INVC,
Delhi,
The Vice President of India Shri M. Hamid Ansari has said that an encyclopaedia is to be distinguished from a dictionary. The latter, however comprehensive, give meanings of words and concepts without a serious effort at integration and depth. Addressing after releasing the International Edition of ‘Encyclopaedia of Hinduism’ by India Heritage Research Foundation at a function here today, he said that an encyclopaedia, on the other hand, is designed to offer comprehensive, well organised, integrative, inter-thematic, and intensely cross-referenced presentation in depth. Its contents should also be balanced and capable of intellectual scrutiny. They should take cognizance of the tensions inherent in academic examination of some subjects.
He said that as a form of compendium of knowledge, encyclopaedias have a history of their own and their origin has been traced back to early history. They should be distinguished from Universal histories penned by ancient and medieval historians. The first edition of Encyclopaedia Britannica surfaced in 1768-1771. It was preceded by similar works in French and German. The process gathered pace at the beginning of the twentieth century. A Jewish Encyclopaedia in 12 volumes was published between 1901 and 1906. The Encyclopaedia of Religion and Ethics, also in 12 volumes, was published between 1908 and 1927. The Encyclopaedia of Social Sciences was published in 1930-1935. It ceased publication after its 16th edition in 1967 and has now been replaced by the International Encyclopaedia of the Social and Behavioral Sciences.
The Vice President remarked that in the world of today, the need for such collections of knowledge on a full range of subjects is evident. Available evidence shows that the encyclopaedia “industry” is now flourishing. One count puts the figure of these in the market at anything between six and ten thousand. At this rate, there may even be a need for an encyclopaedia of encyclopaedias!
He said that the Knowledge is dynamic and not static. Record shows that given the pace at which we are adding to our perceptions, it becomes necessary for encyclopaedias to be revised. Thrice in a century has been cited as a thumb-rule. By the same logic, exclusivity in domain knowledge has to be ruled out and expertise is to be judged objectively and sought globally. This test will be applied to future editions of this otherwise excellent compilation. Its users would discover the wisdom inherent in Swami Vivekananda’s dictum that ‘the goal of mankind is knowledge’ since it helps uncover the human soul and the limitless knowledge secreted in it.
