Indian Epigraphy c2: Preface

Indian Epigraphy c2

Language: English

Preface

c2.1

It was during my student days about thirty five years ago that I felt the want of suitable books for the study of inscriptions in the post-graduate classes of Indian Universities. While I was preparing my *Select Inscriptions bearing on Indian History and Civilisation* on behalf of the University of Calcutta nearly twenty-five years back, it was also my aspiration to write an introductory volume dealing with Indian epigraphy and palaeography. But the subjects appeared to me so vast and complicated that I soon became doubtful about my competence to undertake it.

c2.2

In 1954, the University of Calcutta requested me to revise the *Select Inscriptions* for a second edition. While revising the work and correcting the proofs of the revised edition, the old desire to write a text book on Indian epigraphy and palaeography again seized me, and I planned a small work on the subjects. Soon I completed some short chapters on Indian palaeography together with a few on certain connected topics of epigraphy in the lines of G. Bühler's *Indische Palaeographie* and G. H. Ojha's *Bhāratīya Prācīn Lipimālā*. It was only then that I realised that Indian epigraphy required a more elaborate treatment in a separate volume.

c2.3

In the present work, I have tried to discuss various aspects of Indian epigraphy. But a satisfactory treatment of the subject requires so much width of reading and depth of knowledge and the number of inscriptions in the various Indian languages is so large that I have failed to do full justice to many of the topics owing principally to my limited knowledge and want of leisure. It is a matter of regret that various pre-occupations stood in my way to devote as much time as a comprehensive work on Indian epigraphy demands. There are again topics on each of which it is possible to write a detailed monograph, and it has been necessary to be brief for want of space. Nevertheless, I hope that the book will be of some help to the students of early Indian history and culture. The readers are requested to point out to me whatever serious flaws they may notice in the plan of the work and its execution so that I may consider them for the betterment of the work in a future edition.

c2.4

While my work on this volume was progressing, I also felt the necessity of a glossary of interesting words occurring in Indian inscriptions and began to compile one. At first I wanted to append it to the present volume. But, when the glossary was ready, it was found to be too big for an appendix. I have therefore arranged for its publication as a separate volume under the name of *Indian Epigraphical Glossary*. My *Indian Palaeography*, which was taken up earlier as indicated above, is also being published as a separate volume.

c2.5

Parts of the present book had been written before I left the post of Government Epigraphist for India in the Epigraphical Branch of the Department of Archaeology, Government of India, about the middle of 1961, and I am happy to record my feelings of gratitude to the members of the Branch for the help they rendered me in various ways. My thanks are due to Dr. S.K. Maity of the University of Jadavpur, who prepared the Index with the assistance of his pupils. I am also grateful to the Department of Archaeology for the photographs that have been used for illustrating the volume as well as to the authorities of the periodicals in which a few of its sections appeared either in English or in translation.

c2.6

It is unfortunate that misprints and other blemishes have crept into the work in spite of my best efforts. For these, I crave the indulgence of the readers. I should also mention that some of the points of discussion have been repeated in different contexts for the benefit of average students.