Indological Studies

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To commemorate the birth centenary of Fr. Henry Heras (1888-1955), the Heras Institute of Indian History and Culture (as the Indian Historical Research Institute was named after the death of its founder) presents a select collection of his numerous articles he wrote some three hundred arranged in the chronological order of their themes. Most of the journals in which these articles appeared are at present available to scholars, only with difficulty, or have ceased publication; hence this anthology should be particularly useful. In the words of Dr. H.D. Sankalia, "It is our duty that this legacy of knowledge which Father Heras left us should live, as our inscriptions say, 'as long as the sun and the moon last'."

Bernard Anderson worked for over a decade at St. Xavier's College as a faithful assistant to Fr. H. Heras, before he joined the staff of the Bombay University Library, where he was from 1947 to 1978, when he retired as the principal Librarian and Head of the Department of Library Science, having also obtained the Ph.D. in History.

John Correia-Afonso did research for the Ph. D. under Fr. H. Heras, before entering the Society of Jesus in 1946, and studying in Sri Lanka, Spain and the U.S.A. He has been twice Principal of St. Xavier's College, Bombay, and Secretary-General of the Society of Jesus in Rome. He has published several historical works, and is currently Director of the Heras Institute of Indian History and Culture.

IT is with joy that I have learnt that a selection of the indo- logical essays of the late Fr. Henry Heras, S.J., is to be published on the occasion of his birth centenary.

I first heard about Fr. Heras from a nephew of mine, Shri Manhar N. Choksi, in 1928-29, the year when the first college tour to study important historical sites was organised by St. Xavier's at the instance of Fr. Heras. The way it was organised showed how he had familiarised himself, just within seven years of his arrival in India, with various periods of Indian history. When I approached Fr. Heras in 1929, after my graduation, he advised me to work on the University of Nalanda - I must confess I had never heard anything about this famous seat of learning in Bihar and he guided and inspired me, and took me personally to Nalanda and other sites, thus instilling in me the spirit of field work.

It is to Fr. Heras too that I owe the fact that my parents sent me for higher studies at the London University, not- withstanding many fears and misgivings. Three years after my return to India I opted, on his advice, for a professorship at the Deccan College in Poona, rather than a Curator's job at the Prince of Wales Museum, and I have never regretted that decision.

ENRIQUE Heras Sicars, to give him his baptismal name, was born in Barcelona, Spain, on 11 September 1888, and did his early studies in that city. He joined the Society of Jesus in 1904, and was ordained priest in 1920. In October 1922 he came out to India, and was assigned to St. Xavier's College, Bombay, where he anglicised his name to 'Henry Heras'.

Though in Spain he had already revealed his great capacity for wide reading, systematic effort and clear expression, Father Heras was rather ignorant of Indian history. He loved to tell the story of his meeting soon after his arrival, with the Principal of St. Xavier's College who asked him "What history do you want to teach?" Father Heras related, "Without hesitation I replied: 'Indian history only.' I still remember the surprise revealed in his face: 'What Indian history do you know?' he inquired. 'None,' was my emphatic reply. His feeling of surprise deepened. 'How are you going to teach it?' he finally queried. 'I shall study', I replied I began my study then, and I have not yet finished. Today I am still studying."

Aided by a phenomenal memory and a genuine love of learning, Father Heras soon overcame his initial deficiency in the knowledge of English and Indian history and culture. He brought to bear on all his writings his training in historical method, which he also imparted to his collaborators, for whom he composed a little handbook on The Writing of History and founded the Indian Historical Research Institute.