Sambodhi 2011 Vol 34

Author(s): Jitendra B Shah
Publisher: L D Indology Ahmedabad

Page 62

52
Sunanda Y. Shastri
Sanskrit Chandrika (well known Sanskrit journal) and its publication from Kolhapur and Appashastri's efforts to propagate Chandrika and briliance of Appashastri's intelligence. Fourth chapter is named as 'Uttamaparva', i.e. 'the best part', but this chapter has portrayed his struggle to survive the debt incurred to publish Chandrika regularly. It shows his supreme efforts as a dedicated journalist, his literary pursuits as translator, his patriotic thoughts and writings. Fifth chapter records his achievements as the editor of Chandrika and Sunṛtavādini and his shifting from Kolhapur to Wai because of epidemic of plague and again shifting from Kolhapur due to the attack of plague epidemic at Wai. This chapter records all the social, personal, financial and political problems in his editorship of. Chandrika and Sunṛtavādini. Finally both these periodical were banned and publication was stopped. Sixth chapter is final part of his life. Appashastri finished his translation of Mahäbharata in Marathi language and tried again to publish Chandrika. He was also working as teacher in Pune, where he finally was caught by plague and died at the age of forty in Pune. Vidyavachaspati Appashastri lived so short but his contribution for Sanskrit is so great that it would take a life time to read and evaluate his task. He died on 25th October 1913.
Author has described the history of Sanskrit language, its ups and downs and political influence on the development of Sanskrit in the introductory chapter titled 'Purvaparva'. He has briefly explained how Sanskrit suffered setback under Muslim rule and how Chhatrapati Shivaji promoted Sanskrit (Appashastricharitam (AC), Purvaparva, p. 3). Progress of Sanskrit suffered severe setback during the British rule, because British imbibed on the Indian mind that Sanskrit is a dead language. (AC, p. 7) Then author has narrated efforts of different scholars to revive, propagate and reestablish the status of Sanskrit during 19th and 20th centuries. With this background, author has described what the Sanskrit scholars lacked for success in their mission. Author says that, 'Sanskrit scholars' thoughts were one-sided. They were disconcerted about our nation and its history. Those who knew about history had no faith in traditional knowledge and practices. Those who had faith had not knowledge about modern scientific development. Those who had modern knowledge were not patriots. Those who were patriots, they believed in changing the religion. Those who were religious were not enthusiastic about propagating Sanskrit. Those who propagated Sanskrit, were not interested in other languages. Even those who knew many langauges were not respectful towards Sanskrit. Those who had respect for Sanskrit never wrote anything in Sanskrit. Even those few who wrote in Sanskrit, they had no skill in editing Sanskrit periodicals. Even if a rare person might be having all these virtues, had no faith in the god.'
SAMBODHI
(अथापि ते एते विद्वांसः एकदेशीय विचाराः आसन् । तथा हि ये तावत् संस्कृतपण्डिताः ते प्रायः स्वदेशेतिहासादि-विषये उदासीनाः समवर्तन्त । ये पुरावृत्तविदः न ते सनातनधर्मे श्रद्धालवः आसन् । ये तु तत्र श्रद्धालवः न ते वैज्ञानिक वार्तामपि अशृण्वन् । येऽपि विज्ञानासंपन्नाः नैते राष्ट्रभक्ताः । ये च
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