Political Thinkers in Mithila

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Dr. Sureshwar Jha (Born 1930), is a Retired University Professor of Political Science, taught Political Science from 1958 to 1992 in different Colleges of L.N. Mithila University, Darbhanga. He is a renowned Scholar of Vedic and Smriti literature, Specially connected with Mithila.

Dr. Jha has to his credit two dozen books published in English, Hindi and Maithili, apart from several research papers. He was a member of the central Sahitya Akademi, New Delhi, from 1993 to 1997 and was awarded Sahitya Akademi Translation Prize of 2001 for Maithili Translation of Jayant V. Narlikar's Science fiction, Antarateel sphottrom Marathi.

The pages that follow present the long-awaited studies on the Political Thinkers in Mithila by Dr. Sureshwar Jha, well-known for his scholarly interest in and his work on the thought, philosophy and movements in the Mithila region. Dr. Jha has already distingnished himself as an historian of the freedom movement in the region', and his monographs on "Janak and Yanjňavalkya', 'yañjnavalkya and 'Two Vacaspatis in Mithila as well as his work as member of Sahitya Akademi (1993-'97). It is a matter of deep gratification for us to bring to light these valuable studies based largely on his work on the leaders of political thought, philosophy and law in this ancient cradle of culture and civilisation, who hane long remaind rather little known to the world at large except that of especialists and scholars concerned with the region.

Mithila has been a great centre of Sanskrit learning and literature, both religious and secular, from time immemorial. No other part of India can boast of an unbroken tradition of scholars and savants from the hoary age of the Vedas. A continuous stream of scholarship has been flowing from the time of Janaka down to the present day in this land. Although philosophy in general and Neo-logic (Navya- Nyaya) in particular found here a place of favour, yet other disciplines of learning were not neglected. Another very important contribution which Mithila has made to Sanskrit learning is in the sphere of Dharmaśāstra literature. In the words of P.V. Kane "from the days of the Yajňavalkya Smrti down to the modern times the land of Mithila has produced writers whose names are illustrious"." "The history of Mithila does not centre round valiant feats of arms, but round courts engrossed in the luxurious enjoyment of literature and learning. But while Mithila's bid for fame does not rest on heroic deeds, it must be duly honoured as the home where the enlightened might find a generous patron, peace and safety. It has been said: धर्मस्यतत्त्व विज्ञेयं मिथिला व्यवहारतः' (The path of duty can be known from the usages of Mithila). This Saying is traditionally ascribed to Yajňavalkya. "Kings and Queens have been themselves scholars and have attracted the best that was in the land to their courts". No scholars and learned authors prospered and flourished without pious and philanthropic patronage of a king or a ruler.