Risht Samucchaya

Author(s): Durgadevacharya, A S Gopani
Publisher: Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan

Page 27

( 12 ) he would not feel satisfied even if the present rate of the publication which is three to four works annually be raised to two works per month. What a noble zeal and a domincering passion for the advancement of learning and literature !
Having been fully reinvigorated by this unequalled enthusiasm and liberality I came to Bombay and was immersed in making plans of a large-scale production of the works in the Series and its extension in pursuance of his eager desire.
By the end of 1943 his health began to decline. In the first week of January, 1944, when I went to him at Calcutta in connection with the work of the Bharatiya Itihasa Samiti I found him extremely unwell. Notwithstanding his ill-health he talked to me for more than a couple of hours on the day of my arrival there. The first thing he did in the course of this lengthy, though very sweet talk, was to give me a mild reproof for undertaking the long and tedious journeys to Calcutta, Benares and Cawnpore in spite of my ill health. He discussed with absorbing interest the details of the Samiti's proposed History of India, a subject of great interest to him. I could see that he was at that time quite forgetful of his physical ailments. Our talks then drifted to the subject of the History of Jainism in which connection also he expressed his opinion about the material to be utilised for such a work. At the termination of our talks, which this time lasted for over three hours, I found him much exhausted and drooping in spirits.
On the 7th January his health took a turn for the worse. On IIth January I went to take leave of him, which he, full of emotions, gave with a heavy heart, exclaiming “Who knows whether we shall meet again or not?" I requested him to take heart and remain buoyant and assured him that he would be soon restored to normal health. But while I was stepping out of his room, my eyes were full of tears and his last words began to eat into my heart. Ill-luck prevented our sccond meeting. That lofty and generous soul finally lest its mortal habitat at mid-day on 7th July, 1944. May his soul rest in peace!