Sambodhi 2011 Vol 34

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

Page 63

Vol. XXXIV, 2011 Appashastricharitam : Evaluation of a Biography
53 राष्ट्रभक्ताः ते तु धर्म-परिवर्तन-वादिनः । ये तु धार्मिकाः ते संस्कृतप्रचारे पराङ्मुखाः । येऽपि प्रचारकाः तेषु भाषान्तराणां विषये न प्रीतिः । बहुभाषाविज्ञत्वेऽपि संस्कृतभक्तिः निकामं दुर्लभा । सत्यामपि एतस्यां गद्यपद्यात्मक - साहित्य - प्रणेतृत्वं विरलतरम् । प्रणयशालित्वेऽपि पत्रिका-संपादन-कौशल्यं दुर्लभम् । Hay 319 ya: gag tog nagyfa: Flat Gc91 I AC, p. 11). With this description author bhings forth that the hero of this biography, saying that, all these blemishes were not in Appashastri Rashivadekar. (तद् एतत् न्यूनत्वं संस्कृतसंसारे विद्यावाचस्पतिश्री 37418fmiferas &TUTi uçurdu mean I AC, p. 11)
Prathama Parva means first chapter (which actually is second chapter of the biography) deals with Appashastri's birth, earlier education, his family history, his father's life sketch and his horoscope. His father's name was Sadashiv Shastri and mother's name was Parvati. Till the age of forty-five this couple had no issue, then Appashastri was born. Appashastri was born on 2nd November 1873. Appashastri's first name was 'Shriram'. Appashastri was a special child in his childhood. He mastered all elementary Sanskrit texts like Shabdarūpāvalī, Dhāturūpāvali and Samāsachakram etc. at the age of seven. He newly composed in his own way second line of each verse of Raghuvamsham epic of Kalidas, at the age of twelve. It shows his extraordinary poetic skill and command over Sanskrit. He prepared an almanac (panchanga) at the age of thirteen. He spent four years to study Panini's grammar, though; he was more interested in literature. He also read literature in Marathi and English along with Sanskrit literature. At the age of twenty-one Appashastri entered the essay competition declared by Sanskrit Chandrika. Subject of the essay was 'Matrubhakti' (devotion to mother). Appashastri won first prize and the prize was a great Sanskrit dictionary named "Sabdakalpadruma'. Its cost at that time was Rs. 75/-. This was Appashastri's first .acquaintance with Sanskrit Chandrika. Pundit Jayachandrasharma Siddhantabhushana Bhattacharya then edited and published Sanskrit Chandrika, from Kolkata. Appashastri was so much inspired by Chandrika that he decided to start a monthly journal named 'Sunstavādini'. This decision was advertised in Chandrika. (AC, p. 31) But it could not be realized, probably due to paucity of funds. Jayachandrasharma continued Chandrika's publication for four years from 1893. Then Jayachandrasharma's health deteriorated. He also faced paucity of funds for publication. Since the essay competition, Appashastri was closely connected with Chandrika and wrote articles for Chandrika. He also was corresponding with Jayachandra Sharma. Jayachandra Sharma had great faith in Appashastri's abilities. Therefore he asked Appashastri to take the responsibility of editing and publication of Chandrika. Appashastri consented to this and started publishing Sanskrit Chandrika from Kolhapur. He edited and published it for next ten years despite of all kinds of difficulties. (AC, p. 39) Though Appashastri took complete responsibility as editor and publisher of Chandrika, he always wrote Jayachandrasharma's name as chief editor. He mentioned himself only as