Ancient Indian Education (Brahmanical and Buddhist) c2: Preface
Ancient Indian Education (Brahmanical and Buddhist) c2
- Language
- English
Preface
c2.1
The present work is intended to fill up a gap in the literature on the history of Education, which has not taken adequate account of the unique contributions made by Hindu Thought to both educational Theory and Practice.
c2.2
The work has been long in the making. The bulk of it was written in 1918–1920, but its completion has been delayed by writings on other subjects in response to the needs of my teaching work and research at the University. Parts of the work have, however, been published from time to time as articles in various Periodicals since 1920, such as Asutosh and Malaviya Commemoration Volumes; the *Journals* of the Universities of Lucknow Allahabad, and Benares; of the United Provinces Historical Society, Mythic Society of Bangalore, Viśvabhāratī, Śāntiniketana; the *Indian Antiquary* and the *Aryan Path*; and Dr. B. C. Law's *Buddhistic Studies*. Some of these articles have been drawn upon in some recent publications on the subject, and this has stimulated completion of the work. It will now form a companion volume to my work on *Hindu Civilization* recently published.
c2.3
The work brings together for the first time the representations of educational scenes and figures to be found in old Indian sculpture and painting. For purposes of Illustration, Line Drawings have been preferred to photographs as the only means of restoring as far as possible defaced or mutilated originals.
c2.4
My special obligations are due to my learned colleague (and whilom pupil), Dr. Narendra Nath Sengupta, Professor of Philosophy at the University, for his valuable suggestions and notes on several philosophical points and problems, which it is alike my pleasure and duty to gratefully acknowledge. I am deeply grateful to my esteemed friend, Dr. Bimala Churn Law, for his kind subvention in aid of the publication of the work. I owe to Mr. O. C. Gangoly, the renowned art-critic, the suggestion to include the Illustrations shown in Plates III, VII, XIV. Plates I, IV, VI, VIII, XI–XIII, XVIII, XIX–XXII are based on photo-prints supplied by the Archæological Department of the Government of India to whom belongs their copyright. Plate XVI is based on the photo-print supplied by the Archæological Department of H.E.H. the Nizam's Government to whom belongs its copyright.
c2.5
A simplified system of transliteration of Sanskrit and Prakrit words has been adopted in this work, and may be understood from the following examples: *Kṛishṇa*, *Sātyāyana*, *Lichchhavi*, *Aṅga*, *Pūrva-Mīmāṁsā*. The vast amount of transliteration involved may have left some mistakes, in spite of best efforts to correct them, which, I hope, will be overlooked.
c2.6
RADHA KUMUD MOOKERJI.
c2.7
THE UNIVERSITY, LUCKNOW. *March, 1940.*
c2.8
The printing of the work was completed as far back as 1939, but its publication has been delayed so long by conditions created by the War.
c2.9
I am grateful to my friend, Professor G. C. Raychaudhuri, M.A., for kindly helping to expedite the publication by passing for me the final proofs on the spot in London where I met him at the School of Oriental Studies of the London University, and thus obviating the delay of my doing it from India.