Page:The Origin and Development of the Bengali Language (Volume 1).pdf/11

Rh Przyloski. While I was in England Sir George Grierson took a persona! interest in ny work, an interest which manifested itself in many ways and which he in his kindness and his love of science still retains. This has benefited me to the greatest degree imaginable; and the fellowship of con:mon studies with this dyer of Indo-Aryan Linguistics which it has been my very great fortune to enjoy, bas been, along with my coming in similar personal touch with Professor Jules Bloch, an inspiration in my studies and my labours; and I may say the same of my coming to know Professor Meillet, the sarvat and the teacher, To all these gentlemen I have to convey my most grateful thanks fur all their kindnesses and for all that I have received frou them as them pupil.

The work, while it was being prepared in London in 1920-1921, had the advantage of being looked over in its first draft (except in some sections relating to the verb) by Dr. Barnett: and I am very grateful to him for much helpful advice in suggesting improvements in arrangement and in the general treatment, as well as for some references. Atter it was approved by the University of London, Sir George Grierson, in spite of his very heavy and urgent scientific work, honoured my book, in M.S., by a careful perusal, awit his criticisms and suggestions he embodied im several pages of notes, Professor Julee Bloch also did the same thing. These notes I constantly kept beside me in re-writing my thesis. Everywhere I have profited by their criticisms, and in most cases I have accepted their suggestions. I have also received some references and one or two suggestions from my friends in Calcutta while finally preparing the work for the press, and these have been acknowledged in their proper places. I have to mention here specially the names of Professor Hem Chandra Rāychaudhuri, my old college friend and colleague in the University, and of Professor Satyendranāth Basu af the University of Dacca, for some suggestions in the earlier part of the work.

In preparing the present work, the plan adopted by Professor Bloch im his ‘Formation de la Langue marathe’ bas given me the clearest notions about what a book on the origin and development of a modern Indo-Aryan language should contain: and Professor Bloch’s work, which