Selections from Sanskrit Classics (An Old and Rare Book)

The University of Calcutta has selected the following texts for the first Arts and B. A. Sanskrit Course for the years 1878-79.

(1) Meghadita.

(2) Kumara Sambhava Cantos I to VII.

(3) Raghuvamia Cautos I to IX. (4) Abhijnana Sakuntala

(5) Bhatti Cantos I to V.

There can be no objection to the first four selections. But Bhatti is certainly one of those books which should not be put in the hands of Sanskrit learners. Its style is throughout artificial. The forms of grammar it illustrates are often very rare and as often abnormal-forms which merely burden the memory and interfere seriously in the progress of the student. Moreover it abounds in other faults, which will be noticed in the body of my notes and against which students must be carefully guarded.

Several factors have weighed with the Publication Board. Assam, in undertaking to reprint the priceless works of the great Sanskrit scholar, Anundoram Borooah, which were first published about a hundred years ago. Our prime consideration has been the fact that Anundoram Borooah belonged to that pioneering and noble band of Indian scholars who had addressed themselves to the task of rehabilitating the glory and greatness of the Sanskrit language, Sanskrit literature and Sanskrit education. Secondly, the brilliance and profundity of the commentaries and criticisms written by him on a number of important Sanskrit books are almost without parallel in the whole range of Sanskrit literature. Thirdly, by reprinting his works we aspire to rediscover for lovers of Sanskrit all over the world a fund of literary treasures which is now almost forgotten. Finally, we do hope that our endeavour will enable present generations of Indians to become acquainted with the achievements of one of the most eminent scholars of Assam, and of the country as a whole, who died at the early age of thirtynine.

People of today cannot but marvel at Anundoram Borooah's stupendous creative genius which found its fulfilment within the span of a short life and which refused to be bogged down in the day-to-day problems of administration that he had to tackle in the capacity of a high official in the civil service of the British Government. The short biography included in the book would help readers to have an idea of the richness and vitality of his wonderful mind. In those days few Indians could aspire to a fame that extended beyond the frontiers of the country, and this was true especially for a man belonging to this remote corner of India. But Anundoram's deep devotion to literature and his great erudition had won for him the appreciation and admiration of scholars from all over the world. The truth of this is amply borne out by the tributes which are included in the appendix of this book. Anundoram was the first graduate from Assam and the first and the only member of the Indian Civil Service from this State.

**Contents and Sample Pages**