Kevalaodhi Buddhist And Jaina History Of Deccan Vol 2

Author(s): Aloka Parasher Sen, B Subrahmanyam, E Siva Nagi Reddy
Publisher: Bharatiya Kala Prakashan

Page 7

PREFACE
Professor Bhattiprolu Sri Lakshmi Hanumantha Rao (1924-1993), one of the noted historians of our times, is well known for his contributions to Indian Epigraphy, History and Society and for his unearthing of the myriad pasts of Telugu Culture and Andhra History. Indeed, his seminal studies on religion, culture and society from early historic to medieval times, has opened up new areas of research in the history of the region. His arduous study of inscriptions and their corroboration with literary and archaeological data led to a distinctive pattern of analytical study, which few have been able to emulate. It needs to be also emphasized that his writings in Telugu and translations into it of erudite works of eminence on Indian History, have made his contributions indeed remarkable. Those who knew BSL, as he was fondly called, will remember the simplicity and soft spoken-ness with which he communicated with students and scholars alike. His humane and earnest qualities drew towards him a large number of friends, each exploring a different line of thinking. This in no way made BSL steer away from his firm belief in radical humanism and his foundational conviction in rationalism and liberalism.
Having thus carved out a special niche in the intellectual world of philosophers, historians and educationists, we thought it befitting that in order to remember him in his true spirit we all turn our attention to the key research areas of his interest, namely, the study of the impact of religion, on society and culture. The role of religion, BSL thought, could not be underrated. His confirmed belief was that religious animosities and differences were confined only to leaders while people preferred harmony and were drawn towards syncretism. Applying this to social history of Andhra, he studied the role of religious movements in the shaping of Andhra society. He believed that human beings make their own history within an existing prevailing physical milieu. His particular interest was on Buddhism and Jainism because he firmly believed that these two religions had immensely shaped the rationalist ethos of the Andhras. In his name resonated the memory of the famous ancient Buddhist site of 'Bhattiprolu' and it is not without significance that he passed away just after he received the prestigious ‘Kunda Kunda Jnanapitha' instituted in the honor of the famous Kunda Kundacharya, a Jaina philosopher from Andhra. These two religious faiths thus marked his life and thinking in more ways than one. This book entitled: Kevala-Bodhi: Buddhist and Jaina History of the Deccan (BSL Commemorative Volume) has emerged out of a sincere concern among the family and friends of Professor B.S.L. Hanumantha Rao to further probe into the realm of the Buddhist and Jaina history of the Deccan as a whole so as to extend the academic and research interest of BSL on this particular theme.
It was almost a decade ago that BSL left the community of scholars. During his lifetime he had had a wide range of interactions with scholars who were not his direct students or colleagues. In fact, it was due to this particular quality that scholars from different institutions, who each knew him in their own particular way, could come together to conceive, organize and edit and co-ordinate the publication of this Commemorative Volume. The catalytic spirit behind this endeavour was, of course, his younger