Sambodhi 2011 Vol 34

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

Page 66

56
Sunanda Y. Shastri
SAMBODHI
of his efforts to boost Chandrika, he also wrote to erstwhile kings and scholars. He probably, personally requested many people to subscribe and support Chandrika. In turn he received many dry promises. With the present subscriptions he could only pay for the printing charges of Chandrika. (UECHUTTET anasi iscri: : Tara FI (AC, p. 76) He even promised gifts for those prompt subscribers. ( 41661: Dret algalami yurgy: : 346R: GRT I (AC, p. 76).
This year (1897 C. E.) he started printing of Chandrika in Samarth Printing Press. Appashastri had to leave Kolhapur in 1899 due to the epidemic of plague. He went to his native village 'Rashivade' and worked for Chandrika from there. In his efforts to coax the readers, he succeeded in many cases and many scholars helped Chandrika. Many customers were not so kind and they returned Chandrika, which came by V. P. Post. Curfera: zifu cea: U16: HIPATHYGIÐ alfagi: va 371471 Hyund पुनः मूल्यप्रदानप्रसंगे ते एते व्ही-पी-द्वारा समागतां चंद्रिकां परावर्त्य मण्डयन्ति स्म निस्तुले औदार्येण 34164174 I AC, p. 76)
Chandrika was rich and variegated in its content. Many poets sent their poems of 'Samasyapurti' (completing the poetical .riddle with adding remaining three lines). Appashastri wanted to publish a separate book of such poems and appealed subscribers to pay Rs.2/- more. There was no positive response from the subscribers and the project never saw its end. (fagl14-nafsi 407: airy: Ta vitend समर्पित सर्वस्वम् अप्पाशास्त्रीणां व्यवसायम् । किन्तु यथा पूर्वोक्तं कथाकल्पद्रुमप्रकाशनं विहायसि चित्रायितम्, 7991 aha geri Hiftefan Heraustso I AC, p. 78)
Appashastri incurred the debt of Rs. 150/- in 1890 C. E., which was too much for him. He wrote to his bosom friend Lingesha Sharma about his plight. In return, Lingesha Sharma offered to pay back his debt. Appashastri humbly but firmly denied his offer. (AC, p. 79) Chandrika's financial crisis was not unknown to people. One poet named Shathakopacharya wrote a couplet on this debt of funds, that 'many subscribers, though intelligent, do not pay the cost of Chandrika. chandrika is still awake, but how long this bridge of sand will hold ?' (a gafari
Ea Jechyfreeif Shtegu i ona afschen Hochg: fauftat ferd il AC, p. 79) In 1901 C. E. Kolhapur was again attacked by Plague epidemic. Appashastri shifted to Gaganabavada town with his family. After some time he returned to Kolhapur. This time was harder. He had debt to pay. His parents were sick, his first wife died along with the child during childbirth, continuous shifting and paucity of funds for Chandrika, all these things troubled him more. His father got him married again. He was so tired of his poor condition that we wrote a poem requesting the poverty to leave him for a moment. The poem's title is Nirdhanavilapam' (Lamentation of a poor).
(अयि निर्धनते दयावति क्षणमप्येष विमुच्यतां जनः ।) विहितो हि निकामसंस्तवो विरसत्वं मनसः प्रयच्छति ॥