Dear Jesse,

This is a very fine "Défense et Illustration", if not "de la langue française" , at least of this incomparable Library.

Thanks for this.

Lyne

Lyne Bansat-Boudon

Directeur d'études pour les Religions de l'Inde

Ecole pratique des hautes études, section des sciences religieuses

Membre senior honoraire de l'Institut universitaire de France

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De : INDOLOGY <indology-bounces@list.indology.info> de la part de Jesse Knutson via INDOLOGY <indology@list.indology.info>
Envoyé : mardi 5 mars 2024 14:16
À : Robert P. GOLDMAN <rpg@berkeley.edu>
Cc : Indology <indology@list.indology.info>
Objet : Re: [INDOLOGY] Statement Regarding the Murty Classical Library of India

 

I cannot fathom why this is happening, but I fear that I already know the kinds of forces compromising academic integrity in this instance, since they are likely the same ones at work in many other less spectacular ones. Leaving speculation aside for now, I’ll just say that MCLI has been to my mind one of the most exciting and uplifting initiatives in our field. The way it has weathered previous attacks with solemn dignity has also been a model and inspiration. MCLI is exactly the kind of thing I yearned for when I first started getting interested in Sanskrit as a tender youth, and it really stands to change the world as I see it. I can also say from firsthand experience that each of our colleagues who has been fired from their position is a scholar and editor of the highest possible order. Their dismissal is an act of such insanity that I wonder if anyone behind it could even be fit to stand trial. In any case this is an indelible stain on the reputation of MCLI and HUP.  

On Mon, Mar 4, 2024 at 7:58 PM Robert P. GOLDMAN via INDOLOGY <indology@list.indology.info> wrote:

This is deeply disturbing although, alas, hardly surprising. It reflects, no doubt ,political interference with this groundbreaking and outstanding scholarly series. List members should add their voices to those of  the  former members of the editorial board.

Dr. R.P. Goldman

William and Catherine Magistretti Professor of Sanskrit Emeritus

and

Joint Editor of the South Asia Across the Disciplines  Publication Series

Department of South and Southeast Asian Studies 

Berkeley, CA 94720-2540

On Mar 4, 2024, at 8:29 AM, Archana Venkatesan via INDOLOGY <indology@list.indology.info> wrote:

Dear Respected Colleagues,

With apologies for cross-posting, please see the attached communication from the former editors of the Murty Classical Library of India. 

Archana

--

"When writers die they become books, which is, after all, not too bad an incarnation."  Jorge Luis Borges
                                        
Archana Venkatesan (archana.faculty.ucdavis.edu)

Graduate Advisor, Graduate Program in the Study of Religion (2022-2024)

Professor, Religious Studies and Comparative Literature

Phone: 530-754-2821 (Office) 

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https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://list.indology.info/mailman/listinfo/indology__;!!PvDODwlR4mBZyAb0!VgfNW29l13F9XyBjEt94VIJ9a8371sf67wcOStxwK7VmoIZj1n9oow9QuPXnNJ95juwrN0UuVpm8yceWS3u8JIgiUC1u$

--

Jesse Knutson PhD

Professor of Sanskrit Language and Literature 

Department of Indo-Pacific Languages and Literatures

University of Hawai'i, Mānoa

461 Spalding

E io ch’avea d’error la testa cinta,
dissi: «Maestro, che è quel ch’i’ odo?
e che gent’ è che par nel duol sì vinta?       

Ed elli a me: «Questo misero modo
tegnon l’anime triste di coloro
che visser sanza ’nfamia e sanza lodo.      

Mischiate sono a quel cattivo coro
de li angeli che non furon ribelli
né fur fedeli a Dio, ma per sé fuoro.

Caccianli i ciel per non esser men belli,

né lo profondo inferno li riceve,                                                                                                                                                                                                                  ch’alcuna gloria i rei avrebber d’elli». (Inferno 3.31-39)