This book on the Vedas presents the wisdoms of the Vedas with a new outlook, bridging the ancient with the contemporary. It invites both scholars and general readers to know about the Vedas in a simple lucid language. Indeed, it is good to present it to the readers after a gruelling revision of manuscript for six times by the author. Finally, the book has been published. I would also like to appreciate the Publication Section for their efforts to get this book published. I wish you a happy reading.
When I completed the eightieth year, COVID-19 came to put a stop to my normal routine. Almost all the academic institutions and libraries which I would visit were closed. All day I had to live confined within our apartment without direct contact with others, except over the phone. News of people being infected and also dying continued to pour in; it was a difficult time indeed. Like many others, I had much time at my disposal. Indeed, I took some online classes, without much liking them. I have always appreciated the direct contact with the participants in a classroom or a lecture hall. So the online technology of addressing people from home may have served its purpose, but I missed the pleasure of meeting people.
But the major ways of passing time were obviously reading and writing. I wrote some review articles for The Asiatic Society and the Ramakrishna Mission Institute of Culture, Kolkata. Then I thought of converting the pain of home quarantine to the pleasure and profit of writing a book by using these pandemic holidays. Among various courses of study offered by the Ramakrishna Mission Institute of Culture, Kolkata, there is a course on Indology, and for many years I have been speaking on the Vedas to the participants of this course. The topic dealt with by me was: The Vedas and the Indian Civilization. The contents are supposed to include a brief sketch of the Vedas and Upaniṣads together with an idea of modern works on the subject, their antecedents and consequents and their role as the basis of Indian civilization. I have often been asked by the participants if there are suitable books to cover the course contents. Unfortunately, though there are many valuable books on the Vedas, mostly large volumes written by great experts, a small book covering the course contents is not in sight. Apart from these participants, general readers too sometimes want to know about the Vedas and their influence on the Indian civilization. There are large volumes on the various aspects of Vedas, though none exactly on our topic, and, nowadays, not many people have time to go through them. A precise and concise book may therefore be more useful.
I, therefore, took this opportunity offered by COVID holidays to devote my time to write the present book. There was no scope of visiting libraries, but this handicap was counteracted to a considerable extent, for many publications are nowadays available on the internet. Besides, my small personal collection also stood me in good stead.
But they say, sreyamsi baluvighnani, I managed to survive the first wave of the pandemic, but failed to resist the second one. As a result, I had to spend some days in a nursing home. At my age, the disease could have been fatal, as it has unfortunately become for many, but by God's grace and good wishes of many well-wishers, I came back home, albeit with a few problems and attendant weakness. For some time, my book writing had to be shelved, though it was not given a serene burial. After recuperating from the post-COVID ailments, I resumed the work and in 2022 submitted it to The Asiatic Society of Kolkata for publication. Because of unavoidable circumstances of correcting proofs, the publication was somewhat delayed. The work now stands before the readers. It would be a great pleasure for me if the small book might serve its purpose.
I am very thankful to Lt. Col. Anant Sinha, the Administrator of The Asiatic Society, for his kindly writing the Foreword for the book.
Vedas (1182)
Upanishads (493)
Puranas (624)
Ramayana (741)
Mahabharata (354)
Dharmasastras (165)
Goddess (496)
Bhakti (242)
Saints (1503)
Gods (1289)
Shiva (370)
Journal (187)
Fiction (60)
Vedanta (362)
Send as free online greeting card
Email a Friend
Manage Wishlist