Puran Itihas Vimarsh (पुराण इतिहास विमर्शः)

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पुराण इतिहास विमर्शः (Puran Itihas Vimarsh) In humility may I say that I am happy to put in the hands of Scholars this volume-Purana Itihāsa Vimarsah-prepared in felicitation of Mm. Prof. Dr. S.G. Kantawala, Ex-head, Ex-director. Ex-Dean, and much more. In humility because such a venture can never succeed without the active help and support of so many renowned scholars. They all knew who or what Prof. Kantawala in the scholarly world of Indology is. Therefore, when I approached them with a request to help me in this work of mine either in an advisory capacity or as a contributor, they readily and warmly acceded.

I was only muttering to myself: nimitta-matram bhava stvyasacin! Now, when the work is over, I stand with my hands folded in gratitude to all of them, they are the real authors of this work; I have a right only to a sense of small fulfillment that this could be achieved through me. It took a rather longer time to finish than it normally should. Naturally, some scholars were eagerly asking what happened to the project. A few even sent their papers to other volumes and journals for publication and again, at my request, replaced them.

But almost all of them have borne with me in a forgiving and condescending attitude and, while apologizing for the delay which, to some extent, was inevitable due to the very nature of the work, l’am extremely thankful to all of them for their patience and understanding. The volume as it contains papers on a homogenous group of subjects of Purana and Itihāsa owes its present shape to the suggestion of Satya Pal Narang with whom I had discussed the idea in its initial stages. It was his suggestion that the volume should contain papers on a single subject so that its value is enhanced as a reference work also and that since Prof. Kantawala is first of all a ‘Purāņa-Puruşa (Satya Pal’s coinage), the volume should consist of papers on Purāņas.

I suggested that, while retaining its homogeneity, the subject. can be extended to include in it Itihāsa also, and he approved of it. I do not know whether he will like it if I thank him. Sincere thanks are also due to the publishers Shri Kishore Chand Jain, Proprietor. Bharatiya Vidya Prakashan, Delhi for undertaking this publication. When the idea of preparing this volume first occured to me, years ago, I spoke of it first to the proprietors of Bharatiya Vidya Prakashan Delhi, and they readily and rather warmly agreed to publish it. Even to Prof. Kantawala himself, I had talked of it later. And now, when the work is complete, it is through them only that the idea is being actualised. They have stood with me, stood by me and I cannot thank them enough.

Thanks are also due to Dr. R.K.Panda and Dr. Kusum Merh (Deptt.) for assisting in editorial work and to my Colleagues at the Oriental Institute for their help in proof-reading. And finally, presenting the volume to him whom it felicitates, what else should the editor say but-

त्वदीयं बस्तु गोविन्द तुभ्यमेव समर्पये। (or should one say, Govinda-putra?)