During my 60 year-long academic and professional pursuit, I have had opportunities of meeting and interacting with numerous people from different walks of life – scholars, writers, editors, readers, teachers, students, IITians and other professionals, in India and abroad. I have always had the feeling that people in general are aware of tradition and have heard or read something about various concepts embedded in Ancient Indian knowledge systems. I could also sense their inquisitiveness to know more. Several members and friends of our reading club suggested that a concise narrative encompassing all the salient and significant aspects along with a timeline regarding the evolution of this thought process, would be extremely useful in understanding Indian knowledge systems. While I was toying with the idea of this venture to reach out to the target groups, an IT professional Vibha Verma, appeared on the scene. To me she was the ideal representative of such a prospective audience. I interacted with her for quite some time. It was her idea that creating a website would enable the dissemination of this information and contents to a wider audience. Both of us began working towards this end. This is the genesis of our endeavour – “Eternal Wisdom”. Subsequently, a medical doctor, Swapna Vaidya who is also a scholar, joined us. Her inquisitiveness and curative skills gave our work a much-required boost.

I owe a great deal to the galaxy of ancient thinkers – Indians as well as Westerners – Rishis, Munis, sages, scholars of traditional wisdom and scientists of the contemporary era, whose works form the basis for the perceptions and thought processes deliberated in the website.

I am grateful to the authors of several excellent books, papers, and articles which were a guiding force in the deliberations in this work.

On this occasion I remember my friend, late Dr. Narayan Gopal Dongre, with whom I had occasions to co-author several books on comparative studies in the field of Science and Technology as manifested in ancient Indian scriptures vis-à-vis modern Science and Technology. “Eternal Wisdom” is the outcome of studies and investigations conducted by both of us over a period of nearly 45 years. During those years persistent debate, particularly related with the segment of Science and Technology, had been an ongoing process. Deviation from accepted traditional thought systems – both in the field of ancient Indian knowledge faculties and, to a certain extent, in the arena of modern scientific perceptions – kept us on our toes engaging in interactions, including harsh altercations at times, with traditional Sanskrit scholars and contemporary scientists and thinkers. From each of these discussions, however, we benefitted and grew wiser.

These thinkers and scholars have been doyens in their respective fields and are widely known for their invincible scholarship. We were fortunate to have discussed various subjects with them in the past and were benefitted to a great extent. These traditional scholars included late Panditraj Rajeshwarshastri Dravid, Varanasi, MM Pandit Dr. Gopinath Kaviraj, Varanasi, Prof. Baldev Upadhyaya, Varanasi, Pt. Hebbar Shastri, Pt. Vishwanath Shastri Datar, Dr. Harikrishna Shastri Datar, Varanasi. I am sincerely grateful to these scholars for their criticism and suggestions. Salute to their memories!

Late Pt. Gopal Shastri Nene, late Pt. Badrinath Shukla both from Varanasi, were always there to ignite and inspire our insight. In fact, Pt. Badrinath Shukla was helpful in making us understand intricacies of Vaisheshikashastra, Nyayashastra and Nyaya-vaisheshikashastra. I bow my head to the memory of these great scholars.

Consultation and discussion with Late Prof. Somnath Nene, BHU, Varanasi helped in formulating some arguments. Shree Shashikant Shukla, a great Vedantin and scientist has always been an inspiring spirit. We together are working on a couple of forthcoming co-authored books.

Suneeta, my wife, who retired as a Senior Officer from the Ministry of External Affairs, GoI and has subsequently worked for 10 years as Director of ACM, an American Study Abroad Progamme, has always been by my side. She has not been only an inspirer, she has been an equal contributor in all my writings. Her singular and sustained active participation has enabled me in authoring six original and 36 translated books. I am ever grateful for her unwavering love and support.