Outlines of a Scheme for the Advanced Study
of the Indian Vernaculars
By
Sir Asutosh Mookerjee
The time has long passed away when elaborate arguments were needed to make even Indian schooler realise the vital importance of a ethical and scientific, historical and comparative study of the great Indian vernaculars. During the last twelve years . Fortunately, the opinion has steadily gained ground that the intellectual activity of a corporation of schooler in this country may be most profitably ditectedtowards a systematic investigation of the language and literature of our chief vernaculars. The duty has, indeed, seen officially imposed upon one of the Indian Universities to encourage research in vernacular Literatures and languages and to foster then growth, by the publication of critical ditions of early tests, and by historical investigations of their origins, early development and ramification into a variety of dialects. I have long maintained the view that a subject so extensive in scope, so well calculated to rouse intellectual curiosity, may littingly be included in the scheme for our heighest Degree Examinations. But this subject can be successfully attained, only after the materials for study and investigation have been made easily accessible to teachers and students. This was precisely my purpose, ehen I induced Rai Saheb Dineschandra Sen to prepare, for the University, Volumes of Typical Sclections in Bengali on a comprehensive
