SOURASHTRA LANGUAGE, LITERATURE AND SCRIPT
This paper, though not exhaustive, gives an outline on three aspects viz.
(A) LANGUAGE, (B) LITERATURE and (C) SCRIPT of Sourashtram.
Saurashtra (also Sourashtra) Language is an Indo-Aryan Language, about which there is no doubt among the Scholars. It is not a dialect of Gujarati, Marathi or Konkani, for the speakers of these languages cannot comprehend if they listen to Sourashtra language, though some of the vocabulary tally with their language. Its antiquity is as old as Sanskrit and is derived from Sauraseni Prakrit. T.M. Rama Rai says in his First Catechism of Sourashtra Grammar1 that the present Sourashtra language is the modern Prakrit language and the distinction between the old and modern Prakrit language may be compared with that of the old and modern English language.
The systematic study of Sanskrit language by the westerners started from the year 1786 A.D.by Sir William Jones, who studied the affinities among Sanskrit, Greek and Latin. In 1853 Sir Erskine Perry presented a paper 'on the Geographical distribution of the Principal Languages of India and the feasibility of introduction of English as a LINGUA FRANCA' in the Journal of Royal Asiatic Society of Bengal and this gave a correct estimation of linguistic situation in India. In 1856 Bishop Caldwell published his monumental work 'Comparative Grammar of the Dravidian or South Indian Family of Languages'. John Beams published 'A Comparative Grammar of the Modern Aryan Languages of India in 3 volumes in London (1872-1879). These works formed the basis of the theories of George A Grierson on the classification of the Aryan vernaculars in the Linguistic Survey of India, which was published in many volumes between 1905 and 1922.
During the later part of the 19th century an awakening arose in the Sourashtra Community, which paved the way to think about the origin of their language and steps were taken to bring out publications in Sourashtra language in its own script and to replace the terms 'PATNULI' and 'PATNULKARAN' which were not palatable and which were also not relevant, for these terms covered all those who were engaged in silk weaving irrespective of the languages they spoke. So, the terms 'SOURASHTRA' and 'SOURASHTRAN' were popularized to mark their distinct identity of their language and community from other silk weavers. In 1876, the first publication in Sourashtra Script was brought by To.Mu. Seshayyangar.2 It was followed by other publications in Sourashtra script out of which the important ones are listed below:
Sourashtra Sabdavali (1879) 3 Sourashtra Laghu Sankyavali (1880)
Sourashtra Vattavali (1880), Sourashtra Bala Ramayanu (1904)
Sourashtra Niti Sambu (1902), Sourashtra Sangita Ramayanu (1905) (Telugu Script)
First Catechism of Sourashtra Grammar (1905)
Sourashtra Bodhini (1906) Sourashtra Nandi Nighantu (1908)
These and other publications in Sourashtra script created curiosity in the mind of Dr. H.N. Randle, M.A., D.Phil., I.E.S., Librarian, India Office, White Hall, London S.W.1 (1933-1949) while classifying the books and he after studying the available Sourashtra books, wrote an article “An Indo-Aryan Language of South India – Saurashtra Bhasha”in the Bulletin of School of Oriental and African Studies (BSOAS) 11 Part I p.104-121 and Part II p.310-327 (1943-46)4. He also wrote an article “The Saurashtrans of South India” in the Journal of Royal Asiatic Society, London in October 1944.5 Inspired by Dr.H.N.Randle's article, Dr. Uchida Norihiko of Kobe, Japan started his studies on Sourashtra Language in 1972 and he has written many Articles and Books on Sourashtra Language and Culture. The notable are:
The Oral Literature of Saurashtrans (1979) 6
The Language of the Saurashtran in Tirupati (1983) 7
A Saurashtra-English Dictionary (1990) 8
He is continuing his studies on Saurashtra language. He is writing Saurashtra Comparative Grammar. This deals with the literary form along with nine other dialects viz. Palayamkottai, Madurai, Tiruchi, Kumbakonam, Walajapet, Salem, Bangalore, Arani and Tirupati. The survival of this Indo-Aryan language even after several centuries of migration to South India surrounded by Dravidian Languages has fascinated him and he continues to work on this language.
In Census of India 1961 Volume I Part II – C (ii) Language Tables page ccxvii9 it is stated that some authoritative work on this variety of language remains to be done and pending the same (the Saurashtra Language) it is kept under Gujarati according to the Linguistic Survey of India. As suggested by George A. Grierson, Government brought out the Gramophone records of the languages and dialects of the Madras Presidency10 and published the Text in 1927, through Government Museum, Madras. In it, Sourashtra Language is recorded under the head 'Patnuli'.
Prof. I.R.Dave, Head of the Dept. of Gujarati Language and Literature, Saurashtra University, Rajkot studied this language and wrote a book “Dakshina Bharatna Saurashtrio emani Saurashtri Bhasha, Sahitya parampara ane sanskar-pranali” (1955) 11 in Gujarati. Later its English translation “The Saurashtrians in South India – their Language, Literature and Culture 12 was published in 1976. Unfortunately, it contained lot of printing mistakes in the spelling of the Sourashtra words listed and for many words the source is not known.
