Building, the event highlighted his life, teachings, and lasting impact, deepening public understanding of his philosophy and legacy.

Awards and Recognition

In March 2024, the Bhaktivedanta Research Center in Kolkata was awarded the Indian Chamber of Commerce Social Impact Award for its contributions to preserving ancient manuscripts and promoting Indian literature, philosophy, and culture. The award was presented by Governor C. V. Ananda Bose to Balram Leela Prabhu.