Pracyavani-Journal of the Pracyavani (Institute of Oriental Learning) October 1946

Coming to more well-known times the statements of Near Chos and Q. Curtius make it very probable that ink was used in India already during the fourth century B. C. The Kharosthi Documents from Khotan prove its popularity at least in the first century A. D. But the oldest specimen of writing with ink so far known is found on the relic-vase of the stupa of Andher and is certainly not later than the [...] Occasionally acacia gum is added to give a gloss to the ink Of late an infusion of the emblick myrobalan prepared in an iron pot has occasionally been added to the ink but the tannate and gallata of iron formed in the course of preparing this infusion are injurious to the texture of paper and Persian MSS. [...] To the Viswabharati the seer has given his best for to quote his own words ` Viswabharati is like a vessel which is carrying the cargo of my life's best treasure.' The poet first started to write a poem in a medium not of words and the outcome was the Santiniketan School in which the child was to come to its own. [...] ` Through this perfect touch with nature' to quote Tagore himself ' we took the opportunity of instituting festivals of the seasons.' The festivals in celebration of the different seasons of the year are unique in character and quite in keeping with the environment created by the poet. [...] The Viswabharati or the Santiniketan University is inspired by the ideals of the ancient University of Nalanda where Huen Chwang the famous Chinese traveller drank deep at the fountain of learning.