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Annals BORI, LXXIX (1998)
attention of Oertel. His Lectures on the Study of Language gave in those days occasion for lively discussion.
Besides doing teaching work, Oertel acted as co-editor of JAOS from vol. 29 (1939) to vol. 34 (1915), and as co-editor of KZ (Zeitschirft für Verglechende Sprachforschung) from vol. 54 (1927) until his death.
W. Kierfel in his obituary note on Oertel justifiably describes him as "one of the last Indologists of the old school." He also observes that "Oertel's name will be for ever associated with Vedic research" (ZDMG 102. 12, 16).
The Editors of the present volumes give at the beginning of Part I a complete Bibliography of the writings of Oertel and at the same time indicate, by giving page numbers to the Volumes, the writings which have been included in the Kleine Schriften. The Bibliography is divided into the following six sections: I. Articles, II. Reviews, III. Monographs, IV. (Short) Notices, V. Miscellaneous. The last section VI, which actually does not form part of Oertel's writings, gives five entries on appreciative writings and obituary noties on H. Oertel. At the end one finds a very useful Register (pp. 16011664).
A look at the articles and reviews selected by the Editors shows that they are such as are directly related to Indology. Oertel's article "A practical proposal for preliminary work on a new Sanskrit dictionary" which appeared in Woolner Commemoration Volume (1:40) pp. 177-182 has not been reproduced. The article is quite interesting and its reproduction, even after the start of the publication of a new Sanskrit dictionary at the Deccan College, Pune, would have been worthwhile. It is also not clear why the editors omitted Oertel's reviews like those on S. Lévi's La Doctrine du Sacrifice dans les Brahmanas (AJP 20 (1899). 444-447), P. E. Dumont's L Avamedha (OLZ 1928. Col, 995-996), and such others.
From among Oertel's 14 monographs, no less than ten have been. included in the two Volumes. None of his short notices or his appreciative writings or obituaries (listed section V) finds place in the Kleine Schriften. Perhaps, inclusion of a few from the latter would have been useful.
M. A. Mehendale
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