Arthur Coke Burnell (11 July 1840 – 12 October 1882) was an English civil servant who served in the Madras Presidency who was also a scholar in Sanskrit and Dravidian languages. He catalogued the Sanskrit manuscripts in southern India, particularly those in the collections of the Tanjore court collections. He was, with Henry Yule, a co-compiler of the Hobson-Jobson, a compendium of Anglo-Indian terms.
Burnell was born at St. Briavels, Gloucestershire, the first son of Arthur Burnell who worked in the East India Company and Mary Agnes, née Coke. A grand-uncle was William Coke. He was educated at Bedford School, and then went to King's College, London, where a meeting with Professor Viggo Fausböll of Copenhagen led him to an early interest in Indology. He took the examination for the Indian Civil Services in 1857 and after studies in Sanskrit and Telugu with Theodor Goldstücker went to take up a post in the Madras Presidency in 1860. In the course of positions across peninsular India, he began to acquire or copy Sanskrit manuscripts. Poor health made his return to England and he published the Catalogue of a Collection of Sanskrit MSS (1869) in England. He returned to India to serve as a judge in Mangalore and then Tanjore.[1] Among his significant contributions was the deciphering of the Pahlavi inscription at St Thomas Mount which made him date it to the 8th century AD.[2]
In 1875 Edward Lear visited Burnell (noted as "Burnall") in Tanjore. In 1876 Burnell visited Java and met Miss Marianne North who had been referred to him by Lear, inviting her to Tanjore the next year. Burnell himself took an interest in Indian trees and collected many sacred plants for North.[1]
His constitution, never strong, broke down several times. He suffered cholera, and partial paralysis. Towards the end of his life he lived in San Remo and travelled across northern Italy. He returned to England in 1882 and died at his brother's home in West Stratton, Hampshire. He was buried in the churchyard of Micheldever. A collection of Sanskrit manuscripts was purchased from his heirs by the India Office library after his death.[1]
Worksedit
Burnell's map of south Indian scripts
In 1874, Burnell published a Handbook of South Indian Palaeography, characterized by Max Müller as "an avenue through one of the thickest and darkest jungles of Indian archaeology, and is so full of documentary evidence, that it will long remain indispensable to every student of Indian literature". He received an honorary doctorate from the University of Strasbourg. In 1880 he compiled, with the encouragement of Lord Napier, the Classified Index to the Sanskrit MSS in the Palace at Tanjore. The Tanjore collection was estimated by Burnell as being the work of nearly 300 years begun by the Tanjore rajas and continued by the Maratha rulers. He was also the author of a large number of translations from, and commentaries on, various other Sanskrit manuscripts, being particularly successful in grouping and elucidating the essential principles of Hindu law. These included Madhava's Commentary on the Parâśarasmriti (1868), The law of partition and succession, from the manuscript Sanskrit text of Vaṛadarâja's Vyavahâranirṇaya, Specimens of South Indian Dialects, Clavis humaniorum litterarum sublimioris Tamulici idiomatis (1876), and The Aindra School of Sanskrit Grammarians (1875). He published many papers in the Indian Antiquary journal. He also published on the history of the Portuguese in India.[1]
In addition to his exhaustive acquaintance with Sanskrit, and the southern Indian languages, he had some knowledge of Tibetan, Arabic, Kawi, Javanese and Coptic. Burnell originated with Sir Henry Yule the dictionary of Anglo-Indian words and phrases, the Hobson-Jobson.[3]
A list of his publications included his own books as well as notes and translations in the works of other collaborators:[4]
Dayavibhaga. The Law of Inheritance. From the published Sanskrit texts of the- Vyahavaharakanda of the Madhaviya Commentary of the Paracarasmriti. Madias, 1868.
Catalogue of a Collection of Sanskrit MSS., Part I. Vedic MSS., with many extracts. Madras, 1869.
A few Suggestions as to the best way of making and utilizing Copies of Indian Inscriptions. Madras, 1870.
The Law of Partition and Succession. From the MS. Sanskrit text of Varadaraja's Vyahavaharanimaya. Mangalore, 1872.
Specimens of South Indian Dialects, consisting of versions of the Parable of the Sower (St. Matthew xiii. 1-34), with Grammatical and Ethnographical Introductions.
In the Konkani Dialect spoken by the Roman Catholics of South Canara. Mangalore, 1872. Second Edition, Mangalore, 1873
In the Dialect of Malayalim spoken by the Mappilas of South Canara, and of Amindivi (Laccadivo) Islands. In the Mappila-Arabic characters and in Lepsius's Standard Alphabet. 1873.
In the Kodagu (Coorg) Language, by the Rev. R Kittel. 1873.
In the Tanjore Dialect of Tamil. Tranquebar, 1873.
