PROJECTS OF THE IUA

Under the directorship of O. Botto of the Istituto di Orientalistica (Institute of Oriental Studies) of the University of Turin, an important and extensive scholarly project called Corpus luris Sanscriticum has been started, aiming at the publication of 75 legal texts of India. The Indian legal treatises dealing with common law constitute one of the literary products most representative of the culture and civil life of India. They cover a period which extends from the 9th to the 5th century BC, until the 18th century AD. They constitute a body of impressive material whose roots go back to very old religious precedents. These treatises represent a legal corpus of a prescriptive nature. Several of these treatises have already been edited, but the unsystematic publication of such texts in independent editions, employing conflicting critical methods, make a new study of them necessary, in the light of the most recent documentation and bibliographical information.

The series of legal treatises to be published has been conceived of in agreement with the late L. Sternbach and comprises the following :

1. Critical re-editions of legal treatises which have already been critically edited, but which are in need of being brought up-to-date in view of more recent studies ;
2. Critical editions of legal treaties which have already been published, but not in critical editions ;
3. Publication of manuscripts which are not as yet edited.

In January 1987 a cultural agreement was ratified between the Université de Paris-Sorbonne and the University of Turin to ensure an intensive French participation in the project. Recently the Sahitya Akademi (Indian National Academy of Letters) has given its patronage to the project. A number of Indian scholars have joined committee. The projected publication of a series of 'Sanskrit texts on Social and Religious Law' on the lines already described in reports on the project has now reached an advanced stage. Following the formulation of general rules of practice for the 75 texts selected (see K. V. Sarma, 'Some new techniques in collating manuscripts and editing texts', in Indologica Taurinensia, XIII, 289-296), the first panel of editors was appointed, and a number of volumes are currently in press or at their final stages of preparation.

The critical edition of the Daksasmrti by Irma Piovano was originally published as a type example, but has long been out of print. A reprint is about to appear, with a Preface by Oscar Botto, English translation, notes, appendices and an index of Padas.

The project was adopted as a Category C project by the UAI in 1987, on the initiative of the Unione Accademica Nazionale, which has also taken over the financial responsibility.

Directed by the Unione Accademica Nazionale. Director. : O. Botto 1987-