Thursday 23 June 2011

Thursday 2 June 2011

Mariano Saldanha

Mariano Jose Luis de Gonzaga Saldanha (1878-1975) of Uskai (Ucassaim) village in Goa, studied medicine and pharmacy, but spent much of his life as a teacher of Marathi and Sanskrit at the Lyceum in Goa and of Sanskrit at Lisbon. (See J. Clement Vaz, Profiles of Eminent Goans, Past and Present, 1997, 259, search Google Books)

Prof. Mariano Saldanha "a linguist who taught Sanskrit and Konkani in Lisbon for over two decades," was among those who donated their large personal collections to the Xavier Centre for Historical Research Library. (See Cajetan Coelho, "Rediscovering a Lost Cultural Identity," at http://www.iias.nl/iiasn/iiasn8/south/xavier.html as of 2 June 2011.)

J.L. Saldanha instead borrowed an MS of the Khristapurana from a Mr. Marian Saldanha, whom he describes as "an enthusiast of Purannic literature." (S iii)

MCS - the KP MS at the TSKK - bears the name "M.C. Saldanha" in pencil on one of the first pages, and also on the spine of the leather binding.

Is it possible to identify the two? Could M.C. be really M.G, and if so, does it stand for Mariano Jose Luis de Gonzaga Saldanha?

Primary
  • “O Purana Christão do Padre Thomaz Estevam.”
  • “O Oriente Português.” Nova Goa, 1880.
  • “Um Hino de Sant’Ana em Concani.” Heraldo, 1915.
  • “O ensino do Concani.” Boletim do Instituto Vasco da Gama, Goa, 1926.
  • “Questôes de Concani.” Heraldo, 1932.
  • “Monsenhor Sebastião Rodolfo Dalgado.” Revista da Faculdade de Letras da Universidade de Lisboa, 1933.
  • “Relacão historica das gramaticas Concanis.” Bulletin of the School of Oriental and African Sfudies, London, 1936.
  • Doutrina Christam em lingoa Bramana Canarim. Ordenada a maneira de Dialogo, pera ensinar os mininos. Coposta pollo Padre Thomas Estevao da Companhia de IESUS. natural de Lodres. Empressa no Collegio do Rachol da Copanhia de IESUS Anno 1622. 1945. [Reproduced in facsimile on pp. 55-190, with introduction, notes and appendices.]
  • “Novos catecismos em Concani”. Heraldo, 1951.
  • “A Transliteracão romanisada do Concani.” Heraldo, 1952.
  • “A Lingua Concani e Acção Portuguesa na sua cultura.” Bulletin of Institute Menezes Braganca, 1953.
  • “O Folclore Goês.” Heraldo, 1954.
  • “A Literatura Puranica Cristã.” Boletim do Instituto Vasco da Gama, 1961. 
  • Kalidasa, Meghaduta, tr. M. Saldanha. 1926.
  • Stephens, Thomas. Doutrina Christa, ed. M. Saldanha. 1945.
  • As investigacoes de um Gramatico. 1933.
  • Iniciacao de lingua Concani. 1950.
  • “Aditamentos e correccoes a monografia ‘O livro e o jornal em Goa’ do professor Leão Fernandes.” Boletim Instituto Vasco da Gama 32 (1936) 60.
  • “História de Gramática Concani.” Bulletin of the School of Oriental Studies 8 (1935–37) 715-735.
  • Da importancia do Sanscrito.
  • Saldanha, Antonio. Upaxamu. (Part of Prasse pastoral). Ed. M. Saldanha.

Secondary
  • Saradesaya, Manohararaya. A History of Konkani Literature: From 1500 to 1992. New Delhi: Sahitya Akademi, 2000. 98-100.
  • Vaz, J. Clement. Profiles of Eminent Goans, Past and Present. New Delhi: Concept Publishing, 1997. 259-261.
  • De Souza, Teotonio. "Mariano Saldanha: A Centenary Tribute." Indica 15/2 (1978) 135-139.
  • Pereira, Antonio. The Makers of Konkani Literature. 1982.


J.A. Saldanha's Devanagari MS of the Khristapurana

This is what J.L. Saldanha has to say about the single Devanagari MS that he examined:
The single Devanagari transliteration obtined in connexion with the present publication, through the kindness of Mr. J.A. Saldanha, is, however, full of modern forms given in plce of the old ones of the Romanized copies, and contains, besides, numerous errors. It seems to hve drawn  good deal of attention at the late Centenary Celebration of the Bombay Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society, at which it was exhibited at Mr. Saldanha's express desire." ["Introduction," The Christian Puranna (Bolar, Mangalore: Simon Alvares, Esq., 1907) XL note 2.]

