Zvelebil ****************************************************************************************** * ****************************************************************************************** Prof. Kamil Veith Zvelebil On January 17, 2009, Prof. Kamil V. Zvelebil, a world-renowned Czech specialist in Indian and Dravidian, and founder of Czech Tamil and Dravidian studies, passed away in France aft illness. K.V. Zvelebil finished classical grammar school in Prague and then started to study Indolo in Sanskrit) and English at the Philosophical Faculty of Charles University. Step by step attention to India. He attended the lectures of two prominent representatives of Czech cla studies, Professors V. Lesný and O. Friš, who significantly influenced his future professi not only in the sphere of linguistics, but also that of literature and literary and cultur English studies K. Zvelebil acquired expertise in linguistic methodology along the lines o Linguistic School. This was especially thanks to Prof. B. Trnka, one of the best Czech spe historical grammar of English and a leading representative of the Prague functional approa theory. However, Zvelebil’s life interest was inspired by Prof. O. Pertold, who specialise religions and ethnology and who knew a number of modern Indian languages including Tamil, the traditional classical languages (Sanskrit and Prakrits). Such good philological erudit easier for Kamil Zvelebil to study Tamil alongside the main subject of his studies, which studied Tamil as an autodidact and partly also with the help of the employees of the India mother tongue happened to be Tamil. After finishing his studies and passing the ‘rigorous’ exam in 1952, he acquired a researc the Oriental Institute of the then Czechoslovak Academy of Sciences, which was headed by V V. Lesný passed away soon after that (1953), he managed to lay the foundations for the fur of the study of modern languages in Prague by providing an opportunity for young and talen of Indian studies (but also other Oriental languages) to develop new spheres of knowledge. Zvelebil’s other colleagues were starting serious studies of Bengali (Dušan Zbavitel, b. 1 (Vladimír Miltner, 1933–1997) and in the mid-1950s the teaching of modern languages also s Philosophical Faculty of Charles University (Vincenc Pořízka /1905–1982/, Odolen Smékal /1 Zvelebil taught Tamil at the faculty as a part-time teacher in the years 1960–1965. Until then, modern languages had been studied at several universities in Europe and in the and at that time this was an important broadening of the scope of Czech Indian studies and in general, which began to participate in the international process of the formation of mo studies, based on thorough knowledge of both the classical tradition and modern languages the course of the following almost twenty years the studies of classical and modern langua harmony and it is a strange historical irony that this was taking place at a time which in was a period of ‘darkness’ in the then Czechoslovakia. K. Zvelebil significantly contribut creative milieu, both through his pure research work in the sphere of Tamil linguistics (h the title CSc. = PhD. in 1959) and also through his translations and his books for the gen sometimes called ‘popularising’ work, including literature for children. It is, however, n underline that in the sphere of Oriental studies the role of good ‘popularising’ work is e both for the development of the particular field of studies and for the development of kno general. During the time of his work in the Oriental Institute (1952–1970) Kamil Zvelebil devoted m to intensive research into Tamil dialects and into the historical grammar of Tamil. He pub of systematic descriptions of the main Tamil dialects based on his field work in Tamil Nad appeared in the international journal Archív Orientální, published by the Oriental Institu also in journals abroad (mainly in India and Sri Lanka). He contributed significantly to a delimitation of the dialectal regions of present-day Tamil (including Ceylon Tamil), and a precise definition of the basic characteristics of these dialects. Besides that he also st the historical grammar of Tamil by way of detailed studies in particular areas. It was dur Prague that he started to work on the comparative grammar of Dravidian languages and began in the area of the Blue Mountains (Nilgiri), to which he later devoted a number of special also books. At that time it was particularly for ‘popularising’ purposes that