The scheme of this Volume is so devised as to include articles connected with the political, literary, religious, social and artistic aspects of the history of the Vijayanagar Empire, so as to make one harmonious whole.
It is hoped that this Volume will enable the reader to have some glimpses of the rich cultural achievements of the Great Empire. If that hope comes true, the humble labour of the various writers and of the Vijayanagara Empire Sexcentenary Association will have been well rewarded. It is hardly necessary to add that, in a Volume like this, each writer is responsible for the views that he propounds.
This volume is being published on the auspicious occasion of the Sexcentenary Celebrations of the Vijayanagara Empire.
The object of the celebrations is to remember with gratitude the rich cultural legacy which the Vijayanagara Empire has bequeathed and the Volume has been so devised as to bring out in relief the political, literary, artistic and religious aspects of the History of that Empire. It is gratifying that the effort has evoked com-mendable response from Karnatak, Andhra, Tamil, Maratha and Bengali scholars, to whom our Association's hearty thanks are due.
It is a pleasure to note that a Kannada edition of this Volume is being brought out by the Kannada Seva Samiti of the Karnatak High School, Dharwar and the Bharat Itihasa Samshodhak Mandal of Poona is bringing out a Marathi Edition of this Volume.
The Association highly appreciates the services of Mr. D. P. Karmarkar, M.A., LL.B., to whose initiative and organisation the Volume owes its existence. The Association is specially grateful to Dewan Bahadur Dr. S. Krishnaswami Aiyangar, M.A., Ph.D., who made the work his own and even in the midst of ill-health has devoted precious labour and time to revision of the manuscripts, and expert supervision of the Volume. It is also indebted to the Director-General of Archology in helping to make the Volume tastefully illustrated. Lastly the Association tenders its appreciation of the prompt and nice work of the G. S. Press, who have executed the work satisfactorily in a short time.
The Volume has been brought out in haste and the reader is requested to look upon errors with an indulgent eye.
In 1931 Mr. P. N. Bengeri of Hubli suggested a celebration at Hampi in commemoration of the Sexcentenary of the foundation of the Vijayanagara Empire. It appealed to the people of Karnataka and an association was formed in 1933 with the object of commemo-rating the occasion by issuing suitable publications and holding cultural conferences at Hampi, the scene of similar congregations in the best days of Vijayanagara. Conferences were held at Hubli (1933), Raichur (1934) and at Bombay (1935) under the president-ships of Mr. D. V. Gundappa, of Bangalore, Mr. M. S. Sirdar, B.A., Bar-at-law of Sholapur, and Dr. B. A. Saletore, M.A., D.Litt., re-spectively, to promote the programme of these celebrations. But it was only in May, this year, that the plans of the celebrations received definite shape. It was decided to publish a History of Vijaya-nagara in Kannada, a Vijayanagara Commemoration Volume first in English and in vernaculars later on, and of a picture-album of the monumental relics of Vijayanagara. It was further decided to hold literary and historical conferences, a historical exhibition, and similar suitable demonstrations at Hampi from 25th December, 1936 onwards.
The scheme of these celebrations commended itself to the Kannada people who cherish deep-felt gratitude to the Greatest Karnatak Empire. But the cultural achievements of Vijayanagara which had the whole of South India under its suzerainty make a natural appeal to all Indians alike and the idea appealed to other provinces also. Distinguished personages like the Ranisaheb of Anegondi, Sir K. P. Puttanna Chetty, H.H. the Raja of Sawanta-wadi, Sir C. P. Ramaswamy Iyer, HE. the Governor of Madras and H. E. the Governor of North-West Frontier Province, Mr. C. Y. Chintamani, Dr. R. P. Paranjapye, Mr. M. R. Jayakar, Sri Govinda Madgaonkar, Dr. B. Pattabhi Sitaramayya, Mr. B. V. Jadhav, Sir Mirza M. Ismail, Mr. G. V. Bewoor, Sir Atul Chatterjee, H.H. the Raja Saheb of Bhor, Dr. S. Krishnaswamy Aiyangar and Mr. J. F. Blackiston, Director-General of Archology in India, appreciated the fitness of the celebrations and communicated their best wishes at the request of the Association.
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