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Extracts from Opinions and Reviews on the First Edition "Ordinary research scholars seem to ignore the fact that the past is of interest to us only in so far as it was living, and that, unless they discover it for us in such a way as to make us feel its life, we may admire them for their patience and industry, but will not be the wiser for their labours. I have often felt sad that so much talent and industry should disappear in the publication of matter where bones keep on rattling without forming for us an outline of the figure that once moved I, therefore, cannot help congratulating Dr. P. K. Acharya...for his great work .. I can say this much that the learned author has succeeded in re-fashioning for us, out of the debris of the past, a picture......which, while it speaks much for his scholarly equipment, has the additional merit of interesting us in a real human way The indirect glimses it gives into the life of the people are something for which his readers. will have reasons to be grateful to him." Dr. Rabindranath Tagore (The Visva Bharati Quarterly, May-July, 1935) "Dr. Acharya's name is already well known by his contributions on Indian Architecture published in seven large volumes in the Manasara (Silpasastra) Series by the U. P. Government through the Oxford University Press. In the work under review Dr. Acharya has ably brought out the elements of our culture and civilization in the form of a hand book which should be of great use to students of the subject and also to the general public. The subjects have been classified under Family, Social, Economic, Political, Moral and Religious Life. All subjects connected with the formation of family, such as marriage, sacraments, food, clothes, house and furniture have been briefly but lucidly described in the first section with authentic quotations from literary and archaeological sources. In the Social and Economic section the significance of castes and communities, division of labour, sources of income, origin of writing, development of literature, agriculture, mineralogy, industry, trade and commerce, medium of exchange, trade routes, marketing, banking and the general prosperity of the country have been similarly elucidated. In the Political section have been described the sources of power, political institutions, forms of government, sources of royal revenues and courts of Justice. Dr. Acharya has made full citations to show that the Parliamentary. form of government was known and practised in Hindu India. The moral and religious civilization has been discussed in the last section. It goes without saying that a knowledge of cultural heritage is necessary to complete our education. But it is also necessary in the sphere of public life especially of legislation. where our national tradition should be fully understood as a preliminary to reform. From this point of view the work under notice deserves a wide circulation not merely for the matter it our

12 A APPENDIX II presents but also for the manner in which it is presented in a convenient and condensed form. It should be used as a text book for Intermediate and higher studies at the colleges and universities." Dr. Radhakumud Mookerji (The Pioneer, 14-8-1940) "The author is a veteran worker in the field of Sanskrit research and from his tabular analysis of the ancient Indian learning, we feel that he has given years of thought to the proper presentation of the problems of Indian literature, orthodox as well as heterodox. His is the shortest guide to the intricate maze of Hindu culture. He summarises in broad outline the family life, the social life, the political life, and the moral and spiritual life, and in every case he gives for the benefit of his readers the important technical terms together with their Sanskrit equivalents. The pictures of material civilization represented by architecture, ornaments, furniture, etc., are no less important and thought-provoking. We consider Prof. Acharya's Elements of Hindu Culture as the most moderately priced and the best book available". Dr. Kalidas Nag (The Modern Review, February 1010) 'This small book contains a very brief and at the same time lucid presentation of the various aspects of Ancient Indian Civilization. After a short introductory portion the author deals with the subject under four headings, namely, Family, Society, Politics, and Philosophy and Religion. The book is based on a study of the original sources in Sanskrit and Pali, and for the various statements there are references given from the original texts. It is primarily meant for students who appear for competitive examinations and for legislators and debaters, who have limited time to study the original sources. Dr. R. C. MAJUMDAR commends it as "very interesting and useful." "This little book", he says, "would supply the needs of those who want to know the essential elements of ancient Hindu Culture without going through learned and ponderous volumes. I hope it will be largely used by candidates for competitive examinations and general readers with interest on India's past." The book has grown out of lecture notes and embodies the experience of many years of teaching. The name of the author is sufficient guarantee for the dependability of the book so far as thoroughness and accuracy go'. (The Indian Review, September, 1940) "As a reputed Oriental scholar, Prof. P. K. Acharya of the Allahabad University hardly needs any introduction in our hands. His monumental work in the field of ancient Indian Arcbitecture has raised him to the position of a reputed authority on the subject. We learn, from the preface to the work under review, that the present hand book has grown out of the lecture notes delivered by the learned Professor at the B. A. and M. A. classes in the ancient history sections of the History and Sanskrit Departments of the Allahabad University. In the body of this small book mere el

