England, John C., Jose Kuttianimattathil, John M. Prior, Lily A. Quintos, David Suh Kwang-sun, Janice Wikeri, ed. Asian Christian Theologies: A Research Guide to Authors, Movements, Sources. Vol. 1: Asia Region 7th-20th centuries; South Asia; Austral Asia. Delhi: ISPCK / Claretian Publishers; Maryknoll: Orbis, 2002. 220-1: Pierre Johanns, sj (1882-1955).
This is a precious resource, as far as a bibliography of Indian Christian Writings is concerned.
It is, of course, of a far larger scope than "Indian Christian Writings." However, its extension is also its limitation. It is not able to cover the whole area of Indian Christian Writings.
Some glaring omissions:
Thomas Stephens is mentioned, but in passing.
Except for Pierre Johanns, none of the other members of the Calcutta School of Indology find mention.
There is not a single mention of the work of Richard De Smet.
Much work to be done, therefore, in producing a proper bibliography of Indian Christian Writings.
Still, the resources mentioned will be helpful.
Saturday, 13 November 2010
Monday, 8 November 2010
Jacome Gonsalves (1676-1742)
Life
Born and baptized on 8 June 1676 in the parish church of Our Lady of Grace, Chorao, Goa. Eldest son of Thomas Gonsalves and Mariana de Abreu, living in the parish of Our Lady of Pity (Piedade), Divar, Goa. His family had been Christians for 2 or 3 generations, being among the first converts at the beginning of Portuguese rule in Goa.
Gonsalves studied at the Jesuit College of Goa. He enrolled in the University of Goa [probably the Collegio Sao Paolo], and obtained the degree of Bachelor of Arts. In 1696 he began theological studies at the Academy of St Thomas Aquinas in Goa, where he also held the post of organist. This seems to have led him to develop a taste for poetry, prose and music.
He decided to enter the Oratorian Congregation of Goa. He was appointed to the chair of philosophy at the University of St Paul's in Goa [probably the Collegio Sao Paolo]. He took up his post in January 1705, but relinquished it the same year to go to Sri Lanka.
He left Goa on 9 May 1705 and reached Sri Lanka on 30 August 1705, arriving at Talaimannar. At the time, he knew Konkani, Portuguese, Latin and Spanish. During the long journey he studied Tamil. He mastered this language during his first assignment on the islands of Mannar, Arippu, Musali and other places in the Munnar district. He also learnt Dutch.
Fr Jose Vaz sent him to Kandy to learn Sinhala. Fr Gonsalves studied with the Buddhist monks at the Malwatta Chapter, known for their high and elegant Sinhala.
He wrote many of his works at Bolawatta, near Negombo. Since there was no printing press, he employed 12 Sinhala clerks to copy his works.
He is called the Father of Sinhala Catholic literature.
He died on 17 July 1742.
Primary bibliography
Born and baptized on 8 June 1676 in the parish church of Our Lady of Grace, Chorao, Goa. Eldest son of Thomas Gonsalves and Mariana de Abreu, living in the parish of Our Lady of Pity (Piedade), Divar, Goa. His family had been Christians for 2 or 3 generations, being among the first converts at the beginning of Portuguese rule in Goa.
Gonsalves studied at the Jesuit College of Goa. He enrolled in the University of Goa [probably the Collegio Sao Paolo], and obtained the degree of Bachelor of Arts. In 1696 he began theological studies at the Academy of St Thomas Aquinas in Goa, where he also held the post of organist. This seems to have led him to develop a taste for poetry, prose and music.
He decided to enter the Oratorian Congregation of Goa. He was appointed to the chair of philosophy at the University of St Paul's in Goa [probably the Collegio Sao Paolo]. He took up his post in January 1705, but relinquished it the same year to go to Sri Lanka.
He left Goa on 9 May 1705 and reached Sri Lanka on 30 August 1705, arriving at Talaimannar. At the time, he knew Konkani, Portuguese, Latin and Spanish. During the long journey he studied Tamil. He mastered this language during his first assignment on the islands of Mannar, Arippu, Musali and other places in the Munnar district. He also learnt Dutch.
Fr Jose Vaz sent him to Kandy to learn Sinhala. Fr Gonsalves studied with the Buddhist monks at the Malwatta Chapter, known for their high and elegant Sinhala.
