MIPGSRSL: A timeless legacy in need of revival

Nestled on a sprawling 62-acre campus by the serene and meandering Bagmati River, the Mithila Institute of Post Graduate Studies and Research in Sanskrit Learning (MIPGSRSL) in Kabraghat, Darbhanga, is a treasure trove of knowledge.

- Bishnu K Jha

DARBHANGA: Nestled on a sprawling 62-acre campus by the serene and meandering Bagmati River, the Mithila Institute of Post Graduate Studies and Research in Sanskrit Learning (MIPGSRSL) in Kabraghat, Darbhanga, is a treasure trove of knowledge. It houses nearly 12,500 rare manuscripts on subjects such as Nyaya, astrology, mimansa, theology, rituals, and the Vedas and Upanishads. Its library boasts over 32,000 books, and it has published nearly 135 internationally acclaimed works.

The institute's foundation was laid by the first President of India, Dr. Rajendra Prasad, on June 16, 1951, yet it still lacks a main administrative building. Operating under the Bihar higher education department, the institute's challenges were highlighted in an inspection report by Darbhanga district magistrate (DM) Rajiv Raushan. The DM had conducted a campus inspection in June 2022, followed by a district-level meeting chaired by him and convened by the District Education Officer (DEO) on October 30, 2024.