Descriptive Catalogue Of Manuscripts Vol 12

Author(s): Hiralal Rasikdas Kapadia
Publisher: Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute

Page 12

PREFACE
Since the transfer of the Government MSS. Library to the Institute in 1918, the work of preparing an alphabetical card-index of all the MSS in the library was engaging the attention of the Institute during the first few years. The proposal to prepare such a cord-index and its acceptance by Government ( as per their Resalution No. 304, Educational Department, dated 15th October 1915 ) have been referred to in para 41 of the Foreward to the Descriptive Catalogue of Vedic MSS. in the Government MSS. Library, published by the Government of Bombay in 1916. This work, though adumbrated prior to 1918, was actually commenced by the Institute in 1925. The completion of this card-index and the work of classifying all the MSS in the Government MSS. Library numbering about 20,000 was entrusted by the Regulating Council to me in August 1925. This work was finished by the end of 1930. Thereafter a scheme to entrust the work of preparing the Descriptive Catalogue of the different sections of the MSS. Library to different scholars was adopted by the Institute. According to this scheme, Sec. XII (Alamkāra, Samgita and Nāțya MSS) was entrusted to me ex-officio, i. e. in my capacity as the Curator of the Institute. As I could devote only about two hours daily to this work and as I had no clerical assistance for copying colophons of MSS etc. my progress on this section, consistent with my duties in the other departments of the Institute, could not be as expeditious as I desired it to be. Besides my work on this catalogue had to be stopped on 31st March 1933 owing to the temporary 50% reduction in the Govt. grants, when I was asked to resume the direct charge of all other departments of the Institute except the Mahābhārata Department. This state of affairs was continued up to December 1934 when the Executive Board appointed a committee to consider the whole question of the work of the Descriptive Catalogue of Government MSS. As recommended by this committee and approved by the Executive Board the departmental work on the Descriptive Catalogue of MSS. was started by me on ist January 1935 with the help of two graduate assistants viz. Mr. M. M. Patkar, B. A. and Mr. S. N. Savadi, B. A. This arrangement afforded me the necessary opportunity to complete my work on the present volume. I have