History institute seeks freedom

Plagued by internal strife for last 20 yrs, BISM wants to be independent body

History institute seeks freedom

Plagued by internal strife for last 20 yrs, BISM wants to be independent body

All is not well at the Bharat Itihas Sanshodhak Mandal (BISM). A premier institute working on Indian history in the country, the BISM Trust is riddled with internal politics and membership issues for the last two decades.
Established by Sardar Khanderao Mehendale and internationally acclaimed historians V K Rajwade and G H Khare in 1910, the institute has a rare collection of seven manuscripts in Modi script and an exclusive reference library of over 30,000 rare books on history.u00a0 BISM also has its own museum with over 20,000 rare artifacts and 1,200 paintings. The annual spending incurred by the organisation is Rs 1.25 lakh.

For autonomy: The Bharat Itihas Sanshodhak Mandal building at
Sadashiv Peth. Pic/Vivek Sabnis

Persistent problem
In 1990, S M Mate and G T Kulkarni, members of the BISM, had approached the Charity Commissioner demanding that only those with a degree in history be given membership to the institute. This was not endorsed by all the members of the institute. The Charity Commissioner then appointed an executive body, which has been running the institute for the last 20 years.

On the request of the members, the constitution of the BISM was changed in 2000. Yet, the institute has not been able to conduct a free and fair election hitherto. Besides, the institute can afford only two full-time employees, namely a librarian and a clerk. Noted historian Ninad Bedkar, who had written books on Maratha history, said that so far the BISM has over 1,200 members. "I took THE initiative to allow new members, but the in-fighting in the organisation is frustrating. The deadlock over becoming a free and independent organisation will continue for the next 10 years," Bedkar said. Gajanan Mehendale, another historian, said that he was helpless despite being a senior member of the institute. "We have lost all hope of sorting out the issue, though we have a hearing on July 13 at the Charity Commissioner's office," he said.

PMC of no help
Though the civic body has its own history and heritage cell, it had promised a sum of Rs 1 crore to the BISMu00a0-- Rs 75 lakh in 2010 and Rs 25 lakh in 2011.u00a0 The pecuniary aid is yet to be received. The money would have funded the preservation of old papers related to the city and its history of last 1,000 years. "We just don't know why the money has not been handed over to us," said a BISM member.

The Other Side
Shrikrishna Bhave, executive president, appointed by Charity Commissioner, said: "I have been on the on the same post for the last 20 years. This organisation needs to be run more academically and professionally. We are not research scholars, but provide help to those who want to do research in the field of history." Dinkar Bankar, deputy charity commissioner, who has recently taken charge, has no idea about the BISM issue and its development. He was not available for comment.