Dr S M Ayachit, a scholar in Sanskrit and manuscripts and former Manuscripts Officer with Nagpur University, breathed his last in Pune on Thursday. He was 92. Born in the year 1929, Dr Ayachit earned his PhD in Sanskrit Grammar/Linguistics from Deccan College, Pune, under the guidance of noted Indologist Prof Katre. Prof R N Dandekar was his mentor. During his stint as Manuscripts Officer in Manuscripts Section at Nagpur University, he not only conserved manuscripts and developed a collection, but also developed the section. Dr Sadashiv Moreshwar Ayachit was Secretary of Sanskrit Bhasha Pracharini Sabha in 1976, and was Editor of Sanskrit journal ‘Sanskrit Bhavitavyam’, Nagpur. He was also a veteran member of Vidarbha Sanshodhan Mandal. The scholar had published three volumes of catalogue of manuscripts in the collection of Nagpur University.

 

The first of these three volumes was published during his tenure, and the other two were published after his retirement. The books ‘Sindhuragiri Mahatmyam’ describing Ramtek’s glory and ‘Post Independence Sanskrit Literature’ were edited by Dr Ayachit. Marathi translation of Dr Panjabrao Deshmukh’s book ‘Vaidik Sahityat Dharmacha Ugam aani Vikas’ is to his credit. Also, he had done Marathi translation of ‘Shripratapdurgmahatmyam’ and ‘Parmanandkavyam’. Maharashtra Government had honoured him in 1997. Prof Dr Shrinivasa Varakhedi, Vice-Chancellor of Kavikulguru Kalidas Sanskrit University (KKSU), condoled the demise of Dr S M Ayachit.

 

In a condolence message, Prof Dr Varakhedi said that Dr Ayachit had brought to light the glory of manuscripts of Vidarbha. Also, the catalogue of manuscripts collection he had published paved the way for researchers. It is due to Dr Ayachit’s guidance and efforts that KKSU had got the recognition as independent manuscript centre. “Dr Ayachit was a great scholar. He was closely associated with KKSU and guided Dr Pankaj Chande, founding Vice-Chancellor of KKSU. I pay to him tributes individually as well as on behalf of KKSU,” stated Dr Varakhedi.