KITTEL, GEORGE, FERDINAND, 1832-1903
Reverend George Ferdinand Kittel (ರೆವರೆಂಡ್
ಜಾರ್ಜ್ ಫರ್ಡಿನಂಡ್
ಕಿಟ್ಟಲ್)
is one of the most celebrated scholars who worked untiringly in the nineteenth century
for the cause of Kannada culture and literature. His lasting contributions in the
fields of lexicography, textual criticism, literary history and criticism, knowledge
bases such as grammar, prosody and poetics have earned him a reputation beyond compare.
The fact that he could accomplish all this in conjunction with his other activities
speaks volumes about his commitment, erudition and hard work. Kittel had a firm
conviction that Christian missionaries should have a thorough knowledge of the local
language, the history and religion of the local people and an abiding interest in
their everyday activities and problems.
Kittel was born in a place called Rosterhoffe in the
North Western part of
Germany
. He pursued a course in theology
at the
Mission
College
in Bassel town for about three years and
arrived in Mangalore in the year 1953 as a protestant missionary. Later on he was
sent to Dharawada and Hubli centers in North Karnataka and it was during this period
that he undertook a serious study of Kannada and acquired a command of not only
the spoken variety of Kannada but also of its various historical stages and dialects.
He studied many English and Sanskrit works dealing with the history and the religion
of this country and this erudition prepared him for his life’s mission. He worked
in various places in different capacities for almost four decades before he returned
to Tubengen in the year 1892 due to failing eye sight. He worked in places such
as Mangalore, Dharawada, Hubli, Mercara and Anandapura. He was the Head Master of
the
Bassel
Mission
High school
, Dharawada for a short period. He was
too preoccupied with his scholarly work to take many administrative posts.
Kittels’s contribution to Kannada could be classified
under different categories such as original works, translations, textual criticism,
Biblical publications and of course his Kannada-Kannada-English dictionary which
is the crowning glory of his career. It is difficult even to draw up a list of his
works.
a.
Textual
Criticism:
1.
Shabdamanidarpana, 1872
2.
Chandombudhi, 1875
b.
Original
Works
1.Sanna Karnataka
Kavyamale, 1866, (Minor Canarese Second edition, Poetical Anthology.
Compiled by F. Kittel, with introduction, notes, and vocabulary.
pp.154.
Basel
Mission Press :
Mangalore, 1868. ) Abridged Sutras of Old Kannada Grammar, 1866
2. Kavyamanjari,
1877 ( A Text book for Primary
School Children)
(Kavyamanjari. First book of Canarese poetry with notes and vocabulary pp.
iv. 60.
Basel
Mission Press: Mangalore, 1877.)
3.Grammar of the Kannada
Language, 1903. (A Grammar of the Kannada Language in English,
comprising the three dialects of the language, ancient, mediaeval
and modern, pp. vi. i. 483.) Basel Mission
Press: Mangalore, 1903. )
4.Many
articles in the ‘Indian Antiquary’ and other journals on Kannada literature
and allied topics.
5.Third Book of Lessons in Canarese. Adapted to the vernacular schools of the Madras
Presidency . Second, revised edition, pp. viii. 246, ii. Basel Mission
Press: Mangalore, 1866.)
c.
Translations:
1.
Kathaa
Maale, 1862
2.
Panchatantra (In to English)
3.
History
of
England
by Morris, 1864 (In to Kannaada)
d.
Religious
Works:
1. ‘Paramaatma Jnaana’ 1863
([Paramatma-jnana.] Knowledge of the Supreme Spirit, a dialogue on the Hindoo doctrine of God's by
the Rev. F. K[ittel]. pp. 90.
Basel
Mission Press
: Mangalore, 1863.
2. ‘Yesukristana
Shrameya Charitra’
(The Sufferings of Christ. Third edition. pp. 62, i.
Basel
Mission Press: Mangalore, 1869.)
3. Kraista Sabha Charitre (Translation)
4. Short Survey
in the Vedic Polytheism and pantheism
5. Tract on
Sacrifice, (Yajnasudhanidhi) 1872
6. Ueber den
Ursprung des LingKultus in Indien (German)
e. Kannada-Kannada-English Dictionary
(1894)
This is the
monumental work of Kittel. The officials of the Bassel Mission were very appreciative
of Kittel’s scholarship and the task pf preparing a dictionary for Kannada was entrusted
to him. The work began in the year 1872 and the publication of the dictionary took
place in 1894 after twenty two years of hard labour. He was assisted in this task
by capable native scholars such as Vastrada Shivalingaiah, M.C.Srinivasacharya and
Shivarama Bharadhwaj. This dictionary is a veritable and authentic source of knowledge
even to this day and very few Indian languages can boast of a comparable work. This
has many scientific and unique features. He has given many illustrations for almost
every word from the spoken varieties of the language as well as many literary texts
both ancient and modern. The proverbs and idioms given by him are really charming.
The original words are given with an appropriate English translation and many shades
of meaning. Kittel’s awareness of the fact that Kannada was a Dravidian language
has made his deductions and conclusions very objective and correct.
This dictionary
received ungrudging admiration from one and all and Kittel was awarded the doctorate
degree from the Tubengen University of Germany for this accomplishment. The renaissance
of Modern Kannada in the early decades of the twentieth century would have been
a pipe dream but for the selfless service of great scholars and missionaries such
as Kittel and
B.L.Rice.
References: 1. ‘Hosagannada Arunodaya’ Dr Srinivasa Havanur, 1974, Institute of
Kannada Studies,
Mysore
University
,
Mysore
.
2.
Ferdinand-Kittel-Seminar
2003 - FRAMEWORK
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