In the Language of the Todas (Nilagiri Hills), by the Rev. F. Metz. 1873.
In the Dialect of Canarese spoken by the Badagas of the Nilagiri Hills, by the same. 1873.
In the Dialect of Konkani spoken by the Sarasvat Brahmins of South Canara.
In the Kundapur Dialect of Canarese.
In the Tanjore Tamil-Brahman Dialect. Tranquebar, 1877.
Ethnography of the S.W. Frontier of the Aryan and Dravidian races. 1873.
The Samavidhana Brahmana of the Sama-Veda, edited with the Commentary of Sayana, an English Translation, Introduction and Indexes. Vol.I. containing the Text, with an introduction. London, 1873.
The Vamsa Brahmana of the Sama-Veda, with an introduction on Sayana's life and works, his Commentary and Index. 8 vo. Mangalore, 1872.
The Devatadhyaya Brahmana of the Sama Veda with Sayana's Commentary, Index, &c. 1873.
On some Pahlavi Inscriptions in S. India. Mangalore, 1873.
Elements of South Indian Palaeography. Mangalore, 1874. 2nd Edition, Mangalore, 1878.
Dayadasasloki, with Translation. Mangalore, 1875.
On the Aindra School of Sanskrit Grammarians. Mangalore, 1875.
Arsheya Brahmana of the Sama-Veda, with Extracts from Sayana's Commentary, an Introduction and Index of Words. Mangalore, 1876.
The Samhitopanishad Brahmana of the Sama-Veda, with an anonymous Commentary. 1877.
The Riktantravyakarana, a Pratisakhya of the Sama-Veda. Part 1, containing Text, Introduction and Indexes. 1879.
Classified Index to the Sanskrit MSS. in the Palace at Tanjore. Prepared for the Madras Government. 4 to. Pts. 1–3. 1879–1880.
Tentative list of Books and MSS. relating to the History of the Portuguese in India Proper. Mangalore.
Referencesedit
^ abcdLane-Poole, Stanley (revised by J.B. Katz) (2004). "Burnell, Arthur Coke (1840–1882)". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/4052. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
^Winckworth, C. P. T. (1929). "A new interpretation of the Pahlavi cross-inscriptions of southern India". The Journal of Theological Studies. 30 (119): 237–244. doi:10.1093/jts/os-XXX.April.237. ISSN 0022-5185. JSTOR 23950669.
^One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Burnell, Arthur Coke". Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 4 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 850.
^Frere, H. Bartle E. (1883). "Royal Asiatic Society. Proceedings of the Sixtieth Anniversary Meeting of the Society, Held on the 21st of May, 1883". Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland. 15 (1): I–CXL. ISSN 0035-869X. JSTOR 25196944.
External linksedit
Media related to Arthur Coke Burnell at Wikimedia Commons
Henry Yule; Arthur Coke Burnell (1886). Hobson-Jobson: Being a glossary of Anglo-Indian colloquial words and phrases. John Murray.
Photograph of Burnell in the Royal Asiatic Society
January 01, 1970
arthur, coke, burnell, july, 1840, october, 1882, english, civil, servant, served, madras, presidency, also, scholar, sanskrit, dravidian, languages, catalogued, sanskrit, manuscripts, southern, india, particularly, those, collections, tanjore, court, collecti. Arthur Coke Burnell 11 July 1840 12 October 1882 was an English civil servant who served in the Madras Presidency who was also a scholar in Sanskrit and Dravidian languages He catalogued the Sanskrit manuscripts in southern India particularly those in the collections of the Tanjore court collections He was with Henry Yule a co compiler of the Hobson Jobson a compendium of Anglo Indian terms Arthur Coke Burnell Contents 1 Life 2 Works 3 References 4 External linksLife editBurnell was born at St Briavels Gloucestershire the first son of Arthur Burnell who worked in the East India Company and Mary Agnes nee Coke A grand uncle was William Coke He was educated at Bedford School and then went to King s College London where a meeting with Professor Viggo Fausboll of Copenhagen led him to an early interest in Indology He took the examination for the Indian Civil Services in 1857 and after studies in Sanskrit and Telugu with Theodor Goldstucker went to take up a post in the Madras Presidency in 1860 In the course of positions across peninsular India he began to acquire or copy Sanskrit manuscripts Poor health made his return to England and he published the Catalogue of a Collection of Sanskrit MSS 1869 in England He returned to India to serve as a judge in Mangalore and then Tanjore 1 Among his significant contributions was the deciphering of the Pahlavi inscription at St Thomas Mount which made him date it to the 8th century AD 2 In 1875 Edward Lear visited Burnell noted as Burnall in Tanjore In 1876 Burnell visited Java and met Miss Marianne North who had been referred to him by Lear inviting her to Tanjore the next year Burnell himself took an interest in Indian trees and collected many sacred plants for North 1 