We are pleased to
announce that we have just deposited on the Oxford
Research Archive our material relating to the
development and spread of the Rāma narrative
(pre-modern), so that it can be available for others to
consult even in its present, unfinished state. It can be accessed
at http://ora.ox.ac.uk/objects/uuid:8df9647a-8002-45ff-b37e-7effb669768b
(or you
can find it via the Bodleian Libraries website, under
ORA, by looking for its title).
Here is a description of it adapted from
the abstract mounted on the website:
This material
is part of our continuing attempt to survey
presentations of the Rāma story as it has been developed
from its origin in the so-called Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa,
through transformations in all genres, media, languages,
religions and geographical areas, until roughly the end
of the eighteenth century.
However, later material has also been used if it
preserves motifs or records trends relevant to the
earlier period, though not where it introduces new
developments. In
order to explore the crucial role played by sculpture
and paintings in the transmission and development of the
narrative, we have placed visual material side-by-side
with verbal (narratives presented in words, whether
written or spoken).
The basis for the survey is: a
Bibliographic Inventory providing references to
everything of value consulted (and a list of our own
publications); a detailed tabulation of the Narrative
Elements employed and modified by successive tellers to
build up the story; Background Notes and photographs;
and unpublished Drafts surveying the material or arising from it. Guidance Notes give
detailed instructions for use.
The material is
a joint project: John has compiled the Bibliographies,
composed the Draft on Development and many of the notes,
and taken the photographs; Mary has identified and
tabulated the Narrative Elements, and supplied some of
the Drafts and other notes.
The material is far from complete, and we
hope to be able to update it from time to time, and to
produce further analyses and syntheses of the material. From the nature of its wide scope, much of
the compilation has had to be made from translations
into the major European languages, or from summaries
found in secondary literature, resulting in the omission
of material inaccessible by these means; regrettably, we also
have no way of knowing whether the translation or
summary used has been totally reliable. Where possible,
always check carefully before placing too much reliance
on it. We will warmly welcome any corrections or
supplementary information from other scholars
specialising in individual fields. With all its
deficiencies, we offer this inventory as a tool to
facilitate further research, not as a substitute for
such research, and we will be pleased to learn of any
use to which our work is put.
Because of the nature of our own
contacts this message is being sent primarily to other
Indologists but, if any of you are aware of colleagues
in other fields (for example Southeast Asian languages
or visual culture) who might be interested, do please
pass the information on to them – and similarly, if
anyone has access to academic lists on which it could be
posted, we would be grateful for its being sent to them. We shall ourselves
be sending it to the INDOLOGY and RISA lists.
With all good wishes
John and Mary