E-Paper
Fair prize for linguists, too
WANT TO know about Pali, Tibetan and Sanskrit words? Just have your pick from the pile of dictionaries displayed on the book fair counters. But, you will find words expressed in English. Because, these dictionaries have been compiled by European researchers. Dictionaries on medical, computer, botany, zoology words are pulling drawing teenagers like bees. While rest of the dictionaries are available at most of the stalls at the fair, this Pali, Tibetan and Sanskrit dictionaries are assets of Stall no 71 and 72 at the fair.
WANT TO know about Pali, Tibetan and Sanskrit words? Just have your pick from the pile of dictionaries displayed on the book fair counters.
But, you will find words expressed in English.
Because, these dictionaries have been compiled by European researchers.
Dictionaries on medical, computer, botany, zoology words are pulling drawing teenagers like bees.
While rest of the dictionaries are available at most of the stalls at the fair, this Pali, Tibetan and Sanskrit dictionaries are assets of Stall no 71 and 72 at the fair. The stall is of Motilal Banarisidass Indological Publishers & Distributors, Varanasi.
Interestingly, the Pali and Sanskrit dictionaries are by European scholars. Lexicographer TW Rhys Davids wrote the Pali-English dictionary and it took his 20 years to compile it.
Rhys conceived this dictionary in the beginning of 20th century when Pali Text Society began issuing editions and translations of the Pali Canon and commentaries in quick succession. Davids conceived this dictionary in Pali, based on the voluminous basic material that was being brought to light. And this huge dictionary is priced at just Rs 695.
Then there is A Practical Sanskrit Dictionary which includes the vocabulary of post-vedic literature with emphasis on philosophical, grammatical and rhetorical terms.
Arthur A MacDonnel wrote it. MacDonnel is one of the best known Sanskrit scholars for having popularized the Sanskrit learning in the world.
MacDonnel was the Boden Professor of Sanskrit and Keeper of Indian Institute at Oxford. This dictionary’s price is Rs 595.
Then there is another ‘A Sanskrit English Dictionary’ by M Monier-Williams costing Rs 995. And another rare dictionary is ‘A Tibetan English Dictionary’ priced at Rs 595.
