Preface The Institute of Kannada Studies of the University of Mysore had, with the assistance of the State Sahitya Akademi, organised during August 1979 a National Seminar on 'Epic in Indian Literature' to mark the occasion of the Golden Jubilee celebrations of the Post-Graduate Studies in Kannada in the University of Mysore. The Seminar was held for three days from 10th to 12th August 1979. While Dr. M. Sivaram, President of the State Sahitya Akademi, inaugurated the Golden Jubilee celebrations, Prof. Umashankar Joshi, President of the Central Sahitya Akademi, inaugurated the National Seminar. Poet Laureate Dr. K. V. Puttappa, one of the students of the first batch of Post-Graduate Studies in Kannada, who later became the Professor of Kannada, and also adorned the chair of the Vice-Chancellor of our University, recited a few of his poems in addition to reading out his message of universal love. Prof. K. S. Hegde, Vice-Chancellor of our University, presided over the function. The present work is a collection of papers presented by the scholars at the Seminar.

I am grateful to the authors who personally participated in the Seminar, as also to those who sent their papers owing to unavoidable circumstances which prevented them from personal participation. Dr. Satyendranath Sarma's paper on 'Epics in Assamese', Dr. Prema Nandakumar's paper on 'Epics in English (Indian)', Sri Shafi Shauq's paper on 'Epics in Kashmiri' were presented in absentia. Inspite of our earnest desire to bring out the present volume at the earliest, things beyond our control have delayed the publication of this volume. Anyway, I am happy that we have been able to bring it out.

I am grateful to my colleague Sri Pradhan Gurudatta, Reader and Head of the Department of Translation in the Institute, for his able editorial assistance. I am also thankful Sri N. S. Sharada Prasad and Sri H. Ganesha Aithal who ave gone through the proofs.

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