Jignasa Journal Of History Of Ideas And Culture Part 01

Author(s): Vibha Upadhyaya and Others
Publisher: University of Rajasthan

Page 39

Govind Chandra Pande (1923-2011)/ 1
1. Govind Chandra Pande
(1923-2011)
S.N. Dube
In the sudden passing away of Professor Govind Chandra Pande on 21st May 2011, after a brief illness and a day's hospitalization in Delhi, the world of Indological scholarship suffered a grievous shock losing one of its greatest historians and thinkers, who personified a rare blend of brilliant scholarship, warm humanity and perfect civility. His prodigious writings in the last sixty years on a variety of subjects, intensely thought-provoking and yet refreshingly integrated, firmly established him as an original thinker and outstanding scholar of Indian history and culture and also that of its religion, philosophy, society, art, aesthetics, literature and poetics. By his monumental contributions he has left an indelible mark on almost all these branches of Indological studies. His flair for linguistic excellence, both in terms of precision and vocabulary had its moorings in his knowledge of several languages, both classical and modern.e.g. Sanskrit, Prakrit, Pali, Buddhist Chinese, Tibetan, French, German, English, Hindi, Bengali etc.
A series of masterpieces, starting with the Studies in the Origins of Buddhism (Allahabad, 1957) based on his D. Phil (University of Allahabad, 1949) to Mahilayen (Gahasattasai - poetic recreation and commentary) (Allahabad, 2002), and Bhagirathi (Sanskrit Poems, 2002), which have emanated from his pen during these years, exemplify the remarkable intellect and astonishing energy with which he was gifted. Indeed, it is a rewarding experience to read anything written by him. A lifetime wish of his dedicated scholarship was to bring out afresh a Hindi rendering of the Rigveda and offer its explanation from the point of view of an Indian maniska. At the ripe age of 88, with an impaired vision, he was till the end absorbed in giving final touches to the last Mandala of his translation of the Rigveda. The translations of III to VIII Mandalas had already been published in his lifetime and the manuscripts of the remaining parts, i.e. I, II, IX and X Mandalas he had finalised before breathing the last. It was a poignant example of death in harness. His translation of the Rigveda synthesises a vast body of scholarship reflecting his own original multi-layered interpretations. It also highlights his lifelong endeavour augmenting contemporary relevance of traditional kuowledge. Among his many stellar works it may go down as his crowning contribution to Indology.
I had the privilege of knowing Professor Pande since 1958 when I joined the University of Allahabad and offered Ancient History as an optional for the B.A. course. Although, he had moved to Gorakhpur in 1957 to take-over as Professor and the founder Head of the Department of Ancient History, Culture and Archaeology of the newly established University there, he had left behind in his