> Would anyone know (a) the birth and death dates of the famed scholar > of > Buddhism and Pali language Dharmanand Kosambi of Sancoale (1876-1947)
Date of birth: 9 October 1876 Date of death: 24th June 1947 Some of his publications (all in Marathi, please excuse any errors in my transliteration, dates given are dates of publication): Buddha, Dharma ani Sangha: 1910 Buddhalilasarasangraha: 1914 Laghupath: 1917 Nivedan: 1922 Jataka Katha, Bhag 1: 1924 Samadhimarga: 1925 Baudha Sanghacha Parichay: 1926 Hindi Sanskriti ani Ahimsa: ? Parshvanathacha Chaturyam Dharma: 1949 Boddhisattva Natak: 1949 Visuddhimagga (of Buddhaghosa), edited and annotated by Dharmanand Kosambi Translation of 'Sutanipatta' into Marathi: 1937 Etc., etc. Many of his works were translated into Gujarati and Hindi. One of the most highly regarded Pali and Buddhist scholars of India, it is a pity that he is largely forgotten in Goa. Apart from a portrait in Gomant Vidya Niketan, Margao, I have not seen any reference or mention of him. I have an excellent biography of Dharmanand Kosambi (in Marathi); I will have to sit and make notes from it to supply more details. > and his historian-son D D Kossambi I cannot believe that there isn't plenty of stuff available about Damodar Dharmanand Kosambi on the internet, so I am not going to wade through the material I have and take notes to post here. He was one of the best-known and respected Marxist historians of the country; his 'An Introduction to the Study of Indian History' is a classic and was a prescribed text in many of the best colleges and universities of our country. His description of history as (I paraphrase) 'a chronological account of changes in the modes and relations of production' is a classic. He was one of the first to point out that 'history has always been made by such backward, ignorant, common people, and that they, not the high priest, glittering autocrat, war-lord, financier, or demagogue, must shape it better in future...' His other books include 'Myth and Reality', 'Exasparating Essays' (this is available for download on the net) and 'Science, Society and Peace'. He actually wrote many of his books in the 'Deccan Queen' between Bombay and Pune; he used to work at the TIFR in Bombay and live in Pune, and used his daily commuting time to great effect! But I am running on, obviously the two Kosambis are among my favourite hobby horses, so I shall now desist. -- Question everything - Karl Marx
