[INDOLOGY] M-W Sanskrit-English Dictionary Co-Authors

[Artur Karp]

> there were no pandits in Oxford

Monier-Williams - a solitary giant, helped in his Sanskrit Lexicographer's
work only by several European trained sub-giants.

No assistance from Indian pandits needed; he could manage without their
help, he himself would explain the meanings of rare lexemes appearing in
some vague (left vague on purpose!) Vedic verses, he himself would explain
the meanings of some difficult terms appearing in some half-forgotten
philosophical or astronomical or grammatical treatises .

No, no need for any pandits in Oxford. No pandit could measure up to him.

Dear All,

Great knowledge - yes. But - was his knowledge boundless?

I personally would rather - would tend to - doubt it.

The way his work is presented in the SED itself - it confirms the White
Man's advantage over the Indian natives: their tradition has to be
organized, their sacred language de-sanctified, and He -  the great Monier
Monier-Williams - does it.

Colonial pride.

Sir Monier Monier-Williams, KCIE. Knight Commander of the Order of the
Indian Empire.

Even If there were no pandits in Oxford at the time, there certainly were
multilingual pandits working in London, experts in Sanskrit and English and
local languages, in the India Office. Can we exclude any contacts between
them and the M-W's team? Any paid-for consultations?

Regards,

Artur Karp


2016-04-29 10:46 GMT+02:00 Klaus Karttunen <klaus.karttunen at helsinki.fi>:

> It was noted by several contemporary critics. He even copies some of the
> misprints appearing in the Peterburg dictionary. But this was the first
> edition of Monier Williams (1872). The second edition (1899) was completely
> revised and in this he was helped by several assistants and colleagues –
> all mentioned at the end of his introduction. He visited India three times,
> but never lived there, and there were no pandits in Oxford.
>
> Best,
> Klaus
>
> Klaus Karttunen
> South Asian and Indoeuropean Studies
> Asian and African Studies, Department of World Cultures
> PL 59 (Unioninkatu 38 B)
> 00014 University of Helsinki, FINLAND
> Tel +358-(0)2941 4482418
> Fax +358-(0)2941 22094
> Klaus.Karttunen at helsinki.fi
>
>
>
>
>
>
> On 29 Apr 2016, at 11:37, Krishnaprasad G <krishnaprasadah.g at gmail.com>
> wrote:
>
> I noticed, he just translated ( based on) Kleines Petersburger
> Woerterbuch (Boehtlingk) *Sanskrit*-
>
> *German Dictionary  (one can easily verify this)*
>
>
>
> *also he mentiones Radhakanta Dev who is an editor of Shabdakalpadruma*
>
> On Fri, Apr 29, 2016 at 1:17 PM, Artur Karp <karp at uw.edu.pl> wrote:
>
>> Sir Monier Monier-Williams, M.A., K.C.I.E., pays due tribute to his
>> Western contributors. But I do not find in his Dictionary any mention of
>> his  Indian contributors' input - no list of Pandits who worked for him -
>> without them, without their immense knowledge, his Opus Magnum would have
>> never appeared in print.
>>
>> I can only wish that someone with access to M-W's working archive would
>> find documents re M-W's Indian employees and publish their names, more:
>> using Indian archive materials - their full biograms.
>>
>> They deserve to be finally brought out of that area of shadow surrounding
>> colonial Indology.
>>
>> Regards,
>>
>> Artur Karp
>>
>> University of Warsaw (emeritus)
>>
>> Poland
>>
>>
>>
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