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Appashastricharitam (Evaluation of a Biography)
Sunanda Y. Shastri
There are very few biographies in Sanskrit literature. Old Sanskrit literature has almost no biographies written except first two chapters of Harshacharitam. Bāņa has written about his own life in the beginning of Harshacharitam, which can be called autobiographical notes. There are few biographies written in prose in modern times. Appashastricharitam is one and one of the best among them. It is a biography of Shri Appashastri Rashivadekar, an eminent Sanskrit scholar, great writer, poet, astrologer, commentator and an expert journalist who flourished in the later part of 19th century.
Pandit Vasudevashastri Audumbarkar wrote Appashastricharitam. It is published under Sharada Gaurav Granthamala (No. 30) by Pandit Vasant Ananta Gadgil in Pune, 1973. It has 264 pages. Index of the specific words is given in the end. Pandit Vasudevashastri happens to be Appashastri's wife Vatsala's brother's son. He belonged to a village called 'Audumbara' in Maharashtra. He was basically a priest of Datta temple in Audumbara. His son is still working there as the priest. Vasudevashastri also worked in Dharmakosha project in Wai town. Appashastri's last wife Vatsala was Vasudevashastri's paternal aunt. After Appashastri's demise she lived with her father until her death. Appashastri's all belongings including his books and writings were shifted to her father's house. That is how Vasudevashastri got to learn many things about Appashastri. Therefore, the facts mentioned here are very authentic. Vatsala's father himself was a Sanskrit scholar. He knew the value of Appashastri's works. This was the reason that his documents were preserved in the family.
This biography of Appahastri (Appashastricharitam) is divided into seven parts and each part is called 'Parva'. There are many subsections in each Parva, methodically dealing with one topic at a time. These parts are in accordance with different periods of Appashastri's life chronologically. First parva gives brief background of Sanskrit learning in India. Second parva (chapter) speaks about Appashastri's family, birth, his early education, his special talents, marriage, early writings and entry into his carrier. Third chapter relates about his indulgence in
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