STUDY OF THE INDIAN VERNACULARS
BY
The time has long passed away when elaborate arguments were needed to make even Indian scholars realise the vital importance of a critical and scientific, historical and comparative study of the great Indian vernaculars. During the last twelve years, fortunately, the opinion has steadily gained ground that the intellectual activity of a corporation of scholars in this country may be most profitably directed towards a systematic investigation of the language and literature of our chief vernaculars. imposed upon one of The duty has, indeed, been the Indian Universities to encourage research in vernaofficially cular literatures and languages and to foster their growth, by the publication of critical editions of early texts, and by historical investigations of their origins, early development and ramification into a variety of dialects. I have long maintained the view that a subject so extensive in scope, so well calculated to rouse intellectual curiosity, may fittingly be included in the scheme for our highest Degree Examinations. But' this object can be success- fully attained, only after the materials for study and investigation have been made easily accessible to teachers my purpose, when I and students. This was induced Rai Saheb Dineschandra Sen to prepare, for the University, volumes of Typical Selections in Bengali on a compreliQ^isive scale. These volumes present the development of the Bengali Language and Literature in a style never before attempted and have been enthusiastically acclaimed by competent scholars working in various seats of learning, in and beyond India. I am
