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FOREWORD
While literary (mainly Sanskrit and Pali) and archaeological sources have been fully exploited in re-constructing the history of ancient India by historians, the latter have been indifferent towards the Jaina sources which constitute a veritable mine of informations and offer a vast field of research into the various facets of our early history and culture. In fact, a comprehensive and authentic history of early India can be possible only when a scientific and analytical study of these sources is objectively attempted. For long such a study remained neglectd, but of late scholars have taken up this challenge which is now gradually yielding fascinating results enriching various branches of Indological studies. Dr. Raja Ram Jain is one of the few such scholars who have done commendable work in exploring this otherwise virgin field for the benefit of researchers engaged in revealing India's past.
Poet Raidhū occupies a unique position in Apabhraíša literature and has illumined its various branches by the sparks of his genius. Dr. Jain has made a comprehensive study of his poetic compositions in his recent publication, entitled "Raidhū Sahitya Ka Alochanāțmaka Parisilana" which gives a fairly good account of the life-story and literary contributions of the poet which no one else had done before. Raidhù has presented a scintillating account of contemporary traditions, history, culture and artistic activities through praśastis or eulogies which in fact is the speciality of his poetic creations. The present work-The Story of Bhadrabahu, Caņakya,
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