INDIRA GANDHI NATIONAL CENTRE FOR THE ARTS cordially invites you to the 3rd Kala Nidhi Lecture Series and Outreach Programme on A Study of Sir William Jones Works:
From IGNCA- Kala Nidhi Reference Library Rare Collections
by Ms. Seema Chopra Freelance Journalist On the Wednesday, June 8, 2011 at 3.00 PM at Lecture Hall, IGNCA Kala Nidhi Building (Ground Floor) 11, Mansingh Road, New Delhi-110001 Dr (Mrs) Paramjeet K. Walia Headof Department of Library and Information Science University of Delhi Will preside over About the topic: Sir William Jones, British Orientalist and jurist who did much to encourage interest in Oriental studies in the West. He studied at Harrow and University College, Oxford (1764-68), and learned 28 languages, such as Latin, Greek, Hebrew, Arabic and Persian. His works includes, Grammar of the Persian Language and a translation of seven famous pre-Islamic Arabic odes. In 1783 he was knighted and sailed for Calcutta as judge of the Supreme Court. He founded the Asiatic Society of Bengal and the Asiatic Society in Calcutta in 1784. In his 1786 presidential discourse to the Asiatic Society of Calcutta he postulated the common ancestry of Sanskrit, Latin, and Greek. His findings provided the impetus for the development of comparative linguistics in the early 19th century. He wrote on the local laws, music, literature, botany, and geography, and made the first English translations of several important works of Indian literature. In 1789 he was the first to translate the Abhijñanasakuntalam, an Indian play (written in a mix of Sanskrit and Prakrit) into a Western language under the title of Sacontalá or The Fatal Ring; An Indian Drama by Cálidás (Kalidasa). He encouraged his colleague Charles Wilkins to make the first translation of the Bhagavad Gita into English. Kala Nidhi serves as a major cultural information/knowledge resource hub to support research objectives and the technical information needs of other units of IGNCA. The reference library has an array of primary and secondary material in the broad areas of humanities and the arts. Many scholars have got benefited from the rich resource of IGNCA. This lecture is an effort to bring to fore the researches and academicians in the field through their literary contributions. The present lecture traverses the literary journey of Sir William Jones as gleaned from the six volumes of the complete works of Sir William Jones. The six volumes not only apprise but also acquaint one with the ancient cultures of India, which by the efforts of Sir William Jones drew the attention of west towards the oriental studies. The discourses of Sir William Jones in the published volumes through ample light not only on the Indian mythology and beliefs but vis-à-vis there is a comparative study with that of East Asia, West Asia and Graco-Roman civilizations. One of his essays gives a chronological table of the kings and rulers of ancient India. The essays on the Indian calendar of festivals, mystical poetry, and account of Mughal kings are equally interesting. Sir William Jones was overwhelmed with the richness and development of Indian literary Treasure that he remarked that it was the East which held the secrets of early history and civilization of man. About the speaker: Ms. Seema Chopra is Graduate in Economics and Maths, Diploma holder in Journalism and Textile Designing from Delhi University. She started her career Freelance Journalist. A member of InSA- Indian society for authors. She has been writing columns on Travel and Indian culture since 1988 for various national and regional newspapers. She has also contributed papers in national and international journals. Presently she is doing research on forms of Ram Kathas in India, statewise, published in a weekly column in Punjab-Kesri and Dainik Jagran. Also reviewing the Rare Books in Kalanidhi in the IGNCA (Indira Gandhi National Centre for Arts), Mansingh Road, New Delhi. She is Trustee and Member of advisory board of many organizations related to women and child welfare. ******************************************** Dr. Ramesh C Gaur PGDCA, MLISc,Ph.D. Fulbright Scholar (Virginia Tech, USA) Librarian & Head-Kala Nidhi Division Coordinator- ABIA International Index Project Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts(IGNCA) (An Autonomous Trust under Ministry of Culture. Govt. of India) 11 Man Singh Road, New Delhi-110001 Phone: 91-11-23388333, 23385884 Fax: 91-11-23385884 URL: www.ignca.gov.in Email: gaur@ignca.nic.in; rcgaur@bol.net.in ramesh.gaur@fulbrightmail.org http://www.ignca.nic.in/PDF_data/Profile_Dr_RC_Gaur.pdf -- This message has been scanned for viruses and dangerous content by MailScanner, and is believed to be clean.