The Modern Review/Volume 29/Number 6/Methods of Research Work in the Calcutta University
METHODS OF RESEARCH WORK IN THE CALCUTTA UNIVERSITY
Sometime ago the educated public of India were startled by the following statement from the pen of Professor Jadunath Sarkar, the eminent Historian and Research Scholar —
“I am not fit to be ranked with the band of research p.r.s’s and ph.d’s, of the new Calcutta school. My method of work is also different.” (Modern Review, February 1921, p 240)
I believe all graduates of the University of Calcutta are proud of the achievements of Professor Jadunath Sarkar in the field of Historical Research and it is really most astonishing to find that not a single voice has been raised to enquire why this eminent Scholar refuses to be ranked with the band of Research Scholars who have risen recently into prominence in the same University. It is a matter of very great regret, a matter which deserves detailed enquiry and serious consideration on the part of all members, old and new, of the University of Calcutta. Jadunath Sarkar needs no introduction to the Indian Public. In Europe his name ranks very high and after the death of William Irvine he is regarded as the only authority on Indian History of the Mughal Period. From the veiled references in Professor Sarkar’s rejoinder to Mr. Panchanan Mitra’s criticism of his article on “University Problems Of To-Day” it is very difficult for a man who is not conversant with the different undercurrents of thought or the deep-water policies of the different factions of the Calcutta University to understand what impelled an eminent scholar like Professor Jadunath Sarkar to make such a sweeping statement.
From a footnote on page 238 of the February issue of the Modern Review it is to be understood that Professor Sarkar’s remarks apply only to the arts section of the Faculty of Post-graduate Studies of the Calcutta University. From what appears in the papers about the progress of the post-graduate department of the Calcutta University one understands that very good research work is being done by that body. The Ph. D’s and the P. R. S.’s of the Calcutta University include such emiment luminaries as Professor Radha Kumud Mukerji, m. a., p. r. s., ph. d, Dr Gauranganath Banerji, m. a., p. r. s., ph. d, Professor Rameschandra Majumdar, m. a., p. r. s., ph. d, Professor Panchanan Mitra, m. a., p. r. s. etc. There are lesser luminaries such as the holders of the Calcutta University Jubilee Prize Medal and other prizes for original research. The educated public of India have received another shock from the statement in the notes of the April issue of the Modern Review, as it is generally believed that the Editor of the Modern Review is responsible for these notes. It is stated there,
“In Sir Ashutosh’s report to the Senate Dr. Ramdas Khan’s monograph on Society in Evolution published by the Calcutta University is numbered among the monographs which he praises as constituting ‘valuable’ contributions to the advancement of our knowledge. Why is this monograph still withheld from a public thirsting for the advancement of its knowledge a la Goldighi? Who are the judges that certified Dr. Khan’s book as original addition to human knowledge? Who ordered it to be printed at the cost of our University?”
Further on it is stated —
“The Bengal public have a right to know the name of these fleeting spectres of humanity who direct, judge and reward the research work of that University and stamp such monographs with the seal of their approval.”
If Prof. Jadunath Sarkar thinks it to be beneath his dignity to be associated or ranked in the same degree with the new generation of Research Scholars produced by the University of Calcutta or with those who have in recent years obtained Premchand Roychand Scholarship or Ph. D. degrees, then there must be some serious reasons for it. As one of his students and as one of the very few people who received training in methods of critical research work personally from him as well as from his publications, I refuse to believe that a man like Jadunath Sarkar can make such a sweeping statement unless he is impelled to do so by reasons which have not been made public. It is therefore high time that all members and graduates of the University of Calcutta took up this subject and investigated it thoroughly. The University of Calcutta is entering on a new phase of existence. It has been announced in the papers that in future our alma mater will have no connection with the Government of India and that His Excellency Lord Ronaldshay has reappointed Sir Asutosh Mukherji as a Vice-Chancellor of that body it is to be hoped therefore that the days of internal struggle will now be over and the second period of Sir Asutosh’s Vice-Chancellorship will be a period of unbroken triumph for himself and the University. If mistakes have been committed in the past, let us hope that the old Vice-Chancellor in his new regime will correct them and the band of faithful men, University Professors, Lecturers, and Research Scholars, who have gathered round him, will profit by their experiences in the past in order to avoid such errors in the future. But in order to do so we must find out what these errors are and if we are at fault we must acknowledge our faults with an open heart so that the success of a national institution may be assured. It is therefore necessary to start our enquiries with the statement made by the Editor of the Modern Review in the April issue of that journal “Who are the judges, who certified products of research work, submitted for examinations by scholars to the University of Calcutta. If they are thorough masters of the subject which they have to examine, then why should a man like Professor Jadunath Sarkar, whose contributions to human knowledge have been certified to be genuine efforts towards the advancement of learning by men who are noted for their intimate knowledge of the particular subject, refuse to rank himself with scholars? Will any member of the Calcutta University therefore kindly produce a list of examiners who have examined the theses submitted for examination by scholars who have obtained the Premchand Roychand Scholarship or the Ph. D. degree of the Calcutta University during the last 15 years?