Passing on of Dr. Govind Chandra Pande
and/or www.mantra.com/jai
Passing away of Dr Govind Chandra Pande
Friday, June 17, 2011
I am not sure whether the demise of Dr Govind Chandra Pande on 21 May
21 was noticed (usually the more profound the scholar, the less
noticed his/her passing away will be - such is the rule of thumb in
India). His Wikipedia page
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Govind_Chandra_Pande
does not report it as yet and no information is available on the Net
from any of the national papers.
Below is an earlier write-up on some of his scholarly achievements.
- M. D.
http://www.cnfonline.org/2003/2003v11n21.htm� ���
Literature
G. C. PANDE: POET AND SCHOLAR
By Ashok K Choudhury
Dr Govind Chandra Pande, who received the year 2000 Moortidevi Award
for literature along with Ramamurti Tripathy (who got it for 2001),
this year, has been honoured in recognition of his "highly acclaimed
treatise on literature, aesthetics and culture titled 'Sahitya
Saundarya Aur Sanskriti' (published in 1995).
Recently, a Fellowship of Sahitya Akademi was conferred on him for
his contribution to the areas of ancient history, philosophy and for
his creative work as a poet. The citation said: "Govind Chandra Pande
has been elected Fellow of Sahitya Akademi for his eminence as a
Sanskrit scholar and writer".
Over the years, Prof. Pande has written more than 60 books and 100
research articles and papers in various disciplines in English, Hindi
and Sanskrit. His creative writing in Hindi and Sanskrit include
seven collections of poems. In Hindi, he has tried to reach towards
classicist definition of form consonant with modern rhythm. The poems
are marked by philosophical questioning, appreciation of nature and a
wistful longing for the past.
In his Sanskrit poetry, Prof. Pande has sought to combine classical
form with modern sentiments. Agnibeeja (1962), Hansika (1995) and
Java have been especially well received by discerning critics.
His philosophical writings are : Mulya Mimamsa, that fetched him a
Central Government prize, as an original Hindi work on philosophy;
Sankaracharya: Vichar aur Sandesh (Life and Thoughts of
Sankaracharya) critically investigates the historical as well as the
philosophical problems connected with Sankaracharya's thoughts ;
Meaning and Process of Culture discusses philosophy of history in the
light of the Indian tradition. His three Vimarshas in Sanskrit:
Bhaktidarsanvimarsah (1991); Saundaryadarshanvimarsah (1995) and Ekam
Sadvipra Bahuda Vadanti discuss the philosophy of bhakti, beauty and
unity of religion. And his Aposiddhi and Nyayabindu are the
translations of classics of Buddhist logic with a new gloss in Hindi.
His writings are spread over both Shastra Rachna as well as Kavya
Rachna and extend over three languages: English, Hindi and Sanskrit.
Studies in the Origin of Buddhism, was his first publication in
English that was described by The Journal of German Oriental Society
in 1961 as the best work on the subject in the previous 20 years.
His research in Pali and Buddhist literatures suggests that the
original Buddhism must not be confused with Abhidhamma, nor should
there be any polemic between them, specially because of the nearness
of Vedanta to Mahayana. Prof. Pande has tried to render Vedic poetry
into Hindi, seeking to capture its transcendental vision of life
expressed through metaphor of natural forms and a theory of multiple
correspondences. He has also tried in annotated poetic translation of
the Gathas to re-liven Prakrit lyrical poetry's involvement with the
life and emotions of the village folk, particularly women.
Prof. Pande, a historian by profession, has written many books on the
history of ideas and civilizations, viz : Bauddha Dharma ke Vikas Ka
Itihas which has been described as the best documented work of its
kind in any language by Nakamura in his well-know bibliography;
Foundations of Indian Culture, a classic in two volumes, presenting
culture as the unity of vision, symbolic forms and social reality;
Bharatiya Parampara ke Mool Swara that won the first Sankara Award.
Followed later by Bharatiya Samaj: Ek Tattvik Vivechan (Philosophical
and Historical Analysis of Indian Society); The History of Indian
Science, Philosophy and Culture, Vol. I (Pt. I & II), which
represents a new monumental beginning in Indian Historiography and
Vedic Sanskriti that not only synthesises critically Western and
Indian scholarships, but explores the deeper meaning of the Vedas and
illustrates how Vedic poetry could be meaningfully translated.
