Thirteen years ago in February 1983, a Seminar on 'Kadambas - their history and culture' was held in the Madhukesvara temple at Banavasi in Uttara Kannada district. Late Prof. L.T. Sharma, Professor of History and Principal of the Arts College at Sirsi was the moving force behind it. Nearly 30 people presented papers thereat. A number of young scholars also had been invited to participate in the discussion that followed. Prof. L.T. Sharma was keen on publishing those papers for the benefit of scholars. But fate snatched him away from this world and all about the Seminar was being slowly forgotten. But Sri K. Abhishankar former Editor of State Gazetteers could not, since he hails from Banavasi. He brought pressure upon the authorities to publish the papers presented in that Seminar. The Department of Kannada and Culture finally agreed and the Directorate of Archaeology and Museums was entrusted with that responsibility. They named Prof. B.R. Gopal, as the Editor. He had his own difficulties. First and foremost problem was with the papers themselves. Where were they? He took the help of Dr. N.S. Tharanath and together they dug out, in all, 22 papers, arranged and edited them, corrected proofs etc.
Today, I am pleased to place before the scholars this small book on the Kadambas containing Seminar papers. I have troubled the Editors and goaded them to complete the work so that it could be released on the eve of ""Kadambotsava"" being held at Banavasi. I thank Sri Chandrahasa Gupta, L.A.S., Secretary to Government of Karnataka, Department of Kannada and Culture for taking the initiative in this regard and sanctioning the necessary funds.
This small volume contains papers on some problems of Kadamba history, the Kadamba art, special features of contemporary Kannada language, social life and also some thinking about what could be done in further studies, right from the ancient to the modern. If these papers create greater interest among researchers in the field and add to the knowledge of the history and culture of the carliest ruling dynasty of Karnataka, the purpose of its publication would be fulfilled. I thank the editors for undertaking this arduous task.
I am beholden to Dr. V.Prakash, Director, Central Food Technological Research Institute, Mysore, for taking up the printing work in their press. Shri K.A. Ranganath, Head and Shri S. Umesh with the assistance of Sriyuts G. Venkateshan and C.N. Janardhana of FOSTIS of CFTRI have produced this publication with quite an attractive get up and my innumerable thanks are due to all of them.
It was a chance coincidence that I met late L.T. Sharma in the chambers of Dr. P.B. Desai, Professor and Head of the Department of Ancient Indian History of Karnataka University, Dharwad. I had recently, by then, joined the Department as Lecturer. While I was in the office of the (then) Chief Epigraphist for the Government of India, at Ootacamund, I had an occasion to study the Banavāsi inscriptions and my article in Kannada Banavāsi-dēśa - had later been published in the quarterly Kannada journal - Prabuddha Karņājaka - of the University of Mysore.
Prof. Sharma barged into Desai's chambers, with that copy of Prabuddha Karņāțaka wherein my article had been published, and asked him who this Ba. Ra. Gopal was. Desai talked to him, and found out that he was interested in the history of Banavasi and the rulers thereof. It was then that I was introduced to Prof. Sharma. I believe it was in 1965 or 66. This acquaintance later blossomed into thick friendship. Around that time he, with Prof. B.II. Sridhara, his colleague at Sirsi, had published a book on Kadambas of Banavasi. Prof. Sharma insisted upon me to bring out a book in Kannada, on the same subject, with the help of authentic source -materials. It was at his instance that I collected epigraphical sources for the history, not only of Kadambas of Banavāsi, but other Kadamba families. The result was my book Minor Dynasties of South India - Karnataka, Vol. L After I joined the Mysore University he conceived a plan on holding a Seminar on Kadambas, at Banavasi, the once famous capital city, now a small town. Sripada Ilegade Kadave, then a member of Karnataka legislature came forward to assist him. Locally, Sri D.R. Bhat and Sri M.C. Wodeyar took upon the responsibility of hosting the seminar for 3 days from the 12th to the 14th of February 1983, thirteen years back. It was like a public festival. The delegates were accommodated in several houses of the locals who lovingly came forward to provide all facilities of lodging. A common kitchen was set up within the precincts of the Madhukēśvara temple. Being a big village the participants were, per force, confined to the venue of the seminar. The proceedings were recorded. I was asked to bring out my book on Banavāsiya Kadambaru and I had to spend almost 10 days in the Prachi Printing House at Bangalore and succeeded to reach the copies of the book in the carly hours 12th February, 1983. Prof. G.S. Dikshit released the book.
For 13 years these papers had remained in oblivion. Sri. K.Abhishankar was making incessant efforts to get them published. Finally, his efforts have paid. One day, almost an year back, I received a call from Sri Chandrahasagupta, Secretary, Department of Kannada and Culture, requesting me to publish the seminar papers, through the Department of Archaeology and Museums of the Government of Karnataka.
But where were the papers? I had only some recorded cassettes. But I could not get the assistance of any one who could take down in short hand and then type out the material. The cassettes themselves had lost their reception. So, our desire to add the discussions and comments on papers presented could not be fulfilled. I could, however, get 22 papers; four more papers were presented; but the texts of those were not available.
I have received immense help from my co-editor Dr. N.S. Tharanath, Reader in Kannada, in collecting papers, going through proofs and sharing with me editorial responsibilities. To him my thanks are due.
Dr. D.V. Devaraj, Director of Archacology and Museums, Government of Karnataka was the guiding and goading power behind us. He has also added a preface to this volume. But for his personal interest, this work would not have come out at all! Dr. II.R. Raghunatha Bhat, Professor of Ancient Indian History has drawn the cover page.
We would be happy if the soul of Professor Sharma rests in peace, by the publication of this book.
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