A signatory of a petition last week that called for Sanskrit scholar Sheldon Pollock to be removed from his post as general editor of the Murty Classical Library of India is now preparing to set up a library to rival that publishing endeavour.
Dr Sampadananda Mishra, director of the Sri Aurobindo Foundation for Indian Culture at the Sri Aurobindo Society in Puducherry, has announced that he will start the Vande Mataram Library as an open source, volunteer-driven project to translate what the editorial board deems to be important Sanskrit scriptures in India.
Oh good. Instead of asking people to shut up, a much better plan is to counter with your own versions, as this group says it plans to do. (And believe me, I write that with a very straight face. Pinky promise.)
The bit that shook me? (Emphasis mine)
Have you read the Murty Classical Library of India publications?
I have. Recently when I was coming from Delhi airport, I had some time, so I went through the nine that have come. The thing is that the work is very qualitative, if you look at the printing quality, the presentation and everything. Some of the things which I read are not that bad. It’s good, it gives a good read.
*sigh* I am constantly struggling to keep pace with all the books I buy, with all the reading I intend to do. I only have one of the Murty books, and I haven’t gotten down to cracking it open yet (I agree the “presentation and everything” is very good, btw). Totally envious of Dr Mishra, who managed to go through all nine of these during downtime at an airport.
The full interview with Dr Mishra, via Mridula Chari of Scroll, is here.
