Indian Epigraphy: A Guide to the Study of Inscriptions in Sanskrit, Prakrit, and the Other Indo-Aryan Languages c11.20

c11.20

Another renowned pioneering Indologist who made important early contributions to epigraphy was Sir William Jones (1746–94). Though less of a specialist in this field than Wilkins before and Colebrooke after him, Jones amply demonstrated his acumen in his comments (142–4) on Wilkins' first two papers in AR 1, published as "Remarks on the Two Preceding Papers. By the President" (i.e., Jones). Here, with the assistance of the *paṇḍita* "Rádhácánta" (i.e., Rādhākānta [Śarman] Tarkavāgīśa),¹⁴ he offered several constructive criticisms of Wilkins' readings and renderings.¹⁵