A rare volume in Kamat Home library

Baba, my late beloved father bequeathed these old, older and oldest books to me, with the hope that the spring of ancient knowledge hidden in these moth-eaten books will make his historian daughter wiser when she opens the book. But being afraid of the "disease" these books could spread to their younger generation, I kept them away, occasionally dusting and putting back with naphthalene balls in the rack.

I was pleasantly surprised, that the first pages of the book, I picked up, were not that brittle, though sticky. The book is 1st volume of "Indian Caste" by John Wilson and is dated 1877. It was published at the Times of India Office Bombay for William Blackwood and Sons, Edinburgh and London. This book is 131 year old and bears a slip number:

N. 10 of
Rao Bahadur Mahadeo Govind Ranade
M.A. L.L.B.
Barrister at Law and Judge of the Small Causes Court, Poona.

Below that is written by father's name in his beautiful handwriting:

G.V. Burde - Dharwar - 7.10.1973.

Obviously, Baba who was a voracious reader, and who could not affort new and expensive books of his liking, had purchased it from the street-vendor of old volumes.

In addition to the difficult and delicate job of turning the sticky and brittle pages, I have the onerous task of writing briefly about two stalwarts, one who wrote the book, and the other who possessed it, before it found its way to Dharwad street.

John Wilson D.D. F.R.S. (1804-1875) was born in Scotland and came as a Missionary of the Free Church of Scotland to India in 1829. He spent his life in India only. He could be considered as an archaeologist, epigraphist and antiquarian. He was president of Bombay Branch of Royal Asiatic Society and was Vice-Chancellor of Bombay University. He wrote books on Karla caves, and other cave temple. The volume on "Indian Caste" bears witness to his deep insight, vast reading and more than twenty years of hard work. He saw only the, 1st volume in print, and died while the 2nd volume was still in press.

He belongs to the first line of Orientalists who introduced India in all her complicated maze of caste system customs, rituals, beliefs, religious norms etc, to the western world.

Mahadeo Govind Ranade (1842-1901) was a great social reformer, distinguished judge, economist, historian and a writer. A brilliant student, he was a topper in B.A., M.A and Law examinations. He was High court judge and is known for many epoch-making judgments. A front line social reformer, he advocated widow remarriage, fought against child marriage, caste and gender discrimination and untouchability. He was the first Indian economist of note. He educated and molded wife Ramabai (married at 11 years) into a great social reformer.

Together they founded branch of Prarthana Samaj of Keshub Chandra Sen in Mumbai and a school for girls. Arya Mahila Samaj came and foundation laid for Seva Sadan, which became a pioneer institution in rehabilitating and educating destitute women in self-supporting.

Thus, the book "Indian Caste" (1st Volume) made a historic journey from that eminent and beloved couple"s home to my humble home-library, courtesy my father, Ganesh Burde.

See Also:
• Justice Mahadev Govind Ranade: (Born 1842; Death January 16, 1901)
• Caste System
• Fulltext of John Wilson's Book at GoogleBooks.