Sambodhi 2011 Vol 34

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

Page 65

Vol.XXXIV, 2011 Appashastricharitam : Evaluation of a Biography
55 Modavrutta Press at Wai. Shri Kashinathshastri Lele was its owner and he also published news weekly named 'Modavrutta’. British government banned the weekly declaring Modavrutta as anti-government and Shri Kashinathshastri was jailed under the charges of conspiracy and treason. (मोदवृत्तस्य १३-५-१८९७ । ३-६-१८९७ इति अङ्कद्वये प्रकाशितलेखेषु राजकीयैः राजद्रोहारोपः कृतः । दण्डितः च असौ महात्मा । विपन्नः य अयम् इदानीं श्रीअप्पाशास्त्रिणः मित्रवरेण्यः चंद्रिकायाः मुद्रकः । (AC, p. 57) This was first hindrance in Chandrika's way. Appashastri shifted to Kolhapur in the year 1900 C. E. He rented a house there and started publishing Chandrika. During all this time he was continuously coaxing his subscribers and readers to support Chandrika. Readers were not so enthusiastic. Chandrika's subscribers were more than thousand when it was published in Bengal, as on the list. Many of them did not pay and many paid small part of subscription. (AC, p. 58) Once Appashastri appealed his subscribers through Chandrika. His appeal is really heartbreaking. Appashastri wrote that. 'Why you all are so disinterested ? ............ Work cannot be accomplished by mere good compliments and praising words. ....... I do not ask you a single coin to fill my belly. I ask for the sake of Sanskrit language and Sanskrit Chandrika. This indeed is bad luck of Chandrika that subscribers are so disinterested. (मूल्यप्रदाने निकामं उदासते भवन्तः । ............. न तेषां तैः सुबहुलैः अपि साधुवादैः प्रशस्तिपत्रिकाणांवा राशिभिः कार्य निर्वाहयितुं शक्यम् । सर्वोऽपि हि आरम्भः प्रथमं द्रव्यमेवापेक्षते । तत्र च न वयमात्मनो दग्धजठरस्य परिपूर्तये काकिणीमप्येकाम अभिलषामः । अपि तु केवलमस्याः संस्कृत-चंद्रिकायाः संस्कृतभाषायां वा परिचरणायैव । एतदवगच्छन्तोऽपि ग्राहका मूल्यप्रदान उदासत इत्यहो दुर्भाग्यं संस्कृत चंद्रिकायाः । (AC, p. 57)
Appashastri came up with a new scheme in 1898 C. E. He declared that, 'if the scheme is accepted by his 300 subscribers, then he would increase eight pages of Chandrika and give Sanskrit translation of Arabian Nights. Those subscribers who would pay, eleven annas more would be given new issue of Chandrika with eight more pages.' (चद्रिकायाः १८२० शाकवीच चैत्राडू अप्पाशास्त्रिभिः चद्रिकाविषयिणी आभनवा काचित् योजना प्रकटीकृता । 'ग्राहकेषु त्रिशतमाभागानां यदि संमतं स्यात् तहि चंद्रिकायां प्रतिमासम् अष्टपृष्ठानां वृद्धिर्भवेत् तत्र य क्रमशः 'अरेबियन नाइट्स' इत्याररण्य-दीर्घकथायाः संस्कृतानुवादः प्रकाश्येत । अभिलाषुकेभ्यः एव सानुवादः अयमङ्कः दीयेत । तैश्च एकादशानाः प्रतिवर्षमधिकाः प्रदातव्याः । अन्यैश्च यथापूर्वम् । (AC, p. 58) The same advertise, he gave in English as well. It reads like this, 'we have intended to publish a Monthly named 'Kathakalpadruma if 300subscribers are available. It will contain free translation of Arabian Nights in Sanskrit, with necessary changes suitable to Hindus- as to the beauty of the language in it, Sanskrit Chandrika is itself the proof of it...... It is greatly hoped that all the patrons Sanskrit will pay regard to this and help us in the noble work.' (AC, p. 60) He started articles on the subjects like idol worship, articles regarding different topics in Puranas, ancient sciences, poems and critical evaluations of different ancient and modern compositions to attract more subcribers. As the part