Wednesday 1 June 2011

Sadhu chaturanga padri / Thomas Estevo


If I am not mistaken, the name of Thomas Stephens / Estevao / Estevam does not appear in the MS ascribed to him. In that case, this discovery should be interesting. In the Bhaugun Kamat Vagh MS (Goa University Library), on an unnumbered page after Avesvaru 12 (which is from the First Purana, and continues the story of the patriarch Joseph), we have the following verse which, as far as I know, does not belong to the Khristapurana:


Sadhu chaturanga padri
Hea purannacha adicary
Tomas Estevo Cauitu Surghari
Mirauala changu /1/


This unit / composition has altogether 14 verses. The name of Thomas is mentioned once more at least in the composition. 

Who is Sadhu chaturanga padri

And what might be the exact translation of the verse?

2 June 2011: the mystery is solved: the strophe above is the first strophe of the Praise of Fr Thomas Stephens by Frei Gaspar de S. Miguel - which consists, precisely, of 14 strophes.

Bibliographies acquired by Divyadaan Library


The following have been acquired by Divyadaan Library as of May 2011:
  • Bibliography of Dr Pissurlencar Collection, ed. B.S. Shastry and V.R. Navelkar (Bambolim: Goa University, 1989). Part I: A Descriptive Bibliography of the Writings of Dr Pissurlencar. Part II: List of Historical Writings in Dr Pissurlencar Collection. Part III: Letters from Dr Pissurlencar Collection. [The letters here are worth perusing; might provide important archival hints. Dr Pissurlencar was head of the Government Archives in Goa, and is regarded as the Father of these archives, which he was responsible for preserving.]
  • Bibliography of Dr Nuno Gonsalves Collection. Ed. V.R. Navelkar. Taleigao Plateau, Goa: Goa University, 1997. 687 pp. 


Thomas Stephens: Goa University Library holdings

This is a rough idea of the holdings of the Goa University Library on Thomas Stephens. The holdings are mostly in the Pissurlencar Collection. [Bibliography of Dr Pissurlencar Collection, ed. B.S. Shastry and V.R. Navelkar (Bambolim: Goa University, 1989). Part II, List of Historical Writings in Dr Pissurlencar Collection, pp. 47-48.]

Primary
  • Father Stephenskrit Kristapurana (First & Second). Ed. S. Bandelu. Prasad Prakashan, 1956. 1067 pp. (MAR). No. 159.
  • Doutrina Crista em lingua concanim. Ed. S. Saldanha. Lisbon: A.G.C., 1945. 267 pp. (POR). No. 659.
  • Christa Purana: Ausuaru 11, 12, 20, 38, 47, 48, 50. [19th Century MS copy from the collection at the house of Bhaugun Kamat Vagh.] No. 4071.
  • The Christian Puranna: A Work of the 17th Century. Ed. Joseph L. Saldanha. No. 658.
  • Dotrina Christan mhanje Christi Dharmatma. Ed. A.K. Priolkar. Pune, 1965. 76 pp. + 44 pp. glossary. No. 661.
Secondary
  • Joshi, Meena. Christachi Sastracha Kathechismu: Uttar Konkani Marathi Bolicha Granth. Bombay: MMGS, 1962. 60 pp. (MAR). No. 665.
  • Malshe, S.G. Christa Puranache Prayogan ani Rachana. 24 pp. (MAR). No. 4432.
  • Malshe, S.G. Father Stephens ani tyache Christapurana. Bombay: Mumbai Marathi Granth Sangrahalay, 1956. 48 pp. (MAR). No. 660.
  • Priolkar, A.K. Paixao de Christo. Bombay, 1940. pp. 182-211. (MAR). [Notes in English and Marathi. Poem on the Crucifixion of Christ.] No. 1274.
  • Priolkar, A.K. Pitaji Thomas Stephenskrut Christapurana. Bombay. 30 pp. (MAR). No. 1429.
  • Priolkar, A.K. Two recently discovered letters of Fr Thomas Stephens. Bombay, 1956. pp. 113-122. No. 1529.
  • Schurhammer. G. "Der Marathidichter Thomas Stephens, S.I.: Neue Dokumente." Rome, 1957. pp. 67-82. (GER). No. 4325.
  • "A proposito do primeiros livros Maratas impressos em Goa." [Concering the First Marathi Books Printed in Goa.] Boletim Instituto Vasco da Gama 73 (1956) 55-79. R. PC 3864. [Mentions the Christa Purana by Father Thomas Stephens as the first Marathi work printed in Goa in 1616.] [Vol. 1:47-48.]