he also work of cultural history or religion, but years later he returned to these topics at a deeper l detailed studies. During his “Prague” period he also devoted much of his time to translati from old and middle Tamil, but also from modern Tamil (short stories) and from Malayalam ( T.S. Pillai), and later also from Kannada. However, K. Zvelebil spent most of his professional life abroad. He concluded his teaching Prague by obtaining ‘habilitation’ as a ‘docent’ (associate professor) in 1965, which was he left for his first appointment at the University of Chicago in 1965–66. After that he c work at the Oriental Institute and in doctoral studies at Charles University, but in 1968 from leave abroad at the end of August (after the occupation of Czechoslovakia by the Sovi 21) and continued to teach at Chicago University until 1970. Formally he had study leave a Institute until 1970. He then left the USA and in 1970 he stayed briefly at the College de 1970–71 he was a research worker at Leiden University. At the same time he was a visiting Heidelberg (1967–73). From the beginning of the 70s until the 90s he worked at the Univers first as a research worker (1971–76) and then as Professor of Dravidian Studies (1976–91). he retired on 1.9.1991 as professor emeritus and since then he had been living in Southern 1989 he visited Prague regularly and held lectures at Charles University, Philosophical Fa obtained the title Visiting Professor in 1997 and where he also helped with doctoral studi K.V. Zvelebil had already been very prolific during the years he spent in Prague. Besides he also published the aforementioned translations and popularising works (to which he part after 1990), but he wrote his main works from the 1970s to 1990s during his stay abroad. W the sphere of comparative Dravidian, the history of Tamil literature or tribal languages a his works have always presented new ideas and also systematically summarised the knowledge the relevant field at that time. K.V. Zvelebil did a lot of field work. For instance, he d Irula language and showed that it was an independent tribal language. His translation of t and morphological section of the Old Tamil grammar Tolkappiyam (published in the Journal o is also important. Indeed it remains the essential work of Old Tamil linguistics, playing role for Tamil as Pa?ini’s grammar does for Sanskrit. K.V. Zvelebil also contributed to th about the relationship of the Dravidian languages with the Elamite and Altaic languages an critical opinion concerning the Finnish decipherment of the Harappan script, which attract of the professional public in the 1970s. Selected papers from Tamil and Dravidian linguist monographic collection of his papers on the Nilgiri languages were published by the Karoli house (Charles University) in 1995 and 2001. Through his essential works on the history of on the one hand, and through linguistic work on comparative Dravidian and ethnolinguistic non-literary Dravidian languages (particularly the Nilgiri area) on the other, he became r the foremost researchers respected by the professional world as a whole. His translations written in a polished language, in particular his translations of poetry. Much valued are the field of religion and philosophy. He also dealt with Zen Buddhism for many years, both theoretically. Besides that he was active in a number of international organisations, not least in his ca President of the Academy of Tamil Culture in Madras and Secretary of the International Ass Research in Madras. He was also a member of several national and international professiona the Czech Union of Writers, the American Oriental Society, the Tamil Writers’ Association, Circle of Delhi the Sahitya Akademy (National Academy of Letters, India) of which he was H and some others. The results of his work were acknowledged several times in the course of time: he received Special Recognition from the Czechoslovak Academy of Sciences (1957 a 1959), a Prize from Academy of Sciences (1964), an Honorary Plaque of the College de France (1970) and the Gol Medal of Josef Dobrovský from the Czechoslovak Academy of Sciences (1992). There is no doubt that K.V. Zvelebil belongs among the most productive Czech researchers w of subjects and a deep insight into the topics he investigated. He was a rigorous, logical scholar, but in another sphere of his creative work he could be a sensitive translator or narrator. Besides that he was an inspiring teacher, demanding but also tolerant of new ide always encouraged, while remaining soberly critical about the implications. His bibliograp five hundred items, and among these are several dozen books – besides translations, origin popularising works there are a number of important monographs from the various spheres of following selective list includes only the most important books, not his papers or transla in many Czech and foreign journals.   