THE HINDI VISHVAKOSHA (ENCYCLOPEDIA INDICA.) ( Mahatma Gandhi's appreciation of the work and its author ) 'Reference has already been made to Srijut. enterprise: "I was 19 mhen I began my Bengali Vasu's Hindi Cyclopadia in my notice of Hindi | Cyclopaedia. I finished the last volume when I Prachar Conference. I knew of this great work | was 45. It was a great success. There was a two years ago. I knew too that the author! demand for a Hindi edition. The late Justice was ailing and bed-ridden, I was so struck | Sarada Charan Mitra suggested that I should with Srijut Vasu's labours that I had a mind to| myself publish it. 1 began my labours when 1 see the author personally and know all about | was 47, and am nor 63. It will take three his work. I had, theretore, promised myself this years more to finish this work. If I do not get pilgrimage during my visit to Calcutta for the | more subscribers or other help, I stand to lose Congress. It was only on my way to the Khadi Rs. 25,000 at the present moment, But I do not Pratishthan at Sodepur that I was able to carry | mind. I hare faith that when I come to the end out my promise. I was amply rewarded. 1 took of my resources God will send .me help. These the author by surprise for 1 had made no labours of mine are my Sadhana. I Torshio appointment. I found him seated on his bed | God through them. I live for my mork. There. in a practically unfurnished and quite unpreten-/was no despondency about Srijut Vasu, but a ro- tious room, There were no chairs. There was bust faith in his mission. I was thankful for this just by his bedside a cupboard full of books and pilgrimage, which I should never hare missed. behind a.small desk. He offered me a seat on As I was talking to him I could not but recall . his.bed. and I sat instead on astool near it. Doctor Murray's labours on his great work.1. He is a martyr to Asthma of which he am not sure who is the greater of the tro.ldo showed ample signs during my brief stay with Jnot knor enough of either. But why any compa- rison between giants. Enough for us to know him. " I feel better when I talk to visitors and that nations are made from such giants. The forget my disease for the moment. When you address of the printing Trorks behind which the leave me, I shall suffer more" said Srijut Vasu. | author lives is, Vishnakosh Lane, Bagh Bazar This is a summary description he gave me of his | Calcutta.' . M. K, GANDHI, ("Young India", dated Ioth January,1929)
