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of the day is fiiled with my appointment as Librarian in the Prussian State Library. During this time I have scarcely any occasion to write. Thus I am compelled to do my literary work at the evening. Further I study at present very zealously the Chinese and Tibetan languages, in order to understand better Indian religion and history. I beg you to consider these reasons and to excuse my delay. But I shall do my utmost to write more frequently in future. You will certainly not think that I am not interested, the contrary is the case. Else, I had not begged you to send me the Jain books, which I now read with great interest. I thank you very much for these books, which come from the Yasovijaya Granthamala.
I am very glad to hear that in Agra there is a great collection of books and manuscripts on almost all subject. Are there some printed catalogues from which one can see which works the library contains? It is a lamentable fact that, though there are highly valuable books both printed and in manuscripts, in Indian Libraries, nobody knows about them as no catalogue exists.
I regret very much that the English do not give passports to a German for going to India. Sir Rabindranath Tagore had last year invited me to come to his University, but it was impossible to get a passport. But hope that notwithstanding I can see India and can study there what I have begun here. I read in the newspaper that Prof. Winternitz has fallen very ill and yesterday I heard, that he stays at hills, but I do not, whether this last is the case or not.
I would be very much obliged if you would occasionaly send to me new books on Jaina religion and literature. Especially poetic works would be very useful for me, as I study this branch more than the others.
Shree Sudharmaswami Gyanbhandar-Umara, Surat
www.umaragyanbhandar.com