A outlined in consideration of the present day need, and consequently elaborate discussions are not to be expected here. The author makes clear in the preface to his work the main reasons for the publication of such a brief compendium-In this age of national awakening almost everywhere and of nationalism in every quarter, it is but natural that a strong demand has been made to say briefly and precisely what our ancient forefathers knew and did, and what they did not know and could not do. This demand is no longer confined to our young learners in schools, colleges and universities, but it has now spread among the general public including voters, members of the legislature and the administrators like the ministers and the executive officers of the Government of the country. But the modern students, competitors in service examinations, legislators, debaters and executives have but limited time and patience and no inclination for an extensive study and a scholarly investigation. This hand book will fulfil their requirements." (The Amria Bazar Patrika, June 9, 1940) "The volume under review is a short but comprehensive guide to Hindu culture. The learned author is a well known scholar and has made a deep study of ancient Hindu art, architecture and culture. In this book he seeks to help the student of ancient Indian history to understand and appreciate the immense and intricate maze of Hindu civilization. He discusses, briefly but with remarkable clarity, the ancient social and political systems and the domestic and spiritual life of the people of this country. Equally able and interesting is his treatment of the more concrete symbols of Hindu culture, such as Hindu architecture, ancient ornaments, furniture, etc. It will be found extremely helpful by university students and others". (The Leader, May, 1940) "We often speak of our ancient culture and civilization of which we are rightly proud, but few of us have any accurate idea of the marvellous progress India had made in the political and social fields no less than in the moral and spiritual life. Ancient Indian culture is, again, an important subject in the curriculum of the University as well as Public Services examinations. There are, of course, several treatises in English written by eminent scholars, which discuss one or other aspect of our ancient culture; but there was so far no bock which gave in a handy form sufficient information on a variety of topics about which a layman may have curiosity. Dr. Acharya's book supplies this want admirably. 'In the introductory section the author defines culture and civilization. Culture, according to him, aims at refinement of natural intelligence and capacities to its fullest growing power, while civilization aims at making man happier, nobler and better off than he is. Ir. Acharya divides his subject into four main sections, dealing respectively with family life, social life, political life, and moral and spiritual life. Under the first section he not only describes the salient features of castes, sacraments and orders of life (asramas), but gives interesting information about food, clothes, ornaments, furniture, etc., used in India from the time of the Vedas.

14 A APPENDIX II 'In the next section dealing with social life, Dr. Acharya treats of such subjects as public property, agriculture, industry, trade and commerce as well as literature. He shows clearly how trade and commerce flourished in India because of the great public roads which linked the flourishing cities in the farthest corners of the land. Under literature he treats briefly not only of Hindu, but also of Buddhist and Jain literatures. 'The popular notion that democratic ideas were first introduced in India by the British will be dispelled by a perusal of the section. dealing with ancient Indian republics. From the evidence of the Vedas, the Epics, the Arthasastra of Kautilya as well as Buddhist works, Dr. Acharya shows that there were, in ancient India, a number of democratic institutions such as the Sabha, the Samiti, the Sangha, etc., which managed the affairs of the republican states. These states continued to flourish in India down to the time of the Guptas. 'In the last section the author treats briefly of the moral and spiritual life. He passes in review not only the orthodox Hindu systems such as the Sankhya, the Nyaya and the Vedanta, but also the Buddhist and Jain religions and their philosophy. The book is thus a veritable mine of information about ancient India'. (The Independent, 30 th September, 1939) 'Needless to say that this unique book will fulfil a very greatly felt need of students and the general public alike. I was for the same reason pressing the distinguished author for a long time to write a book of this type. This will be an ideal hand book for B. A. and M. A. students and will be a great help to those preparing for public services examinations as well as to the members of our Legislatures and Ministries'. Dharmendra Nath Shastri, Tarkashiromani, M.A., M.O.L. sanandam svam krtavanto vayam grantharatnamidam | bharatavarsasya pracinatamayah krsteh sabhyata- yasca kidrsam rupamasiditi pradarsanameva granyakaturuddesyam | samayopayoginam granthamimama- | locya na kevala chatrastesamadhyavakascapi labhamanubhaveyurityatra nasti samsayaleso'pi | ara0 si0 datta, julisa jali, cara0 ke0 mukharji, ara0 si0 majumadara - mukha manisina aryanam krsteh sabhyatayascaikaikaso disah samyaka pradarsayan | srayanca granthakarasstriye'nati- maiti granthe tayoh krsti-sabhyatayoh samayam rupam puniya prakasayitum prayasyat | kartavye'smin agatya'nekatraiva tena svikrtayamapi samcitayam lekhaninaipunyena kasyapi visayasya kapi varnana nirasatam nasadayat | vayamasya granthasya bahulam pracaram kamayamahe | iti | sri amaresvarathakura- vedantasastri, ema0 e0, pi0 eic0 di0 amaresvarathakura-vedantasastri, samskrta-sahitya parisat - patrika (April, 1940, p. 352 )