Select bibliography of Kamil V. Zvelebil A detailed list until 1994 can be found in Tamulica et Dravidica, 1995, pp. 257–277. Tamil and Dravidian Linguistics • Tamil in 550 A.D.: An Interpretation of Early Inscriptional Tamil. NČSAV, Prague 1964, 7 • Introduction to the Historical Grammar of the Tamil Language. Spolu s Yu. Glazovem a M. Nauka Publishing House, Moscow 1967, 212 pp. • Introduction to the Historical Grammar of the Tamil Language. Spolu s Jaroslavem Vackem. Prague 1970, 222 pp. • Comparative Dravidian Phonology. Mouton, The Hague Paris 1970, 202 pp. • A Sketch of Comparative Dravidian Morphology. Part One, Nouns and Adjectives. Mouton, Th New York 1977, 76 + xii pp. • Dravidian Linguistics – An Introduction. Pondicherry Institute of Linguistics and Cultur 1990, 156 + xxvi pp. • Tamulica et Dravidica. A Selection of Papers on Tamil and Dravidian Linguistics. Charles Prague 1995, 295 pp. Irula language and the area of the Blue Mountains (Nilgiri) • The Iru?a Language. Neuindische Studien Band 2, O. Harrassowitz, Wiesbaden, 1973, 64 pp. • The Irula (Ë?la) Language. Part II. Otto Harrassowitz, Wiesbaden 1979, 126 + XII pp. • The Irula (Ë?la) Language. Part III. Irula Lore. Texts and Translations. Otto Harrassowi 1982. • The Irulas of the Blue Mountains. Foreign and Compar. Studies/ South Asian Series 13. Sy University 1988, 186 + xviii pp., 2 maps, 1 table, 32 pict. • Nilgiri Areal Studies. Karolinum, Praha 2001, 535 pp. • Modré hory. Argo, Praha 2002, 163 pp. Tamil Literature • The Smile of Murugan. On Tamil Literature of South India. E. J. Brill, Leiden 1973, 378  • Tamil Literature (A History of Indian Literature, Vol. X.1). Otto Harrassowitz, Wiesbade • Tamil Literature (Handbuch der Orientalistik, II.2.1). E. J. Brill, Leiden/Köln 1975, 30 • Literary Conventions in Akam Poetry. Institute of Asian Studies, Madras 1986, XVI + 118 • Companion Studies to the History of Tamil Literature. E. J. Brill, Leiden/New York/Koben 291 + XXV s. • Lexicon of Tamil Literature. Handbuch der Orientalistik II, 9. E.J. Brill, Leiden, New Y 783 s. Religious and Philosophical Works • The Poets of the Powers. Rider and Company, London 1973, 144 pp. • Tiru Murugan. International Institute of Tamil Studies, Madras 1981, VIII + 92 s. • Tamil Traditions on Subrahmanya Murugan. Institute of Asian Studies, Chennai 1992, 125 + • Siddha Quest for Immortality. Sexual, Alchemical and Medical Secrets of the Tamil Siddha the Powers. Mandrake of Oxford, Oxford 1996, VIII+190 pp.; 2003, 216 pp. • Dictionary of Zen Buddhist Terminology (A-K). TRITON, Praha 2002, 168 pp. • Dictionary of Zen Buddhist Terminology (L-Z). TRITON, Praha 2002, 168 pp. Translations • Beschi, Constanzo Giuseppe, Žertovné příběhy Mistra Paramárty. Ilustrace M. Troup. ČSAV, pp. • Černý květ. Překlady starotamilské milostné poesie. Jar. Picka, Praha 1955, 57 pp. • Květy jasmínu. Přeložil K. Zvelebil. SNKLHU, Praha 1957, 228 s. • Pillai, Takaři Šivašankara, Červená ryba. Překlad z malajálamštiny. SNKLHU, Praha 1960, • Píseň o klenotu — Silappadigáram. Ze staré tamilštiny přeložil K. Zvelebil. SNKLHU, Prah • The Lord of the Meeting Rivers – Devotional Poems of Basava??a. Translated by K. V. Zvel Motilal Banarsidass, New Delhi, 1984, XX + 176 pp. • Two Tamil Folktales. The Story of King Mata?ak?ma. The Story of Peacock Ravana. Motilal Delhi — UNESCO, Paris, 1987, LVIII + 236 s. • Podivuhodné příběhy a písně z Modrých hor. TRITON, Praha 2003, 128 pp. • Pohár slasti: starotamilská poezie. TRITON, Praha 2004, 127 pp. Cultural History • Země posvátných řek. Spolu s Ivo Fišerem. Mladá Fronta, Praha 1959, 289 pp. • Hippalos. The Conquest of the Indian Ocean. Mandrake of Oxford. Oxford 2001, 272 pp. • Hippalos. TRITON, Praha 2003, 254 pp. Travelogues and Literature for Children • Indie zblízka. Spolu s E. Heroldem a D. Zbavitelem. Orbis, Praha 1960, 311 pp. • Pohlednice z Indie. Ilustrace Jiří Veškrna. SNDK, Praha 1961, 128 pp. • Kóran, Fátima a Raghu, tvoji kamarádi z Indie. Ilustrace J. Brychta. SNDK, Praha 1961, [ Web pages: http://www.marketaz.co.uk/Zveleb1.html [ URL "http://www.marketaz.co.uk/zveleb1.html"]