Mr. P.C. Rath attended the Training School of the Archaeological Survey of India at Taxila, Punjab, for three month in 1944-45. His course included the supervision of excavation, the elements of surveying and the principles of recording and administration. He showed throughout great keenness and willingness. He also has the useful quality of the power of command.

    The course aimed at the emphasis of Standards of Archaeology than complete training for which the time was too short. Mr. Rath took full advantage of time available and work hard.

    I had great pleasure to come in close contact with Babu Purna ChandraRath, BA, B.Ed. while my stay in Revenshaw college hostel during Orissa assembly session and I had occasions to go through his research discourses as well as his other articles on the subjects of ancient historical matters. He collected many ancient coins of different countries and antiquities. He has a special aptitude for research work. If he gets opportunities he will prove a great research scholar.

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    I have great pleasure in testifying to the keen interest of Mr. Purna Chandra Rath, a law student now put up in the Revenshaw college hostel, in archeological studies and research. He has taken up law study after serving for some period in the educational department of the Patna State. During the period he was in service he seems to have lost no opportunity in carrying on research work within such limits and during off hours in the midst of strenuous labour involved in the discharge of duries appertaining to an office cannot be very successful. For research work to be successful greater freedom is necessary. In my humble opinion a research sCholar should, in fact be free from all anxiety in regard to the bread problem and should be the master of his time. I have no hesitation in stating that Mr. Rath has an ardent desire to carry on research work arising out of his natural gifts which struggle for expression and that such expression will add to the wealth of knowledge not only of Orissa but also of india may of the world under patronage which would afford full opportunity for such expression.

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    I have personally gone through the various and other matters (including the photograph) regarding the working and methods followed by my friend Mr. P.C. Rath, Director of Archaeology. I know him since the year 1942, when we first met in the session of the History Congress at Hyderabad. And what I saw in him then and the wonderful work produced by him since then - both these really reveal the marvelous capacity this young scholar possesses. He is a brilliant scholar of remarkable qualities and abilities. He has a quick grasp; a clear understanding and a deep laid and well thought out plan before him now. Besides carrying out works in different fields of epigraphy, numismatic, art and architecture, he has taken an admirable archaeological survey of the whole land. Mr. Rath is really an asset in the field of Indian archaeology. Best of all, he is self-made and one would really look towards him with admiration when he comes to know that this is all done single-handed.

I earnestly desire that like His Highness the Maharaja Sahib of Patna State, if the Chiefs and Princess of the States also create scope for Mr. Rath to work out his plans, I am sure that he will bring out the whole history of Koshala and Utkala on a firm foundation in the history of world culture.

I wish him every success.

Dt. 31.12.44

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I had occasion to be with Mr. Purna Chandra Rath, B.A.,D.Ed., Superintendent, Patna State at Taxila and could find time to go through Mr.Rath's papers. And the progress report of the archaeological department Patna State. I am glad to find that with a couple of years Mr. Rath's adventure with this dried science and stone is simply a feat. With the versatile genius in the person of Mr. Rath couple with the facilities offered to him by the State, there is not a single branch connected with archaeology, epigraphy and research work that is left untouched. His most interesting lecture on 'Evolution of Indian temples with particular reference to the monuments in the Patna State' was simply a model of extensive research work form the point of view of Scholarship. His capacities were not only recognized at Taxila where he put in most excellent work at the excavated sites and in pottery, but even at Lahore and Agra he delivered interesting and exhaustive lectures before big gathering of scholars. This huge task of protecting ancient Indian monuments and exploring further sites connected with the history and culture of ancient Toshala and Koshala needs a band of devoted and sincere workers as well as the patronage of all the important States of Eastern State Agency. He has discussed with me the pros and cons of establishing an Institute for the Eastern States at some suitable place there. This would not only be a meeting ground for the fusion of the culture represented by the different states in the shape of the preservation of antiquities recovered from them in a big museum, but it would foster scholarship by engaging scholars who would make erudite contribution on the history of Toshala and Kosala. This institute would look to the excavation and preservation of ancient monuments in the whole of Eastern States Agency.

Dt.17.2.45