FOREWORD by JULES BLOCK Chaire de langue et Litterature Series, Paris [Docteur Lettres (Formation de la langue MartM), 1014; Professor Ecole des Langue Orientales (1930-37), College de France 1937-51; Honorary Member de Royal Asiatic Society, American Orientalist Society, School of Oriental and African Studies (London University): Member de Norwegian Academy; Fellow de Bhandarkar Orientalist Research Institute; teaching Comparative Philology mainly Indian Aryan and Dravidian. Born in 1880, Paris. "Stayed in India mainly Pondycheri, Poona and Chandra Nagoor.) After having published in his mother-longue several books and essays on Assamese literature, Mr. Dimbeswar Neog is now placing before a larger public the results of many years of strenuous and dis. interested labour. Before it was printed, as far as I am aware, no full description of Assamese literature was to hand to be compared with the numerous histories of Bengali literature or the recent exhaustive History of Maithili Literature due to Dr. Jayakanta Mishra. Now thanks to Mr. Dimbeswar Neog, all Indians will be acquainted with a new treasure of productions due to the Indian mind; and not Only Indians but friends of India everywhere, amongst which being one, I wish the present authoritative book the success which the devotion and energy of its author deserves. Paris, 1954 JULE BLOCK