Prof. P.B.Pandit in his “Dr.P.D.Gune Memorial Lecture” under the head 'India as a Sociolinguistic Area'13 deals with Saurashtra language with that of Tamil and Gujarati.
The writer feels that further extensive study be undertaken by the Marathi and Gujarati Scholars comparing their language with Sourashtra spoken in South India.
B. SOURASHTRA LITERATURE.
Prose, Poetry and Drama works are available in Sourashtra Language.
The earliest Saurashtra song (poetry) available is the one composed by Sugandha Dhoopa Thirthaaryar - “tadiku povus poDi taLo hiir”. The magnum opus in Sourashtra Language is “Sourashtra Sangita Ramayanu”14 composed by Kavi Venkatasuri (1818-1890) published in 1905 in Telugu script. While the first five Kandams (parts) 15 have been published in Tamil script, the last part Yuddha Kandam is yet to be published in Tamil script. Its language is archaic and without commentary it is difficult to understand. The next popular songs are those of Natana Gopala Nayaki (1843-1904) 16 published in Tamil script. Because of its simplicity and devotional character, they have become popular and sung in concerts and in bhajans.'A Saurashtra-English Dictionary' 8 lists more than 70 works in Sourashtra language out of which 21 mostly written by Advaitananda Bharati are in manuscript form only and they are yet to be printed.
The following translations are available.
Nauka charitram – Panchal charitru by B. Alagararya 17
Bhagavat Gita – Bhagavat Gita in Sourashtram by T.R.Padmanabha Iyer 18
Gita Govinda Mahakavyam – by Kurugadi G.Rengadhamayya 19
Tirukkural – by S.S.Ram 20
Venkatesa Suprabhatam – by N.S.Viswanathan 21
Kumara Gitam 22 is composed by N.S.Viswanathan emulating Pillaittamil.
The Prose works:
Sourashtra Vachana Ramayanu by T.M.Ramarai 23
Vedanta Vicharanaikal by Kutty Kaveri Ammal 24 a philosophical discourse.
The Drama work:
Novva Jivnam by V.K.Nilarao 25
There are other Kathakalakshepam works wherein prose and poetry are combined. Of late, many more original works are authored and published in Sourashtram.
References:
1. First Catechism of Sourashtra Grammar, by T.M.Rama Rai (in Sourashtra
script) (1905)
2. First Publication in Sourashtra Script in 1876 Published by To.Mu.
Seshayyngar
3. Catalogue of the Saurashtra Books in the India Office Library, London (1979)
4. BSOAS 11 Part I p.104-121 and Part II p.310-327 (1943-46)
5. Journal of Royal Asiatic Society, London (October 1944)
6. The Oral Literature of Saurashtrans, by Dr.Uchida Norihiko, Intercultural
Research Institute Monograph Series 6, Simant Publications, Calcutta (1979)
7. The Language of Saurashtrans in Tirupati, by Dr. Uchida Norihiko, {Second
and revised Edition 1991) Mahalxmi Enterprises, Bangalore.
8. A Saurashtra-English Dictionary, by Dr. Uchida Norihiko, (1990) Otto
Harrassowitz, Wiesbaden, Germany.
9. Census of India 1961 Volume I Part II – C (ii) Language Tables, p. ccxvii
10. Gramophone Records of the languages and dialects of the Madras
Presidency, Text of Passages, Government Museum, Madras (1927)
11. Dakshina Bharatna Saurashtrio emani Saurashtri Bhasha, Sahitya
parampara and Samskarana Pranali by Dr. I.R. Dave (1955) Saurashtra
Samshodhana Mandal, Rajkot. [in Gujarati language]
12. The Saurashtrians in South India – their Language, Literature and Culture By
I.R.Dave (1976) [in English]
13. India as a Socio Linguistic Area by Prof. P.B.Pandit, University of Pune,
(1972)
14. Sourashtra Sangita Ramayanu by Kavi Venkatasuri (1905) [Sourashtra
language printed in Telugu script]
15. Sourashtra Sangita Ramayanam by Kavi Venkatasuri – Kandams I, II, III, IV
and V [in Tamil script] Edited by K.V.Padmanabha Iyer.
16. Natanagopala Nayaki Swamigalin Sankirthanaikal (1949)
17. Panchal Charitru by B.Alagararya (1904)
18. Bhagavat Gita – Translation in Sourashtram by T.R.Padmanabhaier (Third
Edition 1975)
19. Gita Govindam – Translation in Sourashtram by Kurugadi G. Rengadamayya
(1938)
20 Tirukkural – Translation in Sourashtram by S.S. Ram, Siddhasramam (1993)
21. Venkatesa Suprabhatam – Translation in Sourashtram by N.S.Viswanathan
(1980)
22. Kumara Gitam – Pillaittamil in Sourashtram by N.S.Viswanathan (1980)
23. Sourashtra Vachana Ramayanam by T.M.Rama Rai – Part I and II Published
by Sreshta Sourashtra Sahitya Sabha, Madurai (1979)
24. Vedanta Vicharanaikal – Discourse in Sourashtram by Kutty Kaveri Ammal
(1954)
25. Novva Jivnam – a Drama in Sourashtram by V.K.Neela Rao (1978)
26. The Alphabet – A Key to the History of Mankind by David Dringer D.Litt
(1948)
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