________________ (xiv) Hindi containing chapters on the history and archaeology of Vaigali, a long play based on the glimpses of ancient Vaisali and the history of the recent Vaisali Movement entitled the new awakening at Vaisali'. The above-noted play bas been published separately as well. By far, the most prestigious among the publications of the Sangha was Homage to Valsali (Vaisali-Abhinandana-Grantha autot-o faran-, lit. Vaigali Commemoration Volume) brought out in 1948. It contained a set of learned articles on Vaisali from various scholars and points of view. Paper, printing and get-up were also excellent. The book was well received by the press and the public alike. Soon all the copies were sold out and need was felt for a second edition. This, however, could not materialise earlier, because of shortage of funds on the part of the Vaisali Sangba. Happily, the Vaishali Prakrit Jain Research Institute took up the idea ; and at a meeting of the General Council of the Institute held on January 5, 1981 at Raj Bhavan, Patna, a resolution to this effect was formally and unanimously passed, and the work started in right earnest. At last, we are now able to present the fruits of our labour to the reading public. The original edition had altogether 38 pieces, the last being a brief account of the Vaisali Sangha and the annual Vaidali Festivals (down to 1948). The account of the Sangha and the Festivals having become obsolete due to the Sangha's being constituted as a Trust in 1963, has been omitted, and the entire remaining material has been retained here. These 37 pieces appear as nos. 1-7, 22-46, 48-51 and 55 in the current edition and include six learned addresses delivered at the Vaigali Festivals during 1945-1948 and seventeen scholarly articles (22-30, 32-35, 40-42, 50) prepared by the experts on the special request of the Editors. As many as twentysix articles have been added to this edition which are nos. 8-21, 47, 52-54 and 56-63. Of these, fifteen are learned addresses or scholarly lectures delivered at the Vaisali Festivals between 1949 and 1963 (both years inclusive). The remaining ones have been received by us mostly on our request; they also include those that have been prepared by us especially for the current edition. i No change has been effected in the matter or address (including academic qualifications) of its writer of the original edition, and the same has been faithfully reproduced in this edition. As a result of this, writers of pos, 31, 41, 42 and 50 who have since obtained doctorate are shown bere as without it, because they were so in 1948; their positions also have since been elevated. The writers of pos. 26 and 40, both (the Sarkars)
