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INTRODUCTION
[PART 1
choice. For all these discretions I do take the responsibility, as also for such printing-errors as might have crept in. But I must make it clear that I do not take the responsibility for the accuracy of everything that has been said by the different authors, who must remain responsible for their statements and views. Nor am I concerned with the Hindi translation of the work, which the Bharatiya Jnanpith proposes to publish.
In editing this work and seeing it through the press, I have received ungrudging help from different quarters. I must start the list with Shri L.C. Jain, Secretary of the Bharatiya Jnanpith, for entrusting the work to me (thoughit has involved many problems and much strenuous worry, particularly at the later stages), but much more for his unfailing courtesy and understanding. It has uniformly been a pleasure to deal with him, and I thank him immensely.
Shri Gopilal Amar and Shri Virendra Kumar Jain, both of the Research Department of the Jnanpith, have greatly assisted me, by sharing the pondence, promptly sorting out the required illustrations and running about to different places whenever required. Shri Amar," being a scholar of Sanskrit, the Prakrits and Jainology, has also rendered some technical assistance. I thank them, as also the assistants and typists of the Jnanpith, who have always been helpful.
It is needless to say that without the co-operation of the authors who responded to our request for their contributions, the publication of the work would not have been possible. I am grateful to them for their co-operation.
During my absence in Indonesia, a few chapters had been sent to Dr Jyoti Prasad Jain, former Professor of History in the University of Lucknow, for his comments. Many of the comments that he kindly made have been utilized with duc acknowledgement, I am thankful to him for his valuable observations.
My long association with Shri C. Sivaramamurti, Director of the National Museum, and with the officers of the Archaeological Survey of India have stood me in good stead in my task. Shri Sivaramamurti and Shri M.N. Deshpande, the Director General of the Survey, have from the very start taken a deep interest in the work. Two young officers of the Survey, Shri M.C. Joshi, Superintending Archaeologist, and Shri B.M. Pande, Deputy Superintending
A finally-typed copy of a chaptor was, at the earlice stage, sent to the respective author for approval, but later on the procedure could not be continued due to shortnes of time.
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