A Japanese indologist’s Research in Sourashtra
It is a Strange sight watching a foreigner, clad in
spotless khadi, with a heavily-laden
bag, trek through the muddy roads. at the outskirts of Madurai. to be in the
company of a Ramayana narrator in Sourashtra language In Valluvar Colony.
An indologist, who
has already published books on Bengali and Hindi, Dr.Norihiko Uchida, a
Japanese National. has been battling relentlessly against many odds to complete
his pioneering work on the Sourashtra – Engilsh Dictionary, besides three other
books – Descriptive Grammar of the Sourashtra language (Tamil dialect). The
Grammar of the Tirupathi dialect and A Comparative and Historical Grammar.
Despite his frugal living, qulte uncommon for a foreign
scholar. Dr. Uchida, a Ph.D., of Heidelberg University (W.Germany) has
completed his book on Sourashtra Oral Literature.
Dr. Uchida, who could converse with a degree of
perfection in both Tamil and Sourashtra. by his dedicated approach simplicity
and above all his ability to live as an Indian has secured goodwill and respect
for Japanese culture.
Though the Sourashtra language is Indo – Aryan in origin,
its grammatical structure is almost identical with that of Tamil. He reveals
that although the language has its own script -
the origin of which is obscure –
Tamil Script is Commonly used.
The “Descriptive Grammar of the Tirupathi Dialect” is the study of the language in Tirupathi,
Andhra Pradesh, with a population of little over 1,200 – an isolated Indo –
Aryan language in a Telugu – speaking area and it is almost complete now. A
similar study on the Madurai dialect assumes added significance for the
majority of the Sourashtra – Speaking people reside in and around Madurai.
How the syntax of the Indo – Aryan language has changed
into that of Dravidian has been elaborated in his third book ‘ A Comparative
and Historical Grammar’ It is based on the materials collected at various
places in South India, the above two books and the Dictionary. This Book will throw light on the effects of the language contact
in general, This must have been experienced by many other languages, including
Sanskrit, adds Dr. Uchida.
According to traditions, the Sourashtra – Speaking
People, Weavers by Profession, originally inhabitated Somnath in Gujarat. After its fall to the
Muslim invasion, they proceeded towards South and following few centuries’ stay
in Devagiri (Daulatabad) they migrated to Vijayanagar. When Vijayanagar also fell to the
Muslims. accepting the invitation of the Nayaks they reached Madurai.
Dr. Uchida, however, supports the opinion that the real
reason for this migration was the existence of disparity in the techniques of
silk – weaving between the South and the North. The sophisticated teachniques
of the Sourashtra Weavers were much sought – after by the kings and nobility of the Southern Kingdoms and that
led to their settlement in Madurai. he adds.
Many of the traditions embedded in the Indian folklore
are yet to see the light of the day, he feels. The custom of singing puberty
songs. for instance, has disappeared over the last generation, mainly due to
the influence of the Western values. The rise in the rate of literacy and the
decline of pre-puberty marriages are the other contributory factors. he says.
If efforts are not taken, with a missionary zeal, to record them from old women
and others. the knowledge of India in the immediate past would be unrestorably
lost, he fears.
Dr. Uchida’s first visit to Madurai in 1972 marked the
completion of his book on “Hindi Phonology”. After a two – year stay in Madurai
as a senior fellow of the Annamalai University he was offered a post in the Department of Chinese and Japanese Studies in
Delhi University. He later joined Jawaharlal Nehru University, where he is
presently teaching Japanese under the African and Asian Studies Department. He
visits Madurai during vacations.
The Indian Express, Thursday, July 06, 1978 Page Number:
08.
Bhasha Abhivirutti Annual Challenge , Kondaa SenthilKumar smile emoticon
Old News Paper Collected by shri Subramanian Obula., Madurai
Thanks to all
No comments :
Post a Comment