He wrote many of his works at Bolawatta, near Negombo. Since there was no printing press, he employed 12 Sinhala clerks to copy his works.
He is called the Father of Sinhala Catholic literature.
He died on 17 July 1742.
Primary bibliography
- Deva Veda Puranaya. [or: Deva Arulveda Puranam.] Part I: Purantima Kandam, pp. 197. Part II: Paccima Kandam, pp. 130. [Compendium of the Bible in 2 parts. 400 printed pages. Undoubtedly influenced by Thomas Stephens' Khristapurana. The description of the Garden of Eden includes local trees: jackfruit, sugar cane, king coconut, timbiri, sandalwood, blue lotus.] Written 1725. 1886. [Dr. Pieris.]
- Veda Kavyaya.
- Suvisesha Viriturai. [Explanation of the Gospels for Sundays.] Written 1728, printed 1848.
- Viyakula Pirasangam. [Sermons on the Passion.] Written 1730, printed 1844. Nine sermons on the passion; the most popular of Fr Gonsalves' works. Catholics in Ceylon still use them during passion week or at Passion plays.] [Dr. Pieris.]
- Gnana Unartchy. [Spiritual Exhortation.] Written 1734, printed 1844. 14 exhortations dealing with the soul, the end of man, the malice of sin, vanity of life, death, judgment, hell and heaven. [Dr Pieris.]
- Sukirta Tarpanam. [Mirror of Virtues.] Written 1735, printed 1914. 15 chapters, meant to lead the repentant soul in the path of virtue. [Dr Pieris.]
- Sattiya Vedagama Sanshpam. [Summary of Biblical History.] Written 1736, printed Madras, 1875. A summary of the Deva Arulveda Puranam divided into 8 eras or Yugams, the last yugam being that of Christ.
- Trilingual dictionary. [Portuguese, Tamil, Sinhala.]
- Christiyana Alayam. [The Christian Treasure House.] MS, 1725 [ACT 1:74]. Possibly the oldest prayer book in Tamil now extant. Apart from the prayers, it contains a short Catechism of Christian Doctrine and a few meditations. [Dr. Pieris]
- Matara Pratyaksaya. [Enlightenment of the kingdom of the mature.] Octavo, 1733.
- Fernandopulle, Anthony. Father Jacome Gonsalves: Sinhala Christian Literary Hero: A Study of the Sinhala Literary Works of Fr Jacome Gonsalves (1676-1742). Colombo: St Peter's College, 2000.
- Perera, S.G. The Life of Fr Jacome Gonsalves. 1945.
- Boudens, R. The Catholic Church in Ceylon under Dutch Rule. Rome, 1957.
- Peter, W.L.A. Don. Historical Gleanings. Colombo, n.p., 1992.
- Peter, W.L.A. Don. Star in the East. 1995.
- Pieris, Edmund. Sinhalese Christian Literature of the XVII and XVIII centuries. 1943.
- Pieris, Edmund. "Tamil Catholic Literature in Ceylon." Tamil Culture, 2:237ff.
- Perniola, V. The Catholic Church in Sri Lanka: The Dutch Period. 2 vols. Dehiwala: Tissara Prakasakayo, 1983.
- Peter, W.L.A. Don. Studies in Ceylon Church History. Colombo: Catholic Press, 1963.
- Goonetileke, H.A.I. A Bibliography of Ceylon. 5 vols. Zug: Switzerland, 1975-1983.
- Perera, S.G., ed. The Oratorian Mission in Ceylon: Historical Documents relating to the Life and Labours of the Venerable Father Joseph Vaz, his Companions and Successors. Colombo: Caxton Printing Works, 1936.
- Perniola, V., tr. The Catholic Church in Sri Lanka. The Portuguese Period: Original Documents. Ceylon Historical Journal monograph series 15-16. Dehiwala: Tissara Prakasakayo 1989-(1991). [1:77.]
- Wickremasinghe, Martin. Landmarks of Sinhalese Literature. Colombo: Gunasena, 1948/1963.
Sunday, 31 October 2010
More copies of the Khristapurana
The last week has been particularly fertile in terms of unearthing traces of copies of Thomas Stephens' Khristapurana.
