Extracts from the opinions of

EXTRACTS FROM THE OPINIONS OF 1 Dr. Suniti Kumar Chatterjee M. A.; D. Lit. (London), Hon, D. Lit. (Rome & Delhi). Bhasa-Carya, Sahitya-Vacaspati, Padma-Vibhusana. President, Sahitya Academy, New Dehli. National Professor of India in Humanities. There is no lack of very fine editions of the greatest masterpiece of Sanskrit drama, the Sakuntala of Kalidasa, ever since Sir William Jones's Latin translation of Sakuntala into English (1788) took the scholarly and literary world of Europe by storm. Kalidasa's Sakuntala has been regarded as one of the world's classics of the highest rank. Kalidasa's Sakuntala has been studied and commented upon by generations of Indian scholars ever since the book saw the light of the day, and it seems that scholars do not feel to have had enough in unravelling the beauties of Kalidasa's language and style. ***The edition of Prof. Ramendra Mohan Bose is one of the most erudite and comprehensive contributions to the glory of the Sakuntala which has seen the light of the day. His book is now in its 4 th edition (I understand a 5 th edition is now printing), and it has already won high laurels from competent. scholars of Sanskrit, both in Bengal and outside Bengal. This book has been described as a "synthetic study". Here among other things. the author has essayed a comparative study of the different recensions and editions with a view to establish the best text that could be thought out on the basis of the various readings in the different recensions. All aspects of Sanskrit study have been discussed in a long and quite original introduction of some 68 pages. *** and no aspect of a proper study whether grammatical and philological, literary and historical and in connexion with matters relating to law and exegesis, flora and fauna etc. has been omitted. I cannot but praise this edition too highly. This book fully merit all high praise that can be lavished on it.*** I hope that this work will receive the welcome it fully deserves from all and sundry interested in literature in general and in Sanskrit literature in particular.

[ i ] Dr. Prabhat Chandra Sastri, M. A., P. R. S., Ph. D. Asutosh Professor and Head of the Department of Sanskrit Cal. University. I have gone through the work carefully and say without the least hesitation that this edition with such elaborate and learned notes will prove highly useful to the students. ***His estimate of Kalidasa as a poet is an interesting study and his introductory notes reflect much credit to his scholarship. Dr. S. K. Dey M. A., B. L., P. R. S. (Cal.), D. Lit. (London). Head of the Department of Sanskrit & Bengali, Dacca University. **well-executed and will certainly prove useful to those for whom it is intended. Dr. Ashutosh Sastri, M. A., P. R. S., Ph. D. Ashutosh Professor and Head of the Department of Sanskrit, Calcutta University. Prof. Bose, himself a distinguished teacher of Sanskrit for more than three decades, has taken infinite pains to prepare the edition. He has drawn upon the great resources of the Sanskrit Scholars, both Indian and European. In comparing the different readings he has shown an enviable catholicity and independence of judgment and chosen his text after critical consideration. His notes and commentary are elaborate, lucid, comparative and critical, illumined now and then by flashes of original insight. The long introduction deals with different aspects of Kalidasa's genius and gives the reader a wealth of information. Specially the Study of Nature in Kalidasa and 'Central Significance of the play" are masterly.** Dr. Amaresvar Thakur, Vedanta-Sastri, M. A. (Quadruple); Ph. D. Head of the Department of Sanskrit, Calcutta University. **I am extremely pleased to find that you have brought out such a splendid edition of Sakuntala. Your edition speaks well of your unbounded industry and genuineness of learning **whenever I have to look up Sakuntala, I consult only your edition and always derive pleasure beyond expectation. (Translated).

[ iia ] Pandit Nalini Mohan Sastri, M. A. Principal, Muralidhar Girls' College, Calcutta. **better than all the other editions that I had seen. Pandit Lakshmi Narayan Vedasastri, M. A. Senior Professor of Sanskrit, Cotton College, Gauhati (Assam). *Your edition of Sakuntala is far better than any other edition found in the market. (Translated). Pandit Devendra Nath Vidyaratna, M. A. Senior Professor of Sanskrit, Govt. College, Chittagong. (E. Pakistan) By far the best edition in the field. You have maintained the dignity of the text.*** Your Sanskrit Commentary and Anglo-Sanskrit notes are masterly and display your erudite scholarship. I wonder how could you bring out such a valuable work from Feni. Pandit Atul Chandra Vidyaratna M. A. Head of the Department of Sanskrit and Bengali, Victoria College, Comilla (E. Pakistan). *Eager & sincere students will profit greatly by an intimate acquintance with such a brilliant work. Not even the minutest detail has escaped the penetrative insight of your scholarly mind. There is indeed a classical dignity and poise about the theme, A book of this kind can rank high among its foremost editions ever published. As a teacher of Sanskrit of 20 years standing, I can say, with confidence, that your work has attracted my special attention and can legitimately lay a claim to originality. I can undoubtedly say that your work has thrown new light on many a point. You have broken new grounds and you rightly deserve the unstinted praise of admirers of Sanskrit learning for your strikingly original variorum edition. (Translated). Mahamahopadhyaya Bharatacarya Haridasa Sidhanta-Vagisa ****I declare without hesitation that your's is the best of all editions of Sakuntala prepared by Anglo-Sanskrit Scholars that I have seen. (Translated).

