A bibliometric analysis of the Journal Nagarjun (1957–1965)
Srinivas Rao Koppisetti, Sindhuja Nagula, Priyanka Palle, Varsha Kumari, Saketh Ram Thirugalla, Santosh Mane, Goli Penchala PrasadABSTRACT:
Background:
The Journal Nagarjun, published from Calcutta, served as a premier platform for Ayurvedic and medico-historical research during the mid-20 th century, a period marked by the post-independence revival of the Indian traditional medicine.
Aim:
The aim of this study was to present a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of 866 articles published in the Journal Nagarjun from 1957 (Volume 1) to 1965 (Volume 8).
Materials and Methods:
By employing quantitative statistical methods, the analysis examines year-wise publication trends, authorship patterns, prolific contributors, article length, and subject-wise distribution.
Results:
It was noted that publication output increased sharply from 1957 to 1959, followed by a decline in 1960 and a gradual recovery, culminating in a primary peak of 137 papers in 1963. A defining characteristic of the era was the dominance of individual scholarship; single-authored papers accounted for 92.61% of the total output, resulting in a notably low Degree of Collaboration of 0.07. Furthermore, the study identifies that out of 866 articles, the majority of contributions were concise, with 49.9% falling within the 1–5 page range. Papers were categorized into overlapping themes, with 77.60% relating to Ayurvedic topics and 60.85% specifically focused on medico-historical analysis.
Conclusion:
Journal Nagarjun acted as a vital postcolonial conduit that translated traditional Ayurvedic heritage into an academic research platform, thereby shaping the trajectory of present-day interdisciplinary Ayurvedic scholarship.