Sambodhi 2011 Vol 34

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

Page 68

58
Sunanda Y. Shastri
SAMBODHI
He did this translation along with many other scholars, though much of the responsibility was on Appashastri's shoulders. Appashastri was convinced that without his own printing press, work would not be easier. He appealed people that if Chandrika gets only five hundred subscribers, he can have his own printing press. He promised to publish new periodical "Sunṛtavādini". (7 falei yarıdi कर्मैतान्निर्वाहयितुंशक्यम् अनात्मायत्त - मुद्रायन्त्रैरस्माभिरित्यतः प्रार्थ्यते ये किल पत्रिकाम् एवं विधो सामयिक विषयचर्चामात्र-संघटितां प्रतिसप्ताहमीहन्ते, संपादयन्तु ते ग्राहकान् पञ्चशतम्। संस्कृत - चंद्रिकायाः प्रकाशनतः 'प्रागेवायमासीद् अस्माकं संकल्पो यत् 'सूनृतवादिनीं' नाम कामपि संस्कृतपत्रिकां प्रकाशयामेति ।' AC, p. 110)
Previously Chandrika was published from Kolhapur and printed in Wai. Appashastri now wanted it to publish from Wai only, but the erstwhile king of Gaganabavada did not allow this shifting. The king made arrangements for Appashastri and his family's residence in his own palace in Kolhapur. Therefore, Chandrika's office was in the palace from 1904 C.E. At the same time Wai town was affected by Plague epidemic and printing of Chandrika was done in Kolhapur only (AC, p. 100). This year Chandrika got its registration number B 175. Registration of a periodical means it has to be published regularly. Regular publication means Appashastri would need capital money. It invited donors and patrons for deposits in order to establish capital money for Chandrika. Few south Indian scholars came forward to support Chandrika with deposits. This helped Chandrika to stabilize. Then Appashastri started giving news and notes in Chandrika. Language of news and notes was easy, purport was easy to grasp and style was attractive, lucid and convincing. He put forth people's opinion without contradicting the government.
During this period he faced many familial calamities. Good and bad things were parallel in Appashastri's life. There was a Sanskrit conference in Kolkata in 1899. Appashastri attended it. Everyone knew about him through Chandrika. The scholars in that conference bestowed the title 'Vidyavachaspati' on him. He published many good long articles in Chandrika. He was politically aware. He published his thoughts fearlessly about Lord Curzon's resignation. He lost his father in May 1905. Same year, around October he became sick with fever. Again Chandrika was delayed. He published first issue of 'Sunṛtavādini' in September 1906. 'Sunṛtavādini' had four hundred customers. It published articles and news about religion, politics, social issues, science etc. Sunṛtavādini's annual subscription was Rs.3/- Shri Nilakanthashastri wrote Sunṛtavādini's introduction. ("f महाभागाः ! न बहुविध-ग्रन्थ- प्रणेतारः, कालिदासादि कविवराः, न वा भयंकराः कर्कश - तर -विवादपरायणाः संस्कृत-पण्डिताः, नापिगद्यविलेखनचणो भट्टबाणः संस्कृतभाषाप्रणयिनाम् अस्माकमुपकुर्वन्ति, यथा अयमेकः श्रीमान् उपकरोतिविद्यावाचस्पतिः अप्पाशास्त्री नव-नव-संस्कृत-प्रबन्ध-लेखन - विनियुज्यमानस्वीय-समयः स्वतन्त्रः संस्कृत - गद्य - विलेखने वैयाकरणमणिः आलंकारिकालंकारभूतो नैयायिकमूर्धन्यो धर्मशास्त्रराद्धान्तान्तरार्थवेदी रसिकमणिः संस्कृत - चंद्रिका - सहकारि - संपादक: । सुलभाः किल संस्कृत