About the Department

The Centre for Rajasthan Studies is one of the oldest research centres of the University and has been instrumental in promoting studies and research in Rajasthan's history and culture. Established on 11 November, 1975, the Centre is housed in Maharana Pratap Bhawan of the University to promote and coordinate research on historical, social, cultural, literary, economic and environmental aspects of Rajasthan together with collection, compilation, cataloguing and publication of relevant source material. Prof. G. N. Sharma, the renowned historian of Rajasthan, was the founder Director of the Centre. Since its establishment, the Centre has made a seminal contribution towards creation of knowledge on numerous aspects of history of Rajasthan through research projects related to collecting, cataloguing and publishing source material and organizing seminars on various themes related to the history, culture, society, Rajasthani literature, economy and environment of the region. The Centre has so far organized national seminars on various themes of Rajasthan. The 15 National Seminar of on various themes of Rajasthan. The Centre also hosted the CLAI (Comparative Literature Association of India) International Conference on “Culture, Arts and Socio-Political Movements in South Asia: Comparative Perspectives. 'The centre also organized a three day Rajasthani Kavita Utsav in collaboration with Sahitya Academy, Delhi. Recently, the Centre has organized a National Conference on January 29-30, 2016 in association with the UniversityDepartment of History & Indian Culture. This Conference, focusing on the theme 'Emerging Perceptions of Historical Writing in India' held two special sessions on the historical writings of Rajasthan. This Conference was attended by more than 500 delegates from all over India. The Centre for Rajasthan Studies has brought out 24 publications as follows : The Sources of Social and Economic History of Rajasthan; Bibliography of Rajasthan Studies; Kachawahan ri Vanshavali; Social and Political Awakening among the Tribals of Rajasthan; Jaswant Singh ri Khyat; New Catalogue of Approved Theses on Rajasthan, Vol. I, Pt. I & II, 1988; Vol. II, 1989 ; Vol. III, Pt. I & II, 1990; The Historians and Sources of the History of Rajasthan; Peasantry through the Ages in Western India with special reference to Rajasthan; PoliticalAwakening and Indian Freedom Movement with special reference to Rajasthan; Catalogue of Approved Theses on Rajasthan (Social Sciences), 1995; Religious Movements in Rajasthan : Ideas and Antiquities; History of the House of Diggi; History and Culture of Rajasthan; Charan Sahitya Parampara (Essays on Bardic literature) ; Rajasthan ri Vigat; Jaipur ri Vigat; Rajasthan Itihas ke Abhikekhagariya evam Niji Strota; Sturdy Sikhs of Ganganagar: Dimensions of their Growth; & Dhundhad ki Vigat, Rajasthan Itihas ke Abhilekhagariya evam Niji Strota. , Sturdy Sikhs of Ganganagar: Dimensions of their Growth; History and culture of Rajasthan, Adhunik Rajasthan ka Itihas; Bhilon ke Geet,Women's struggles in Rajasthan, Conversations on Conservation. The Centre has also inaugurated a series of memorial lectures - Prof. G.N. Sharma Memorial Lecture and Prof. M.S. Jain Memorial Lectures to commemorate the life and works of historical who have made seminal contribution to historical writings of Rajasthan. The Centre organised two national conferences in the session 2017-18. A conference on 'Women in the Public Sphere in Rajasthan' was organised on January 6 & 7, 2018 in collaboration with Itihas Sankalan Samiti, Jaipur and was sponsored by Indian Council of Historical Research, New Delhi. On February 15 & 17, 2018 a conference on 'Conversations on Conservation' was organised. The Centre has built up a good research library consisting of nearly 5400 books and a valuable collection of Thikana records. This library is widely utilised by Indian and foreign students and scholars of History, Culture, Archaeology, Anthropology, Sociology, Literature and other disciplines. As a result of persuasive efforts, the Centre was able to obtain as gift, a treasure of 1417 rare books on history and culture of Rajasthan, from late Professor G.N. Sharma's collection. The Centre also possesses nearly 800 books in a separate collection known as Prof. K.G. Sharma and Prof. Shambhu Singh ManoharCollection. The Centre had begun a new Course for M.A. in Rajasthani Language, Literature and Culture, w.e.f. the academic session 2011-12 under Self Financing Scheme. This Course has become very popular and is running successfully. This is a unique composite course in Rajasthani Language, Literature and Culture which has been introduced exclusively in the University of Rajasthan. The Centre has granted affiliation to many Post Doctoral Fellows and Senior Research Fellows of ICHR and ICSSSR and also to Emeritus Fellows of UGC. The Centre also had the privilege of extending affiliation to foreign scholars (US Fulbright Frllows, Researcher from University of Heidelberg, Germany nad other institutions.)