Written by Jamie O’Connell (2024)

INtroduction

The K.R. Cama Oriental Institute was founded in 1916 in memory of Kharshedji Rustomji Cama, a Parsi scholar, social reformer and teacher who died in 1909. The Institute aims to promote the study of the religion, history and culture of the Near East and Asia, with a particular focus on Iran.

The library is located on the second floor of the Institute, and contains a large collection of publications and manuscripts broadly related to Iranian studies. The original collection consisted of K.R. Cama’s private library. This was later supplemented by the Mulla Firuz Collection, as well as the collections of various other Parsi community members.

The library possesses approximately 20,000 books on religion, philosophy, history, geography, lan­guage, literature, art and archaeology, as well as nearly 2000 manu­scripts in Avestan, Middle Persian, Pazand, Persian, Arabic, Turkish, Gujarati, Urdu, and Punjabi. While valuable for those studying Iran and India generally, the library is particularly important for scholars of Zoroastrianism, as it is home to the world’s largest collection of Zoroastrian manuscripts. 

The library is open Monday through Friday, 10am to 5pm, and Saturday, 10am to 1pm.

For more information, visit the Institute’s website.

Location: Google Maps

GOING THERE

The K.R. Cama Oriental Institute is located on the edge of the Kala Ghoda neighborhood in the area of Fort, Mumbai. There are a number of bus stops on nearby Mahatma Gandhi Road. The Institute is a 20 min. walk from Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) and a 15 min. walk from the Churchgate Station.

GETTING IN

Access to the Institute Library is strictly limited. You should call or email the library to explain your research interests and scholarly qualifications in order to be considered for access. Foreign visitors must also obtain a research visa and letter of affiliation with an Indian university.

Note that the library requires a nominal daily fee.

Finding your material

Several catalogues of the Institute’s collections have been published. These include:

S. A. Brelvi & B.N. Dhabhar. Supplementary catalogue of Arabic, Hindustani, Persian and Turkish Mss. and Descriptive Catalogue of the Avesta, Pahlavi, Pazend and Persian Mss. in the Mulla Firoz Library. Bombay, 1917.

B.N. Dhabhar, Descriptive Catalogue of Some Manuscripts bearing on Zoroastrianism and pertaining to the Different Collections in the Mulla Feroze Library. Bombay, 1923.

B.N. Dhabhar, The K.R. Cama Oriental Institute Catalogue: Parts I, II, III. Bombay, 1923.

E. Rehatsek, Catalogue Raisonné of the Arabic, Hindostani, Persian, and Turkish Mss. in the Mulla Firuz Library. Bombay, 1873.

For manuscripts and printed material added or catalogued after 1923, scholars must consult a handlist accessible in-person at the Institute. Note that many manuscripts have recently been conserved and given new call numbers.

Ordering your material

To request your material, especially manuscripts, approach a librarian who will then fetch it for you.

Ordering scans

Researchers are expressly prohibited from photographing manuscripts. This is strictly enforced. It may be possible to photograph printed material held at the library, but visitors should consult with the librarian.

Food and well-being

There are a number of restaurants located in and around the Kala Ghoda neighborhood, including many of Mumbai’s famous Irani cafes.

Additional remarks

The Institute often hosts scholarly talks, usually with a focus on Indian or Parsi history and culture. These are open to the public and are held in the Institute’s Dr. Sir Jivanji Modi Memorial Hall.

Several other educational institutions and museums are located nearby, including the University of Mumbai, the Jehangir Art Gallery, the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Museum, and the Asiatic Society. Other places of interest include numerous Parsi fire temples and other religious sites.