Catalogue of Sanskrit and Prakrit Manuscripts In the Central Provinces and Berar

SR No.: 011132
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Rai Bahaddur Hiralal
Publisher: Central Provins and Berar
Total Pages: 887
Language: English, Sanskrit
Classification: Catalogue
File Size: 27 MB

Page 7

FOREWORD.
A conference of Orientalists was held at Simla in July 1912 in which the collection and cataloguing of ancient manuscripts was strongly urged as a pressing necessity. It was pointed out that it was "a debt of scholarship due to the world to publish catalogues raisonnés of such manuscripts" and the Government of India promised to assist local Governments in the carrying out of definite schemes in this connection. The Central Provinces Government accordingly took steps almost immediately and gazetted me for doing the work in conjunction with the preparation of Lists of Inscriptions found in this province. As I was about to commence the work, a serious illness overtook me which obliged me to take 6 months' leave, part of which I spent on my recovery, in visiting almost all the Oriental libraries containing Sanskrit manuscripts in India from Ayodhya to Tanjore and Poona to Calcutta. Early 1913 I returned to duty and took up Epigraphy first, on finishing which I proposed to take up the cataloguing of Sanskrit manuscripts, provisional lists whereof I obtained through the District officers. These showed the existence of about 8,000 manuscripts of about 6,000 different works. It was estimated that the preparation of a descriptive catalogue of these would take 4 years with an expenditure of Rs. 56,000. The then Director of Public Instruction, however, thought that he could have the work done through his subordinates and others at a lesser expenditure by offering honoraria to the workers in the field and apparently within much less time. I considered this too sanguine, and it was therefore proposed to make an experiment with 101 manuscripts distributed among 11 Sanskritists. The result was that 5 gentlemen only, consisting of a practising Barrister, a Sub-Judge, an Oriental Translator, a Malguzar and a Professor of Mathematics, submitted their reports in six months, and that 6 others including 3 Professors of Sanskrit failed to make any report at all. On the basis of the 5 reports received it was calculated that the Director's scheme would take 20 years to finish 8,000 manuscripts at a cost of Rs. 90,000 allowing on the average Rs. 10 per manuscript as honorarium and