As an able biographer, Prof. Pande has contributed to the Makers of
Indian Literature Series of Sahitya Akademi, writing a book on the
life and works of Mahamohapadhyay Gopinath Kaviraj, which has been
much in demand. Besides, he has written a critical biography entitled
Life and Thought of Sankaracharya, as mentioned at the outset. His
works, whether in English, Hindi, or in Sanskrit, have engaged with
the perception of the continuity and contemporary relevance of Indian
tradition.
The celebrated scholar was born on 30 July, 1923 in Allahabad. He did
his Intermediate in 1940, securing First Division and Third position
in U.P., winning distinction and first position in Sanskrit. And
later graduated and post-graduated from the University of Allahabad
obtaining First Class First in both the examinations. Prof. Pande
took the D.Phil. degree from the same University in 1947.
He started his professional career as a lecturer in Allahabad
University in 1947. He was Reader in the Deptt. of Ancient History,
Culture and Archaeology till 1957 and was promoted as Dean, Faculty
of Arts. Prof. Pande rejoined the Allahabad University in 1978 as
Vice-Chancellor after a gap of 20 years and held the office till his
retirement in 1984. During 1984-88 he was the Visiting Gaekwad
Professor at BHU and the first National Fellow of ICHR from 1985-86.
At present, Prof. Pande is the President-cum-Chairman, Indian
Institute of Advanced Study, Shimla, and Chairman, Allahabad Museum
Society, and Chairman, Central Institute of Higher Tibetan Studies,
Sarnath. - CNF
End of forwarded message from M. D.
Jai Maharaj, Jyotishi
Om Shanti
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and/or www.mantra.com/jai
Prof. Dayanath Tripathi has been kind enough to forward these two
newspaper write-ups about Prof G C Pande, published shortly after his
death. I reproduce them as received.
- M. D.
A Multi-faceted Intellectual Prowess: GC Pande
May 27, 2011 5:33 pm
World literary fraternity lost another foremost indological thinker
of India, Govind Chandra Pande, endowed with multifaceted prowess, on
21 May 2011. His stellar contribution to almost all the branches of
indology, history, culture, art, philosophy, poetics and aesthetic is
distinguished enough to mark him an illustrious scholar-writer. Pande
was, perhaps, one of the worthy recipients of many national and
international awards and honours for his literary achievements. But
honouring him with the Samswati Samman on 6 September 2004 for his
collection of 250 Sanskrit poems, Bhagirathi was historic.
For the first time a Sanskrit literary work was honoured with one of
Indias highest literary awards. According to Sanskrit scholars such
beautiful and powerful poetic compositions have been created after a
long time, said the K. K. Birla Foundation citation. Receiving the
Sammman he said, People ask me, is Sanskrit dead? Language is not
human that can live or die. It is a form of expression that comes
straight from the heart. The ancient Sanskrit grammar has never
changed its form, and poetry in many other languages is indebted to
this language.
He was honoured with the Moortidevi Award (2003) for literature in
recognition of his highly acclaimed treatise on literature,
aesthetics and culture titled Sahitya Saundarya Aur Sanskriti.
Sahitya Akademi also conferred Fellowship on him in 2002 for his
contribution to the areas of ancient history, philosophy and for his
creative work as a poet. Accepting the Fellowship, he said, I am
thankful to the Akademi for the honour bestowed upon me. I am aware
of my inadequacies and can only repeat old line Paraguanaparamanum
parvatikritya santah etc.
Over the years, Pande has written more than 60 books and 100 research
articles and papers in various disciplines in English, Hindi and
Sanskrit. His creative writing in Hindi and Sanskrit include seven
collections of poems. In Hindi, he has tried to reach towards a
classicist definition of form consonant with modern notions of
rhythm. Philosophical questioning, appreciation of nature, and a
wistful longing for the past are mark of his poems. In his Sanskrit
poetry, Pande sought to combine the classical form with modern
content. Agnibeeja, Hansika and Java have been especially well
received by discerning critics. Poetry remains for him an exploration
of the eternal mysteries of consciousness, time, and death.
His philosophical writings are: Mulya Mimamsa that fetched him a
Union Government prize as an original Hindi work on philosophy.
Shankaracharya: Vichar aur Sandesh (Life and Thoughts of
Shankaracharya) critically investigates the historical as well as the
philosophical problems connected with Shankaracharyas thoughts.
