Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan: An Adventure in Faith

Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan was founded by Kulapati Kanhaiyalal Maneklal Munshi on 7th November 1938. Its establishment marked the beginning of what he described as an “Adventure in Faith” – a faith in India’s glorious past, dynamic present, and promising future.

The Bhavan was founded with the noble objective of preserving, promoting, and propagating Bharatiya Sanskriti (Indian Culture) and Sanskrit, the mother of languages, regarded as an inexhaustible reservoir of wisdom and knowledge. Guided by the vision, dedication, and pragmatism of Kulapati Munshi, the institution embarked on a mission to nurture India’s cultural and spiritual heritage while embracing the needs of a changing world.

From its humble beginnings as an Indological research institution, Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan has evolved into a comprehensive, cooperative, non-political national movement with an international outlook. Today, it serves society through a wide network of educational institutions, cultural centres, publications, and community initiatives, all dedicated to fostering value-based education and ethical living.

The Bhavan steadfastly upholds the Vedic ideal:

“Let noble thoughts come to us from every side.”

This guiding principle reflects its commitment to openness, inclusiveness, and universal values. To the Bhavan, Indian culture is composite and comprehensive, embracing the traditions, philosophies, and cultural expressions of all religions and communities. It believes in the harmonious fusion and synthesis of the fundamental ideals of all faiths and advocates equal respect for every religion.

Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan stands as a unique institution—perhaps the only one of its kind in the world—dedicated to promoting cultural harmony, national integration, spiritual values, and human excellence. Through its multifaceted activities, it continues to inspire generations to uphold the timeless values of truth, duty, compassion, and service to humanity.