It was concern for a vital link in the dissemination of knowledge, true and unimpeachable, which had brought personalities from three spheres together on the same dais — Rukmini Arangam of Kalakshetra. The head of the Kanchi Kamakoti Pitam, Sri Sankara Vijayendra Saraswati, Dr. Sachidananda Joshi, Member-Secretary, IGNCA (Indira Gandhi Centre for the Arts), New Delhi) and Dr. R. Nagaswamy, legend in the field of history and archaeology, shared space to stress the importance of inscriptions. Linking them all was the Kalakshetra Foundation, another bastion of Indian heritage.
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Series of workshops
The book released by the Tamil Nadu Governor Banwarilal Purohit, published by the Uttankita Vidya Aranya Trust under Sri Chandrasekharendra Saraswati Visva Mahavidyalaya, Kanchipuram — which Dr. Nagaswamy served as Vice-Chancellor — was about Sanskrit inscriptions. Eleventh in a series, the book has English translation and throws light on the ancient history of this country, beginning with epigraphs belonging to the period of Asoka, third century BCE.
“The Trust was started in 1985 by the 68th pontiff of the Kanchi Kamakoti Pitam specifically to document evidence sculpted and etched in Sanskrit,” informed Sri Sankara Vijayendra Saraswati. “The word ‘Uttankita’ indicates sculpting — could be stone or copper — and the Trust is another proof of the long vision Mahaperiyava had. He had realised the importance of sculpted texts and therefore started the process of preserving the treasure. Hundreds of scholars are working relentlessly to print them so that the information will be preserved and knowledge will reach the public. It was Mahaperiyava’s wish to get the volumes translated to regional languages,” observed the Sankaracharya.
The latest volume covers inscriptions from 1000-1100 CE, which are in Prakrit or Sanskrit. They are summarised in English. For copies of the book, contact Uppili 09283186778.
At the Chennai workshop
The five-day workshop at Kalakshetra dealt with Sanskrit inscriptions found in different regions — Kashmir, Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and so on. Expert epigraphists from Kolkata, Mumbai, Pune, Mysuru, Bengaluru and Chennai imparted training to the students.
Read the full news article at https://www.thehindu.com/society/history-and-culture/inscriptions-in-the-spotlight/article27552037.ece