The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Showcasing Indo-European cultural relations

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Jul 03, 2006

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Showcasing Indo-European cultural relations

Staff Reporter

The exhibition depicts the significance of Tranquebar as a place of trading.

EXPLAINING A POINT: (From left) S. Muthiah, historian, with Muller Bahlke, director of Francke Foundations, Halle, and Erwin Wendland, Consul, Consulate-General of the Federal Republic of Germany, at the exhibition inaugurated in Chennai on Sunday. — Photo: K.V.Srinivasan

CHENNAI: The exhibition on `Ziegenbalg legacy in Tamil Nadu' that opened on Sunday at Roja Muthiah Research Library in Taramani, provides history buffs a journey through 18th century Tamil Nadu.

It features 300 years of Indo-European cultural relations, Christian mission and missionaries' contribution towards social and educational development.

Inaugurated by Erwin Wendland, Consul, Consulate General of the Federal Republic of Germany, Chennai, the exhibition was organised jointly by Roja Muthiah Research Library Trust and Francke Foundations, Halle, Germany.

Starting with the arrival of the two German theologians, Bartholomaus Ziegenbalg and Heinrich Plutchau in Tranquebar in July 1706, the exhibition depicts the inter-cultural dialogue shared for 300 years and significance of Tranquebar as a place of trading and the starting point of several educational and cultural development.

The 20 exhibits feature historical details of the Tranquebar Mission illustrated by visuals. Some of the interesting pictures are of artisans at work, title pages of the first few printed Tamil books, historical personalities of both the countries and buildings at Tranquebar.

Besides the protestant missionary work, Ziegenbalg researched in Tamil language and literature that resulted in several pioneering works, of which revival of the printing press was significant. Visuals of the early printing equipment used in 18th century provide a glimpse into the beginning of the printing history.

The exhibits also provide details about language studies, research in science and intercultural approaches to the educational system.

The materials for the exhibition were provided by Francke Foundations in Halle to commemorate the three centuries of Indo-Europe inter-cultural relation.

S. Muthiah, historian, Muller Bahlke, director of Francke Foundations and Heike Leibau of Centre for Modern Oriental Studies, Berlin, spoke on subjects including Tamil heritage, history of printing press and Danish-Halle mission.

The exhibition is on till July 8 between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m.

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