6_Glorious_Epochs_of_Indian_History

•408 SIX GLORIOUS EPOCHS OF INDIAN HISTORY
receive ?" "I ain Sardesai from Baroda," came the
answer, "whom you know as the writer of Indian history."
I was surprised. "What ? Riyasat-Kar Sardesai ?" When he
nodded his head in assent I told him how I had cherished
high respect for him ever since I had read his big volumes
on Muslim Riyasat. I told him that I had read all of his
books. But having had a chance of mixing with non-Marathi
scholars I could authoritatively say that they had no
knowledge of the greatness of, nor even a nodding acquaint­
ance with, the essence of Maratha history; many of them
bear a sort of grudge towards the Marathas. So I requested
him to undertake the writing of an authentic, handy history
based on solid facts so that non-Marathi world might know
it in its true form and perspective; upon which he said that
some one else should do it now. So I said, "No, at least
today you are the only authoritative writer who can
possibly do it. Although your old age may present difficulties,
you should undertake it as the crowning glory of your life
work. Possibly it will be completed ! You seem to have
been blessed with a long life. At least you should begin at
once to write such a history in English." Then after sonie
casual talk while seeing him off I expressed my gratitude at
the visit of such a great historian at my residence. Before
oven my sentence was completed, he said "No, No, the real
pleasure is mine ! We are all the writers of history; but you
are the makers of history ! When you make history we note
it down and I came here with a sincere desire to see you
as the maker of history. And then we took leave of each
other with thankful hearts.
1002. And I think it would be proper to set down just
here that some fifteen years or so after this visit of ours
he wrote as the ripe fruit of his life a detailed history of the
Marathas in English in three volumes.
1003. As soon as I came to Ratnagiri, after being
released from the Andamans, I was forbidden to take any
active part in politics and because of the ban on the change
of town I was forced to set limits to my movements. So in