Yasastilaka and Indian Culture

Author(s): Krishnakant Handiqui
Publisher: Jain Sanskruti Samrakshak Sangh Solapur

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GENERAL EDITORS' PREFACE
(Second Edition)
It is with great satisfaction that we are presenting here the Second Edition (a photographic reprint of the First Edition with a few additions) of the Yaśastilaka and Indian Culture, by Professor KRISHNA KANTA HANDIQUI, M.A. (Cal. et Oxon.), which was first published in 1949 as No. 2 of the Jīvarāja Jaina Granthamālā. This publication was received with appreciation both at home and abroad, particularly from leading Sanskritists like the late lamented Professor L. RENOU of Paris. This exhaustive study of the Yašastilaka has been in a way, epoch-making and has inspired a number of other scholars to follow this model while studying other Indian classical texts.
Professor HANDIQUI's name has been well-known to Sanskritists through his standard English Translation (with learned Notes ) of the Naişadhacarita of Sriharşa (Lahore 1934, Poona 1956 and again Poona 1964). This work brought to the notice of Indologists Professor HANDIQUI'S consummate mastery over the intricacies of the Sanskrit language and his wide vista of Sanskritic learning. His dissertation on the Yasastilaka has been a pioneer and scholarly exploration in a more or less neglected religious romance based on domestic tragedy, of a medieval author of encyclopaedic learning. Somadeva was fortunate that his Campū came to be studied by a worthy scholar of great literary acumen and historical perspective. In fact, Sanskrit studies have become richer by Professor HANDIQUI'S contributions on the Naişadhacarita and Yaśastilaka.
Professor HANDIQUI has inherited in his veins the blue blood of an aristocratic family of administrators connected with the Ahom dynasty of Eastern India. Obviously his zest (even at the age of seventy) for Indian learning is a part of his personality; and his devoted self-training in Western Universities has equipped him with the knowledge of many European languages, catholic taste and critical outlook. His personal library could be a proud possession of any of our new Universities. He leads the life of a true vānaprastha scholar whose entire time is spent in fruitful study and quiet research. Professor HANDIQUI shuns publicity and is shy of positions: vidyā vinayena sobhate. He is an academic Rsi ; and his dedication to learning should be an inspiring example for the younger generation. His detached pursuit of knowledge is characterised by generous instincts, rare indeed, these days. He is wellknown for his munificent donations to literary and educational foundations in the