Page:History of Asamiya Literature.pdf/14

 xli ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS judging literature and is outside the scope of literary history; but when a considerable portion of the literature is estopped on false grounds of linguistic jurisdiction, a literary history cannot afford to be mute. Any way, these facts are put as Antecedents, outside the pale of the literary history proper, lest any of any learned reader should choose to skip over them. In my earlier histories I understood the facts and movements of the literature as local, and at most as pan-Indian. Now I realise that they are really universal, and a part and parcel of world movements. Darkness of mediaevalism which enveloped Europe, also enveloped India and Asam; and the flood of light in renascence that swept over the continent also swept over this sub-continent of India and the coun try of Asam. So I have now described the history of Asamiyā litera- ture in this new light. My heartfelt thanks are due to the authorities of G. S. Press, Madras, particularly to its late lamented proprietor, G. Srinivasachari, whose memory I hold so dear to my heart, for printing this book against so many odds. The original typescript was a pre-Independence fact; added to this time factor are the continuous corrections, additions and alterations of matter with numerous pastings of correction slips. On the top of this is the endeavour to make the diacritical marks in old and new typed copies consistent and up-to-date, and what not. Evi- dently it was almost an ordeal for the Press, and I am happy to say that they have come out quite successfully through it. In the face of it, for any slip in print I have only myself to thank. I could not do better than assign the notice of some new discoveries and theories that came while my book was in the press to the Appen- dices, as they may have some permanent interest. The work owes an indebtedness to the Publication Board, Assam, for the exgratia grant and loan of Rs. 5000/- which, however inadequate, has facilitated its publication. My daughters, and students withal in my Jäääram (Education Home), Srimati Sapon Madhuri and Jiwan Madhuri, have earted blessings for themselves by preparing the word-index, though I alone am responsible for any imperfection in it. For myself, I would just indulge a small moment in self-gratulation for being able, after all, to find the book in print; but even here I am warned that I must not think it worth while unless it meets approval of my learned readers. Aparitopidviduşim na sidhu manye prayoga vijnanam. March, 1962. DIMBESWAR NEG