18 March,2009 09:24 AM IST | | Subroto Roy
A book by the Centre for Advanced Studies in Sanskrit gives evidence and blows the myth that the West gave linguistics to the world
The Centre for Advanced Studies in Sanskrit (CASS) at the University of Pune says the notion that the dictionary, thesaurus and etymological dictionary was first compiled in the West is wrong. These books have been present in India since time immemorial.
The evidence of existence of extensive literature has been recorded in a book titled 'India's contribution to linguistics' by CASS.
"The book blows the myth that the West gave linguistics to the world," said B K Dalai, director, CASS.
Dalai has contributed to the book will be printed in several volumes and will hit the stands soon. Several world-renowned people have contributed to the book, including those from the University of Delhi.
It may be noted that during the Vedic period, Yaska was the first to write the world's first etymological dictionary called Nirukta.
"It is misleading to say that the West gave the dictionary to the world. India has 17 different types of dictionaries created from the early Vedic period to recent times," explained Dalai.
CASS has already published a dictionary of domestic ritualistic terms that Indians use during festive occasions and even in their daily chores. "Often, we don't understand the terms we use in our rituals.
Even the person performing the rituals does not understand the meanings," said Dalai. He claimed that this is a first-of-its-kind book in the world. "It explains the meaning of different terms used for our rituals," he said.
Vice chancellor Narendra Jadhav released CASS's first-ever multiple volume concordance of Upanishadic terms yesterday. A concordance gives meanings of terms used in the Upanishads.
Professor Styavrata Shastri, the only Gyanpeeth awardee in Sanskrit language, delivered the keynote address.
u00a0
The event was part of a two-day national seminar by CASS on 'Vedic Studies: Problems and Perspectives' on the eve of the birth centenary year celebrations of late Prof R N Dandekar, celebrated Indologist and Vedic scholar.
