Dr. Gauri Mahulikar served as the Dean of Faculty of CVV, and is currently in the position of Academic Director, CIF.
She was the Gurudev Tagore Chair of Comparative Literature Professor and former Head of Department of Sanskrit at Mumbai University. She holds a Doctorate in Sanskrit on ‘Vedic Elements in Puranic Mantras and Rituals’. An author, who has published eight books and over 90 research articles in English, Marathi, Hindi and Sanskrit, Dr. Mahulikar has mentored several doctoral students; eighteen of who have successfully earned their doctorates.
She was instrumental in launching courses in Manuscriptology, Bhakti Literature and Mysticism in the Sanskrit Department and has coordinated a UGC funded project on ‘Digital Preservation of Palm Leaf Manuscripts’ (2010-2015).
Dr. Mahulikar was awarded the Maneckji Limji Gold Medal for her dissertation on ‘Ancient Greek Dramas and Bharata’s Natyasastra’ from Mumbai University. Some of the many awards that Dr. Mahulikar has been awarded are the ‘Ramakrishna Award’ by the Canadian Education Foundation, Ontario for the propagation of Sanskrit (2003); Guru Gaurav Puraskar by Kalasadan, Mumbai (2011); Kavikulaguru Kalidas Sanskrit Sadhana Puraskar by Maharashtra State Government (2013); Adi Sankaracarya Puraskar awarded by H.H. Sri Jayendra Saraswati Mahaswamigal, the Shankaracharya of Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham (2014); Savitribal Phule Puraskar by Mumbai University (2015); and the Indira Behere Puraskar by Tilak Maharashtra Vidyapeeth, Pune (2015).
Education:
- B.A Sanskrit and Hindi, Mumbai University (1973) (First Rank)
- M.A. Sanskrit (Vedanta), Mumbai University (1975) (First Rank, Gold Medalist)
- Ph.D. in Vedic Elements in Puranic Mantras and Rituals (1992)
- P.G. Diploma in Comparative Mythology (1993)
- Springer Research Fellowship, Mumbai University for a project, ‘Nirukta: an in-depth Study’ (1995-97)
Professional Experience (Research/Teaching)
- Over 35 years of experience in teaching and research
Interests (Research/Teaching)
- Research: Vedic Literature | Vedanta | Classical Sanskrit Literature | Study of Manuscripts
- Teaching: Vedic Literature | Vedanta | Classical Sanskrit Literature | Study of Manuscripts
Research Projects:
- ICSSR project and Shankara Fellowship by the Ministry of Culture, Madhya Pradesh
- Digital Preservation of Palm-leaf Manuscripts (2010-2015)
- Book project n Facets of Femininity
- अभिजात संस्कृत साहित्याचा इतिहास,
- Governance in Ancient India
- Animals and Birds in Sanskrit Literature
- English Translation and Cultural study of Madhumalati, an illustrated manuscript in the Heras Institute, Mumbai
- Translation of the Sunderakanda of Ramayana into Marathi
- New Frontiers in Sanskrit and Indic Studies and a few more books.
Consultancy and Training:
- Kulapati of Samskrit Samvardhan Pratishthan, an NGO in Mumbai, working for the value education of school children
- Vice President of Itihas Sankalan Samiti, Konkan Pranta
- Ex-president of ‘Dharma ani Tattvajnana’ section of Marathi Vishwakosha
- Member of Advisory Committee for Marathi, IIL, Mysuru
- Member of BoS, Academic Council of various universities in Maharashtra