Bhandarkar Report 1904
BHANDAKAR REPORT on the search of Prākṛit and Saṃskṛit manuscripts 1904 [5 of 69]
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5. The information I thus obtained I at once began to utilize, and at the same time sought to get further information as regards the above places as well as other places in all the provinces I had to visit — ^a preliminary work for which Dr. Buhler recommended a period of three months. In connection with the latter, I sought the aid of my friends, wherever, I knew, I had friends, in preference to that of any Government official and resorted to the latter only when I could not help doing so. In matters like the one on which I was engaged the people are likely to entertain suspicions of the intentions of Government. Two such suspicions came under my notice and I was told that Shastris employed in English High Schools even entertained them. One was that the Government intended at no distant date to confiscate all manuscripts in the possession of the people. Against this I of course urged the absurdity m the supposition in the case of a Government which had not confiscated far more substantial things such as the wealth and the lands of the people. Some suspected that Government wanted to make an end of all ancient Indian literature by throwing the manuscripts into the sea. Wherever I went, therefore, I had to explain the real purpose of Government in carrying on the search for Sanskrit manuscripts in general and in deputing me specially and to show that Government cared for the ancient literature of India even far more than the Hindus themselves seemed to do. In doing this Aufrecht's Catalogus Catalogorum was of great service, all the three parts of which I always carried with me. By its help, I hope, I have in a good many cases at least succeeded in removing prejudices from the minds of those with whom I had to deal.
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