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kind, and just the one necessary for the diffusion of the knowledge of our Sacred Language.
Your "Pradeep" seems to be the result of long and patient labour, and deep and careful insight into the subject. Howsoever much is spoken for the present system of teaching Sanskrit and of the text books used therein, in our schools, it cannot be said that the result is satisfactory, as we do see that a number of students in schools and colleges prefer any other language to Sanskrit for their second language. Moreover, we have only 11 out of about 88 Gujaratees who passed the M. A. Examination during the last 45 years with Sanskrit as their selected subject. A few among us have studied or do study Sanskrit with true interest and benefit to themselves and those around. Even our Shastrees cannot deny that, though their system is admirable, it is unsuited to the present times. Along their lines also, scarcely any completes his study and gets a certificate from a Guru. This can be seen from the fact that there are a few men who have a complete and thorough knowledge of Sanskrit to correctly and minutely interpret any one or more Shastras.
The Bhasha Pradeep will, I feel, find favour with all the sudents either in Schools, Colleges or Pathshalas. It can be very useful to the student in our vernacular schools also, if Sanskrit teaching is commenced there. The treatment of the subjects is full and systematic and the arrangement, though perhaps difficult for beginners at the first sight, is sure to remove the present apathy towards the study of Sanskrit and suit the students, both young and old, when studied by suitable divisions. In fine, the book is a noble asset and reflects great credit upon you.
I wish our Gujarati people be so careful to get their children to take advantage of this book and study Sanskrit from their early age, when the commencement of the study of Sanskrit is entirely desirable for a sound intellectual life by the direct insight into, and knowledge of, our various and invaluable Shastras.
Yours very truly, Surat 7–2–1911
MANEKLAL CHUNILAL SHROFF.
