Indian Antiquary Vol 24

SR No.: 032516
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Richard Carnac Temple
Publisher: Swati Publications
Publication Year: 1984
Total Pages: 390
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 16 MB

Page 141

MAY, 1895.)
MISCELLANEA.
137
promise) has been adopted for general use great objects of these Congresses, the bringing over the civilized world. It may be hoped that together into personal intercourse of scholars uniformity will, in future, exist in the transcription who, but for them, could never meet, and who of Oriental languages by scholars of all nations. have hitherto communicated with each other only Although not a member myself of the committee, by correspondence, or, perhaps, by somewhat I was in constant friendly communication with heated polemics. Putting the public sectional its members, and was examined as a witness, or, papers to one side, many disputed points were perhaps more accurately, was allowed to plead discussed in friendly conversations, and many the cause of India before it. I am glad to be scholars found that, after all, they did not differ able to state, as the direct result of my efforts, 80 widely from their confréres as they had imthat a scheme has been adopted which can be agined. accepted without difficulty not only by Indian
Extracts from the Diary. scholars, but also for the purposes of ordinary common life. The system originally proposed
1. I arrived in Geneva on Sunday, the 2nd of and half adopted, though admirably scientific, September. On Monday, evening, the 3rd, there and preferable from a scholar's point of view, had was an informal róunion at the Hotel National, no chance of being accepted for general use in where all the members, who had by that time India. Now, however, the needs of Hindustani, arrived, renewed old acquaintances and made Hindi, and other modern Indian languages have new ones. been considered, and very few and unimportant
2. The formal opening of the Congress took changes in the Jonesian system at present in use
- place in the Aula of the fine University buildings will be required.
at 10 a. m., on Tuesday, the 4th September. The Another subject of considerable interest to the proceedings oommenced with a short speeoh from Indian public was discussed by the Congress. I Colonel Frey, President of the Swiss Confedoraallude to the present uncared for condition of tion, and er-Honorary President of the Congress the Asoka inscriptions, and to the efforts which in which he welcomed the foreign members in the Trustees of the Indian Museum are making the name of Switzerland. He was followed by for their preservation. In connexion with this, a Mr. Richard, President of the Council of the Reresolution was passed by the Congress thanking publio and Canton of Geneva, and Honorary the Trustees for their action, and urging the im- President of the Congress, who welcomed us in portance of the matter upon the attention of the the name of the former body. M. Naville, the Government of India. As Philological Secretary learned Egyptologist, the President of the Conand Delegate of the Asiatic Society of Bengal gress, then gave his presidential address. He and as a Trustee of the Indian Museum, I was gave a rapid summary of the history of Oriental enabled to give the Congress accurate information studies in Geneva, and maintained that one of concerning the subject. The resolution was the the great features of modern discoveries was the result of important speeches by three of the great- close connexion which existed between the anest authorities on Indian epigraphy now living- cient civilizations of the world. He made special Dr. G. Bühler of Vienna, M. E. Senart of Paris reference to the intimate relations which have (both of whom have made a special study of the lately been found to have existed between the Abôka inscriptions), and Dr. Burgess.
civilizations of Greece, Egypt and Nineveh. He In the matter of social arrangements, nothing thanked the Federal and Cantonal authorities for more cordial can be conceived than the welcome the support which they had lent to the Congress, accorded to those assembled, not only by the the sovereigns and members of sovereign families President of the Congress, but by the Canton who had accepted the titles of Patrons and Honoand by the town of Geneva, as well as by the rary Vice-Presidents, and finally the savans, who private inhabitants of the neighbourhood. Almost had responded in such large numbers to the invi. every day while the Congress lasted there tation of the Committee of Organization. M. was an excursion, a garden party, or a dinner, Maspero in the name of the Government of and, although the hospitality was shewn on the France, Lord Reay in the name of his fellow. widest soale, each guest somehow felt that he was countrymen, Professor Windisch in that of the receiving the personal attentions of his bost in a German scholars, Count de Gubernatis in the manner ma flattering as it was gracious. It must name of Italy, and Ahmed Zeky in the name of not, however, be imagined that the Congress was the Khedive, wished success to the Congress, and a mere round of festivities. A great deal of im- thanked Geneva for its hospitality. A number of portant and solid work was got through. But presentations of Oriental works were then made this hospitality happily forwarded another of the to the Congress by authors, by learned societies,