Archaeology and History: Essays in Memmory of Sh. A. Ghosh (Set Of 2 Volumes)

Preface The publication of this collection of rays, dedicated to the memory of Shri Amalananda Ghosh, should have brought some satisfaction to the Editors in that their long wait to see it priated is Sinally over. But, to make public declaration of what is felt deep within, it has not done so. A long-cheriabed with of the Editors was to present a volume of essays, written to felicitate him, to Shri Ghosh himself, the present volume does not fullil that wish. What was intended as a feitschrift can now only be offered to his memery. It is like an act of offering to an altar, devoid of the pleasant excitement which personal contact with Shri Ghosh always generated. In retrospect. Shri Ghosh bunself, with his characteristic dry humour, seems to have prophesied what would happen to the original venture. He wrote, when the festschrift was in the stage of planning, to une of the Editors:

It is news to me that my dear friends are planning a commemoration volume for me. Such volumes are the order of the day and it seems that my friends are determined to honour me with one, so that am not left unwept, anhunouted and unsung. I am deeply touched by their good wishes and sincerely thank them.

At the time he wrote it, it seemed like an innocuous joke directed against himself. Now when he is no more, the joke takes before us enly the appearance of an ominous premonition which late turned into a cruel reality in undue haste.

To our contributors we not only awe sincere thanks but a word of apology as well. Most of them waited with remarkable patience to see the volume appear; that they chose to wait is a testimony to the respect with which they hold the memory of Shri Ghosh. As Editors of the volume, we feel overwhelmed by their response and their attitude toward the venture. There is no valid excuse to offer for the delay in its publication; all that we can say is that it was just not possible to bring it out earlier.

The Editors chose to take as little liberty with the contributions as possible except in the selection of the essays that have gone into the volume. The lack of uniformity in matters like referencing would surely have irked Shri Ghosh who was a model Editor himself. We are aware of our lapses, but, at the same time, feel that his footprints were too big, for our own size. We also apologize to the contributors and readers for the errors and emissions.

We are most thankful to Dr. Agam Prasad of Agam Kala Prakashan for having come forward to undertake the publication of the volume. He has done this out of his fondness for the memory of Shri Ghosh and for the docipline Shri Ghosh so enriched with his contributions. We would also ke to thank Shri Manjit Singh of the Nischal Printing Press for his dexterity in the printing of the volume.

**Contents and Sample Pages**