Tenth Report on Search of Hindi Manuscripts for Years 1917 to 1919

SR No.: 010837
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Rai Bahaddur Hiralal
Publisher: Allahabad Government Press
Publication Year: 1929
Total Pages: 532
Language: Hindi
Classification: Book_Devnagari
File Size: 38 MB

Page 13

TENTH REPORT ON THE
them. In the present search 12 books on prosody and 21 on rhetoric were found, followed by 14 manuscripts on Śringāra, which is carried almost to a fulsome perfection. Eleven manuscripts dealt with astronomical subjects, the greater number being devoted to astrology and palmistry. Four books were found dealing with didactic subjects, such as advice to young men and two on politics. Although history and biography are represented by twelve works, they mostly deal with Mahabharata stories or the lives or rather panegyrics of some saints. The attitude of Indians towards these was something like that of the late scientist Sir James Dewar's, who left iustructions in his will to the effect, that no biography of his life should be published and that no memorial should be founded or connected with his name. Our authors therefore did not indulge in writing any real historical or biographical books, beyond a few stanzas in praise of their patrons, of course with a view to please them for the time being. Some eight manuscripts on medicine are included in the search, but they are not original compositions. A book on cookery especially prepared for a Baghelkhand Rājā naturally deals with delicacies for a royal table. Although a homely subject it, like almost all others including those on medicine, veterinary, etc., is written in verse. In olden days a writer was nothing if he could not write in verse. The few books which have been found written in prose deal with some events of Ballabhacharya's life or ordinary stories.
6. The so-called oldest manuscripts.-The research during the triennium under review promised to carry back the beginning of the Hindi literature definitely to the year 943 A. D. Hitherto only eight poets belonging to the period prior to 1200 A. D. were known. The first Hindi poet Punda or Pushya has been ascribed to the year 713 A. D. The second known only by his caste is said to have flourished in 830 A. D. and to have written Khumāna Rāsā, which is now lost.