Fr Angelo Monteiro who teaches at the Rachol Seminary, Goa, told me that the current Rector of the Seminary is in contact with two people who have manuscripts of the Khristapurana, one in Mapusa, the other in Arambol. Both are, for the present, unwilling to part with or even allow copies to be made of their manuscripts. [News as of 31 January 2011: According to Fr Michael Mascarenhas, SDB, the Arambol copy has been acquired by Fr Pratap Naik, SJ, Director of the Thomas Stephens Koknni Kendr, Alto Porvorim, Goa.]
Fr Michael Mascarenhas pointed out to me yesterday that Jacome Goncalves, famous follower of Jose Vaz, had carried the Khristapurana to Sri Lanka, and had made a translation of it into Singalese, under the title Deva Veda Puranaya. Some indications are in Fr Michael's book, Storm and Tempest: Life of Jose Vaz. So Sri Lanka becomes another field of search!
"The term [purana] was also used by Thomas Stephen [sic], a missionary from England, in the title of his book Christ Purana, written in Konkani language. This important work consists [sic] 10,962 verses, and undoubtedly it influenced Fr Gonsalves' Deva Veda Puranaya." (A. Fernandopulle, Father Jacome Gonsalves: Sinhala Christian Literary Hero [Colombo: St Peter's College, 2000] 14)
Fr Angelo Monteiro who teaches at the Rachol Seminary, Goa, told me that the current Rector of the Seminary is in contact with two people who have manuscripts of the Khristapurana, one in Mapusa, the other in Arambol. Both are, for the present, unwilling to part with or even allow copies to be made of their manuscripts. [News as of 31 January 2011: According to Fr Michael Mascarenhas, SDB, the Arambol copy has been acquired by Fr Pratap Naik, SJ, Director of the Thomas Stephens Koknni Kendr, Alto Porvorim, Goa.]
Fr Michael Mascarenhas pointed out to me yesterday that Jacome Goncalves, famous follower of Jose Vaz, had carried the Khristapurana to Sri Lanka, and had made a translation of it into Singalese, under the title Deva Veda Puranaya. Some indications are in Fr Michael's book, Storm and Tempest: Life of Jose Vaz. So Sri Lanka becomes another field of search!
"The term [purana] was also used by Thomas Stephen [sic], a missionary from England, in the title of his book Christ Purana, written in Konkani language. This important work consists [sic] 10,962 verses, and undoubtedly it influenced Fr Gonsalves' Deva Veda Puranaya." (A. Fernandopulle, Father Jacome Gonsalves: Sinhala Christian Literary Hero [Colombo: St Peter's College, 2000] 14)
Wednesday, 25 August 2010
Another copy of the Khristapurana: Collection of Bhaugun Kamat Vagh
One more copy of the Khristapurana, indicated in Tadkodkar's book:
[Copy, manuscript.] Collection of Bhaugun Kamat Vagh. Copy in Goa University Library: see Bibliography of Dr Pandurang Sakharam Shennavi Pissurlencar Collections, vol. II (of 3 vols.), Goa University Series No. 3, ed. B.S. Shastry and V.R. Navelkar. Cited in S.M. Tadkodkar, Goan Christian Marathi Vilapika During the 17th Century (Delhi: B.R. Publishing Corporation, 2010) 118, note 8. Tadkodkar notes that this copy is from the 19th century, and that sometimes the strophe numbers do not coincide with any of the strophe numbers in other copies mentioned by him (i.e. mainly the Central Library Panjim copy).
Tuesday, 24 August 2010
Tadkodkar's Goan Christian Marathi Vilapika: a first look
Finally managed to get a copy of S.M. Tadkodkar's Goan Christian Marathi Vilapika During the 17th Century.
It contains: the texts of the 3 Paixao's / Vilapika's from the Central Library MS of Thomas Stephens' Khristapurana at Panjim, in Roman script; transliterations by T into Devanagari script; and plenty of front and back matter.
Appendix G is entitle "Texts of the Christi Vilapika" in the Table of Contents. This is misleading: it is really an Index to the Texts of the Christi Vilapika.
I wish a good copy editor had been employed!
The system of transliteration has to be checked.
The printing and the fonts used: again, unfortunately, not the best.
But a great work, a great achievement.
Not much about the authorship of the 3 texts; or perhaps it is there, but there are no clear subtitles to the effect.