Meaning and Process of Culture discusses philosophy of history in the
light of the Indian tradition. His three Vimrshas in Sanskrit:
Bhaktidarsanvimarash (1991), Saundaryadarshanvimarsah (1995), and
Ekam Sadvipra Bahudha Vadanti discuss the philosophy of bhakti,
beauty and unity of religion. And his Aposiddhi and Nyuayabindu are
translations of classic texts of Buddhist logic with a new gloss in
Hindi.
Spread over both Shastra Rachana as well as Kavya Rachna and extend
over three languages English, Hindi and Sanskrit, Studies in the
Origin of Buddhism, his first publication in English, was described
by The Journal of German Oriental Society in 1961 as the best work on
the subject in the previous 20 years. His research in Pali and
Buddhist literature establishes the view that original Buddhism must
not be confused with Abhidhamma, nor there is any room for polemics
between them, especially because of the nearness of the Vedanta to
Mahayana.
Pande tried to render Vedic poetry into Hindi, seeking to capture its
transcendental vision of life expressed through metaphors construed
from nature and a theory of multiple correspondences. He has also
done an annotated poetic translation of the Gathas to enlighten
Prakrit lyrical poetrys involvement with the life and emotions of the
village folk, particularly women. His most acclaimed volume, a
translation and explanation of the Rigveda, entitled Rigveda 2008),
published by Lokbharti Booksellers and Distributors, Allahabad, in
Hindi, is the first of four part series, and covers the third, fourth
and fifth mandalas of the sacred text, dedicated to Agni.
Pande has written many books on the history of ideas and civilization
one of which is Bauddha Dharma ke Vikaska Itihas which has been
described as the best documented work of its kind in any language by
Nakamura in his well known bibliography. Foundation of Indian
Culture, a classic in two volumes, presents a view of culture as the
unity of vision, symbolic forms and social reality. Bharatiya
Parampara ke Mool Swara won the first Sankara Award of the K.K. Birla
Foundation, one of the four high level literary awards instituted by
the Foundation. This was followed later Bharatiya Samaj; Ek Tattvik
Vivechan (Philosophical and Historical analysis of the Indian
Society) and the The History of Indian Science, Philosophy and
Culture, Vol. I (Pt 1 & ll), marks a new monumental beginning in
Indian Historiography. Lastly, his Vedic Sanskriti ably synthesizes
Western and Indian scholarships.
Whether in English, Hindi or in Sanskrit, Pandes works are engaged
with the perception of the continuity and contemporary relevance of
Indian tradition. In course of time he discovered that nowhere has
the beauty of nature been expressed so exquisitely as in India,
especially in Sanskrit literature: and no other tradition has
explored the mystery of death so profoundly as the Indian tradition.
For more than half a century Pande has tried to discover the original
forms of Indias many traditions that have over time been distorted by
western stereotypes and misconstructions.
As an able biographer, Pande has made contributions to the Makers of
Indian Literature Series of the Sahitya Akademi. He has written a
book on the life and works of Mahamohapadhyay Gopinath Kaviraj, which
is much in demand. His works in English, Hindi or in Sanskrit reflect
his perception of the continuity and contemporary relevance of Indian
traditions. An eminent authority and scholar, Pande has delivered
several lectures at national and international seminars. He delivered
Samvastar Lecture, the annual lecture of the Sahitya Akademi,
annually given by a distinguished writer and creative thinker. He
spoke on Literature and Consciousness.Pande began the lecture
defining the nature of truth. He discussed literature is a branch of
culture and culture as a mode of self consciousness. What one may
remember is that consciousness.
Historian by profession, the celebrated scholar was born on 30 July
1923 in Allahabad. He did his Intermediate in 1940, securing first
division and the third position in U.P. He won distinction and first
position in Sanskrit. He graduated and postgraduate from the
University of Allahabad, obtaining first class first in both the
examinations, Pande took the D. Phil. degree from the same university
in 1947. Well versed in Sanskrit, Prakrit, he studied Sanskrit under
well-known traditional and modern scholars like Pt. Raghuveera Dutt
Shastri, Pt Ram Shankar Dvivedi and Pt. K Chatopadhyaya. After
acquiring a working knowledge of foreign languages French, German,
Budh Chinese, Pande studied Buddhist Chinese under W. Pachow. He had
working knowledge of Greek, Latin and Persian.