[ iib ] Pandit Satyendra Nath Vidyavagica, m. A., Ex. m. L. A., Senior Professor of Sanskrit, City College, Calcutta. *Your notes are eleborate but they contain no repetitions and they are always relevant and accurate. I am of opinion that of all the annotated editions of the work yours is the best. Pandit Ramsaran Ghosh, M. A. Senior Professor of Sanskrit Wesleyan College, Bankura. ***Of all the editions that are now available in the market this one may be regarded as the best and most helpful both to the teacher and the taught. Pandit Bepin Bihari Ghosh, M. A. B. M. College, Barisal. (E. Pakistan) ***I consider it an excellent edition very carefully prepared. ***I am very glad to notice that you have never omitted the difficult and important points but have always explained them very lucidly. It is Pandit Devendra Nath Ray, M. A. Senior Professor of Sanskrit, Bethune College. monumental work***the best edition of the immortal work I have come across. I am proud to have some University connexion with a scholar like you. Pandit. Durgasaran Chakravarty, M. A. (Triple), L. L. B, Kavya-Vyakarauatirtha. Senior Professor of Sanskrit, Vidyasagar College, Calcutta. *An excellent edition and an inimitable addition to others of its kind. What has struck me most in your book is that you have thoroughly dissected the colossal drama with exquisite insight and intelligence and have thrown a flood of light upon every nook and corner of it. It abounds with the most valuable compilations and sparkling flashes of originality which are so rarely found in other editions of this immortal production of the great poet.

(lic ] Dr. Nagendra Narayan Chowdhury,M. A. Ph. D. Senior Professor of Sanskrit, Asutosh College, Calcutta. Unique and splendid edition of the Abhijnana-Sakuntalam. 'the best edition. **The Sanskrit Commentary displays the wide knowledge and the erudite scholarship of the editor. The collation of the text further testifies to his sobriety of judgment. Pandit S. P. Niyogi, m. A. (Double) Beneras Hindu University **it is the best of all the annotated editions available. Dr. Dhirendra Mohan Datta, m. A., Ph. D. Late of the Patna University. *You have proved beyond doubt that a man with a thirst for knowledge and perseverance can work more in a small moffusil town than his professional brethren who live in the metropolis. I venture to say that you have shown the way.** The agreeable surprise which is so beautifully expressed in Prof. Devendranath Banerjee's testimonial is shared also by many of us. (Translated). Prof. M. L. Dey Sarkar, M.A. (Double) Late of the Punjab University ****Decidedly the best of all editions that I have seen. Pandit Asoka Nath Bhattacharyya, Vedantatirtha, Sastri, M. A., P. R. S. (Offg.) Senior Professor of Sanskrit, Govt. College, Hoogly. Your scholarly and masterly edition of the drama struck me as a unique production. ***the best edition of its kind. Pandit Siva Das Banerjee, M. A. Senior Professor of Sanskrit, Asutosh College, Calcutta *Carefully prepared and a unique edition of Sakuntala *decidedly a distinct improvement on the many available editions of the same. The introduction appended is highly rich in materials and as such is really valuable. I wish your

[ lid ] book a long lease of appreciably glorious life. ***The Sanskrit commentary reflects not a little credit on your crudition and scholarship. The book is enviable in every way. Pandit Girindra Narayan Mallik, m. A., (Phil), m. A. (Sk.) Professor of Sanskrit, Victoria College, Comilla, (Pakistan). This is decidedly one of the few best editions in the market, if not the best. The introduction is learned and exhaustive, the collation of text is careful and critical and the miscellaneous notes are all excellent. I am convinced the book will be very useful and interesting to all lovers of Sanskrit, specially to teachers. Pandit Surendra Nath Bhattacharya, M. A. Head of the Department of Sanskrit, B. N. College, (Patna). ***most beautiful edition. I find you have spared no pains to make the book most attractive and useful to the students.