The Khristapurana was printed in 1616 and 1649 at Rachol, and in 1654 at the College of St Paul, according to Schurhammer, quoted by Priolkar in The Printing Press in India, quoted at T 112.
It contains: the texts of the 3 Paixao's / Vilapika's from the Central Library MS of Thomas Stephens' Khristapurana at Panjim, in Roman script; transliterations by T into Devanagari script; and plenty of front and back matter.
Appendix G is entitle "Texts of the Christi Vilapika" in the Table of Contents. This is misleading: it is really an Index to the Texts of the Christi Vilapika.
I wish a good copy editor had been employed!
The system of transliteration has to be checked.
The printing and the fonts used: again, unfortunately, not the best.
But a great work, a great achievement.
Not much about the authorship of the 3 texts; or perhaps it is there, but there are no clear subtitles to the effect.
The Khristapurana was printed in 1616 and 1649 at Rachol, and in 1654 at the College of St Paul, according to Schurhammer, quoted by Priolkar in The Printing Press in India, quoted at T 112.
Sunday, 4 July 2010
More on Thomas Stephens
Searched for Thomas Stephens in one of the Waterloo University libraries, and found a tiny note in a French encyclopedia, whose name I forget now. The note dealt solely with Stephens' letter to his father regarding his voyage to India.
In the New York Public Library, instead, I browsed through several collections regarding rare and ancient books and manuscripts - in the UK, in Europe, in the US - but not in Portugal, unfortunately. Of course, most of the time only the collections are listed, and not the holdings in each collection. And then there is the problem of the name: the variations of Stephens' name are enormous. I found, in Graesse, the following: Thomas Estevano; Thomas Estienne de Buston; Thomas Estienne de Buten. These were new to me, except for the first.
More interestingly, I discovered a new edition of the Dictionary of National Biography: The Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. Like the former, the latter also contains an article on Thomas Stephens. But the former was by A.F. Pollard, with its famous mention of having seen the three printed editions in the Archivo Universal in Braga, Portugal. The latter instead contains a new piece on TS, this time by our very own Charles Borges, formerly SJ, and now teaching at ... some Jesuit University in the US. Not much on the Khristapurana, though.
Nelson Falcao's publication of this doctoral dissertation has, instead, found its way into the NY Public Library.
The facilities that these people have: enviable!
I could spend weeks there.
In the New York Public Library, instead, I browsed through several collections regarding rare and ancient books and manuscripts - in the UK, in Europe, in the US - but not in Portugal, unfortunately. Of course, most of the time only the collections are listed, and not the holdings in each collection. And then there is the problem of the name: the variations of Stephens' name are enormous. I found, in Graesse, the following: Thomas Estevano; Thomas Estienne de Buston; Thomas Estienne de Buten. These were new to me, except for the first.
More interestingly, I discovered a new edition of the Dictionary of National Biography: The Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. Like the former, the latter also contains an article on Thomas Stephens. But the former was by A.F. Pollard, with its famous mention of having seen the three printed editions in the Archivo Universal in Braga, Portugal. The latter instead contains a new piece on TS, this time by our very own Charles Borges, formerly SJ, and now teaching at ... some Jesuit University in the US. Not much on the Khristapurana, though.
Nelson Falcao's publication of this doctoral dissertation has, instead, found its way into the NY Public Library.
The facilities that these people have: enviable!
I could spend weeks there.
Tuesday, 25 May 2010
Thomas Stephens and comparative linguistics
This is from Vincent W.J. van Gerwen Oei:
Personally I'm intruiged by the fact that Thomas Stephens was the first to recognize the relation between Indian and European languages, and thus a founder of comparative historical linguistics as a science.
My transcription from the pertinent sentences on the last page:
Personally I'm intruiged by the fact that Thomas Stephens was the first to recognize the relation between Indian and European languages, and thus a founder of comparative historical linguistics as a science.
My transcription from the pertinent sentences on the last page:
Linguae harum regionum sunt et multae. Pronunciationem habent non invenustam, et compositionem latinae graecaeque similem: phrases et constructiones plane mirabiles. Literae syllabarum vim habent, quae toties variatur quoties consonantis cum vocalibus, vel mutae cum liquidis combinari possunt. (T. Stephens, letter to his brother, 1583)
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