Our History & Future
A little more than one and a half century ago, in 1865, Prof. Theodor Goldstücker had launched a Sanskrit Text Society in London,
but after publishing four volumes of Sanskrit texts that society went into oblivion. It is time now to re-establish the Society for
the study and research of Sanskrit texts of all genres and disciplines, and for their wider distribution. When it comes to the
identification, study, and publication of rare texts transmitted in unpublished manuscripts, Theodor Goldstücker’s words can still
be echoed, that “compared to the immensity of the labour to be performed, the beginnings are as yet small, and the labourers few,”
but if we do not act now, the situation will only be worsened. There are still hundreds of unpublished texts preserved in manuscripts
and their identification, edition, and translation is an urgent task.
Therefore, the STS aims to undertake an important project for the identification and editing/translation of hitherto unpublished
Sanskrit texts preserved in fragile old manuscripts in different libraries. The society will work closely on this project with
manuscript libraries, such as the Bodleian Library, British Library, and National Archives of Nepal, and publish a separate series
of rare and unpublished texts with philological details for expert use, and facsimiles of unique and important manuscripts. It will
also publish, when necessary and feasible, studies of Sanskrit texts in a separate series. With the academic backing and participation
from many leading Sanskrit scholars worldwide, we aim to identify fragile manuscripts of rare Sanskrit texts, edit them critically,
and publish them as open access online, each with an introduction and/or a translation. All publications will be peer-reviewed and
academic affairs of the society will be handled by a board of international scholars. The STS also aims to provide small grants to
university students particularly those working on unpublished Sanskrit texts. We shall begin to do so as soon as enough support is garnered.