This apart, he has from time to time held several distinguished
positions:
Member, Committee for the Review of the Work of the UGC (1975 77);
Member, National Commission of Cooperation with Unesco (1982 84);
Member, Board of Governors, Central Institute of Higher Tibetan
Studies, Sarnath (till 1996); Member, Board of Governors, S.S.S.
Institute of Higher Learning, Prasantinilayam (1981 84); Member,
Executive Council, BHU (1982 85); ICHR (1987 93); ICPR (1988 91);
Member, Societe Asiatique De Paris, Indian Historical Records
Commission, Indian Advisory Board of Archaeology, Editorial Board of
the U .P. Gaztters, the Council of Shastri, Indo-Canadian Institute,
the Council of the American Institute of Indian Studies.
He started his professional career as a lecturer in Allahabad
University in 1947. He also was Reader in the Department of Ancient
History, Culture and Archaeology till 1957 and was promoted as Dean,
Faculty of Arts. Pande rejoined the Allahabad University in 1978 as
Vice-Chancellor after a gap of 20 years and held the office till his
retirement in 1984. During 1984-88 he was Visiting Gaekwad Professor
at BHU. He was the first National Fellow of ICHR from 1985-86 and was
the President cum Chairman, Indian Institute of Advanced Study,
Shimla. Presently he is the Chairman of the Allahabad Museum Society
and the Central Institute of Higher Tibetan Studies, Sarnath, and
Editorial Fellow, Project in Indian History of Science, and
Philosophy and Culture.
Quite well known in USSR, England, Mexico, Switzerland, Austria,
Germany, New Zealand, China, Shri Lanka as a versatile scholar,
philosopher, thinker, and poet, Pande has delivered a number of
prestigious endowment lectures. In recognition of his position as an
outstanding scholar in the areas of ancient history, philosophy and
of his creative work as a poet, various honorary degrees and awards
have been bestowed on him e.g. D. Litt (Honoris Causa, BHU, 2001);
Vidya Varidhi, (Naves Nalanda Mahavihara, 1981) equivalent to D.
Litt; Sahitya Vachaspati (Hindi Sahitya Sammelan, Allahabad); Maha
Mahopadhyaya (Lal Bahadur Shastri Rastriya Sanskrit Vidyapeeth, New
Delhi 1999); Vakpati, Central Institute of Higher Tibetan Studies,
Sarnath, 1998; Sansthana Samman (Hindi Sansthan, Lucknow); Manisha
Sammana,(Bharatiya Bhasa Parishad, Kolkata); Mangala Prasad Award,
Hindi Sahitya Sammelan, Allahabad; the Darsana Vijnana Award; and the
Naresh Mehta Award, and Padma Shri (2010).
History, Philosophy, Culture: Revisiting Professor G C Pandes Thought
and Works (2010), published by Aryan Books International, edited by
Sibesh Chandra Bhattacharya, is a collection of essays which serves
as a suitable introduction to Pandes in depth interest and expertise.
The volume provides useful insights into his mind and thoughts as
well, reflects his variety of scholarship covering widely diverse
fields. History, a fair glimpse of the wide reach of his value of
work, is a great tribute to a multi faceted scholar. His death is, no
doubt, a great void.
Monday, May 30, 2011
Death of Prof. G.C Pande: a Terrible loss to literary world
The famous ideological thinker and eminent historian of India passed
away on 21 May, 2011. His outstanding contribution to almost all the
branches of history, culture, art, philosophy, poetics and aesthetic
is will never be forgotten. He had won many national and
international awards but the Samswati Samman on 6 September 2004 for
his collection of 250 Sanskrit poems, Bhagirathi was historic.
According to Sanskrit scholars such beautiful and powerful poetic
compositions have been created after a long time, said the K. K.
Birla Foundation citation. Receiving the Sammman he said, People ask
me, is Sanskrit dead? Language is not human that can live or die. It
is a form of expression that comes straight from the heart. The
ancient Sanskrit grammar has never changed its form, and poetry in
many other languages is indebted to this language.
He was also honoured with the Moortidevi Award (2003) for literature
and the most prestigious Padma Shree. Over the years,Prof. Pande has
written more than 60 books and 100 research articles and papers in
various disciplines in English, Hindi and Sanskrit. His creative
writing in Hindi and Sanskrit include seven collections of poems.
Though not present physically, he will be always living in our hearts
and will be remembered through his works for generations to come.
- Rakesh Tiwari