PALI WORKSHOP - RESPONSES:
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8. P. Madhu:
What matters is not the identity of language vis a vis that of the other but the
semiotic/collective assemblage making that language - which determines usage
of sense making with the language. Collective
assemblage that effectuate &
construct the language in question determines it's enunciative capabilities. If we
project Pali as language of 'good' Buddhists vis a vis bad Brahmins and trace a
conspiracy in the 'elimination' of Pali influence from Malayalam then that would
result in impoverished historiography and poor understanding of languages in
construct the language in question determines it's enunciative capabilities. If we
project Pali as language of 'good' Buddhists vis a vis bad Brahmins and trace a
conspiracy in the 'elimination' of Pali influence from Malayalam then that would
result in impoverished historiography and poor understanding of languages in
the making. I wish the best for the workshop. A strong pull
towards identity
fetishism however may spoil it too.
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It is a liberating break to learn Pali through the Brahmi script that
was
introduced in South India in BC third century by Asokan
missionaries. Prof T
Pavithran who has deciphered so many Pali
inscriptions from Idakal to
Pattanamwould be a vital contributor in
this academic event by Prof Yojana
Bhagat. The Brahmi inscriptions and
the Brahmi script in particular form the
still surviving concrete and
material link of South India with Pali apart from the
vocabulary and
usages that exist in disguised ways in Malayalam and other
South Indian
languages.
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There was no period in the history of India when only one system of philosophy
one culture only were n vogue. in fact various cultures languages, and
epistemology existed simultaneously. Then how comes Sanskrit became the
language and HIndu/Brahminic culture became the culture of \India? Let us
explore . In order to understand how the dominant discourse interpolated ,
translated the original Pali in which Buddha expressed his dhamma ( also
insisted not to use
Chandas/sanskrit)a knowledge of Pali is essential. Any
attempt to learn Pali language would also be an attempt to learn the way of life
Buddha
had shown.
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5 . T. Mini:
A study of Pali is essential to understand Buddhist culture. Early literature
of Buddhism is stored through the medium of Pali. Hence
to know Buddhism
from the early period [that is from period of Buddha to
1st or Second century
of common era] a working knowledge in Pali becomes
essential.We are now
studying and interpreting Buddhism mainly based on
translations.We learn
Sanskrit Buddhist texts of later period also
through translations from Chinese,
English or other languages. Hence to
be familiar with the original Pali texts is
imperative to understand Buddhist cultures. It is highly appreciable that such
an attempt is being undertaken.There are courses in some North Indian
Institutions to teach
Pali and Prakrt.
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4. K. Sugathan:
A study of Pali will help us to understand many things
(1) We got hundreds
of words of Magadhi through the people who came to Kerala to
propagate Buddhism
(2) The word 'amma'
is not a thalbhavam of sanscrit word 'amba'
(3) Members of the
Viswakarma community are Buddhists who came from Bihar.
(4) Sanskrit is an
artificial language .
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3. Ajay
Sekher:
The
Pali Workshop is academically and politically significant in the
current
conjecture. It is also a desirable follow up to the cultural buddhism workshop.
As the scholar behind the Prakrit-Malayalam dictionary we also need to include
Prof T Pavithran's class on Brahmi script and Vattezhutu towards the end of the
Pali workshop to link it to our own cultural contexts. He could introduce
Brahmi scripts in 2 days. That would be a further enabling and liberating break
for all of us who wants to read ancient Pali texts and Tamil texts or inscriptions
in Brahmi scripts found all over south India.
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conjecture. It is also a desirable follow up to the cultural buddhism workshop.
As the scholar behind the Prakrit-Malayalam dictionary we also need to include
Prof T Pavithran's class on Brahmi script and Vattezhutu towards the end of the
Pali workshop to link it to our own cultural contexts. He could introduce
Brahmi scripts in 2 days. That would be a further enabling and liberating break
for all of us who wants to read ancient Pali texts and Tamil texts or inscriptions
in Brahmi scripts found all over south India.
.........
2. K. G. Krishna
Kumar:
It is very
important to see the reality that it is the Pali language, which made
possible the present day Malayalam. Among the Dravidian languages, the
Malayalam has certain uniqueness due to its influence by the Pali. Unfortunately
our linguists do not show any interest towards the Pali or give any attention to
the influence Pali had on our language. For a proper understanding of the
development of Malayalam language and the culture of Kerala requires
familiarity with the Pali. Hope the workshop on Pali would help our people to
rediscover its cultural roots.
possible the present day Malayalam. Among the Dravidian languages, the
Malayalam has certain uniqueness due to its influence by the Pali. Unfortunately
our linguists do not show any interest towards the Pali or give any attention to
the influence Pali had on our language. For a proper understanding of the
development of Malayalam language and the culture of Kerala requires
familiarity with the Pali. Hope the workshop on Pali would help our people to
rediscover its cultural roots.
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1. K. Sugathan:
Pali is basically a language belonging to Indo-European family. But it has
borrowed freely from Moola Dravida language as well as Austric languages.
Sanskrit was made "pure" by removing Dravida and Austric elements. Once
Prof. Sukumar Azheekode said, the language of Indian Culture is Pali and not
sanscrit. It is difficult to read Pali in Roman script. Brahmi script is quite simple
and easy to learn.
