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It is recognized that the foundation of the proposed Society of Antiquaries of India must involve much preliminary discussion,
and that considerable delay in launching the Society "THE INDIAN
on a working basis is unavoidable. It has therefore ANTIQUARY."
been arranged for the time being to direct efforts to securing the continued existence of The Indian Antiquary, which is at present the sole property of Lieut.-Colonel Sir R. C. Temple, Bart., by transferring the possession and management of the Journal to a small private company, The Indian Antiquary, Ltd., which, in the event of Sir R. C. Temple hereafter desiring to relinquish active management of the Journal, would carry on the work which he has undertaken alone for so many years.
Since its foundation by Dr. Burgess in 1872, The Indian Antiquary has deserved well of India. He edited it till 1885, when it was taken over by Dr. J. F. Fleet and Sir R. C. Temple till 1892, by which time it had become the chief exponent of Oriental research in private hands and the chief medium for the publication of Indian epigraphical studies. For several years it trained and maintained a private staff for discovering, collecting and reproducing in facsimile all kinds of Indian epigraphic records; and its volumes, which have now reached No. LII, enshrine the whole history of epigraphical research as a systematic study. Moreover, it has performed pioneer work in teaching a new generation of Indian scholars the method of securing accurate knowledge of the annals of ancient and mediæval India. Well-known Indian scholars to-day, as well as European authorities, are among its most valued contributors. For several years Professor D. R. Bhandarkar was associated with Sir Richard C. Temple in the editing of the Journal. Since his resignation, the appointment of Indian joint-editor has been filled by Professor S. Krishnaswami Aiyangar. Mr. S. M. Edwardes has also taken a part in the joint-editorship.