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Preface
great pleasure in presenting this volume to the world of scholars and to request their indulgence for whatever blemishes might have remained in the volume owing to oversight or clerical error.
As regards the arrangement of the subject-matter in this volume I have to state that as far as possible I have followed the lines on which the 1st volume in this series was brought out by the Govt. of Bombay in 1916. I have, however, taken a more detailed survey of the Samgita and Natya works included in the present volume as there were no special treatises devoted to the history of these subjects.
In the preparation of this volume I have availed myself of numerous manuscript-catalogues, descriptive or otherwise. In particular my work on the Alamkära MSS was materially facilitated by the two volumes of the "History of Sanskrit Poetics" by Dr. S. K. De, M. A., D. Litt., of the Dacca University.
I have now to thank the Executive Board of the Institute for the opportunities offered by them to me for the study of MSS in the Govt, MSS. Library during the last twelve years and in particular for their new scheme formulated in December 1934 for expediting the work of the Descriptive Catalogue of MSS on departmental lines. I have to thank Rao Bahadur Dr. S. K. Belvalkar, M. A., Ph. D. the former Superintendent of the MSS. Department and the Secretary of the Institute, Dr. P. L. Vaidya, M. A., D. Litt., Superintendent of the Publication Department, and Dr. V. S. Sukthankar, M. A., Ph. D., the present Honorary Secretary of the Institute and the Superintendent of the MSS. Departmet, but for whose solicitude for quick publication of the Descriptive Catalogue of MSS. the entire work would not have made the progress it has now achieved. Lastly, I have to thank Messrs M. M. Patkar and S. N. Savadi, the two, cataloguing assistants, for their conscientious and efficient discharge of all work entrusted to them. I have also to thank the entire office staff of the Institute and in particular Mr. G. N. Shrigondekar, B. A.,? for his prompt disposal of all press-work connected with the present volume.
P. K. Gode