The New Catalogus Catalogorum

[J. Daniel White]

Dominik,

Yes, the New Catalogus Catalogorum project is invaluable to all of us for
whom Sanskrit textual study is vital.  My sense for a long time has been
that morale at Madras and especially in the Dept of Sanskrit has been quite
low (understandably) for several reasons and that, along with the absence of
funds(one of the morale reasons) may be a key point.  If we did try to raise
money (say by subscription), I would want us to be very careful overseeing
that it is spent directly on the project's production.

My best to you and Julia,

Dan


>Earlier this year, I had the opportunity to visit the New Catalogus
>Catalogorum project at the University of Madras.  I have visited several
>times before, but this time I was more struck than ever by the sense of
>despair hanging over the project, and expressed by the staff.
>
>I use the NCC regularly in my work, and find it invaluable.  Flawed, yes,
>but nevertheless a unique and irreplaceable guide to the source material
>of Sanskrit and Prakrit literature.
>
>The volumes have reached no.13, PA.  The prospect of further volumes
>appearing seems very distant given the present state of things, although
>staff continue to peg away at the job.  I would not be entirely surprised
>if vol.13 were the last to appear.
>
>I should like to ask my colleagues on this list whether they feel that the
>NCC is valuable to them in their work, or even vital.
>
>I find that I still have to go to Aufrecht (c. 1900!) for titles beginning
>after "pa", except for works on jyotisa whose authors have been covered in
>Pingree's CESS.  There are other important reference works too, of course,
>like VOHD II, which references earlier work well in its early volumes, but
>it is surprising how often Aufrecht remains the first choice when NCC
>isn't available.  (Let's not argue about NCC v. CC.)
>
>If a consensus arises that the NCC is important and valuable, then perhaps
>we as a group can begin to consider what action - if any - might
>appropriately be taken to safeguard and promote the project.
>
>I have several ideas along these lines, which I would be interested in
>discussing.  Not all of them require any effort on our part, beyond
>perhaps gathering some testimonials to the general effect that the project
>is vitally important to the future of cultural and historical studies in
>India.  It is possible that advocates within the establishment in India
>may be able to help in important ways.  Other ideas that I have considered
>do involve more "direct action", including fund-raising.
>
>If you are a user of the NCC, I would like to hear your opinions on this
>topic.
>
>Best,
>Dominik Wujastyk
>