About Rupayan Sansthan

Rupayan Sansthan was founded in 1960 in the village of Borunda, near Jodhpur, by folklorist Komal Kothari and writer Vijaydan Detha. The two shared a simple but powerful vision – to document and celebrate the living traditions of Rajasthan before they faded from memory.

At a time when rural stories, songs, and knowledge rarely found space in formal archives, they began recording conversations with communities – farmers, musicians, storytellers, and craftspeople – creating one of India’s first grassroots centres for the study of folk culture and oral traditions.

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Purpose and Work

From its earliest days, Rupayan Sansthan has worked to preserve, interpret, and share the cultural life of Rajasthan in ways that remain connected to the people who keep it alive.

Its work spans:

  • Documentation and Archiving – collecting folk tales, songs, epics, genealogies, and performance traditions across Rajasthan.
  • Research and Publication – publishing books and journals that make traditional knowledge accessible to scholars and learners alike.
  • Community Collaboration – working closely with musician communities like the Langas and Manganiyars, supporting their livelihoods and helping them reach wider audiences.
  • Education and Awareness – curating exhibitions, workshops, and seminars to engage students, researchers, and artists in conversations around culture and sustainability.

Link to Arna-Jharna

The philosophy that shaped Arna-Jharna: The Desert Museum of Rajasthan draws directly from the foundation laid by Rupayan Sansthan. Both share a belief that everyday life is a source of knowledge, and that folk traditions offer valuable insights into ecology, community, and creativity.

While Rupayan Sansthan continues to build archives and research materials, Arna-Jharna carries that knowledge into public experience – translating it into spaces of learning and reflection for visitors of all ages.

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Continuing the Legacy

Today, Rupayan Sansthan remains based in Jodhpur and is led by a dedicated team under the guidance of Kuldeep Kothari, son of Komal Kothari. Its collections include thousands of hours of recordings, photographs, and manuscripts that together form one of the most important repositories of Rajasthani folk heritage.

Through collaborations with scholars, institutions, and local communities, the Sansthan continues to keep folk traditions relevant in the present – not as relics, but as living sources of knowledge, creativity, and resilience.

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