His constitution never strong broke down several times He suffered cholera and partial paralysis Towards the end of his life he lived in San Remo and travelled across northern Italy He returned to England in 1882 and died at his brother s home in West Stratton Hampshire He was buried in the churchyard of Micheldever A collection of Sanskrit manuscripts was purchased from his heirs by the India Office library after his death 1 Works edit nbsp Burnell s map of south Indian scripts In 1874 Burnell published a Handbook of South Indian Palaeography characterized by Max Muller as an avenue through one of the thickest and darkest jungles of Indian archaeology and is so full of documentary evidence that it will long remain indispensable to every student of Indian literature He received an honorary doctorate from the University of Strasbourg In 1880 he compiled with the encouragement of Lord Napier the Classified Index to the Sanskrit MSS in the Palace at Tanjore The Tanjore collection was estimated by Burnell as being the work of nearly 300 years begun by the Tanjore rajas and continued by the Maratha rulers He was also the author of a large number of translations from and commentaries on various other Sanskrit manuscripts being particularly successful in grouping and elucidating the essential principles of Hindu law These included Madhava s Commentary on the Parasarasmriti 1868 The law of partition and succession from the manuscript Sanskrit text of Vaṛadaraja s Vyavaharanirṇaya Specimens of South Indian Dialects Clavis humaniorum litterarum sublimioris Tamulici idiomatis 1876 and The Aindra School of Sanskrit Grammarians 1875 He published many papers in the Indian Antiquary journal He also published on the history of the Portuguese in India 1 In addition to his exhaustive acquaintance with Sanskrit and the southern Indian languages he had some knowledge of Tibetan Arabic Kawi Javanese and Coptic Burnell originated with Sir Henry Yule the dictionary of Anglo Indian words and phrases the Hobson Jobson 3 A list of his publications included his own books as well as notes and translations in the works of other collaborators 4 Dayavibhaga The Law of Inheritance From the published Sanskrit texts of the Vyahavaharakanda of the Madhaviya Commentary of the Paracarasmriti Madias 1868 Catalogue of a Collection of Sanskrit MSS Part I Vedic MSS with many extracts Madras 1869 A few Suggestions as to the best way of making and utilizing Copies of Indian Inscriptions Madras 1870 The Law of Partition and Succession From the MS Sanskrit text of Varadaraja s Vyahavaharanimaya Mangalore 1872 Specimens of South Indian Dialects consisting of versions of the Parable of the Sower St Matthew xiii 1 34 with Grammatical and Ethnographical Introductions In the Konkani Dialect spoken by the Roman Catholics of South Canara Mangalore 1872 Second Edition Mangalore 1873 In the Dialect of Malayalim spoken by the Mappilas of South Canara and of Amindivi Laccadivo Islands In the Mappila Arabic characters and in Lepsius s Standard Alphabet 1873 In the Kodagu Coorg Language by the Rev R Kittel 1873 In the Tanjore Dialect of Tamil Tranquebar 1873 In the Language of the Todas Nilagiri Hills by the Rev F Metz 1873 In the Dialect of Canarese spoken by the Badagas of the Nilagiri Hills by the same 1873 In the Dialect of Konkani spoken by the Sarasvat Brahmins of South Canara In the Kundapur Dialect of Canarese In the Tanjore Tamil Brahman Dialect Tranquebar 1877 Ethnography of the S W Frontier of the Aryan and Dravidian races 1873 The Samavidhana Brahmana of the Sama Veda edited with the Commentary of Sayana an English Translation Introduction and Indexes Vol I containing the Text with an introduction London 1873 The Vamsa Brahmana of the Sama Veda with an introduction on Sayana s life and works his Commentary and Index 8 vo Mangalore 1872 The Devatadhyaya Brahmana of the Sama Veda with Sayana s Commentary Index amp c 1873 On some Pahlavi Inscriptions in S India Mangalore 1873 Elements of South Indian Palaeography Mangalore 1874 2nd Edition Mangalore 1878 Dayadasasloki with Translation Mangalore 1875 On the Aindra School of Sanskrit Grammarians Mangalore 1875 Arsheya Brahmana of the Sama Veda with Extracts from Sayana s Commentary an Introduction and Index of Words Mangalore 1876 The Samhitopanishad Brahmana of the Sama Veda with an anonymous Commentary 1877 A legend from the Jalavahara or Jaiminiya Brahmana 1878 The Jaiminiya Text of the Arsheya Brahmana 1878 The Riktantravyakarana a Pratisakhya of the Sama Veda Part 1 containing Text Introduction and Indexes 1879 Classified Index to the Sanskrit MSS in the Palace at Tanjore Prepared for the Madras Government 4 to Pts 1 3 1879 1880 Tentative list of Books and MSS relating to the History of the Portuguese in India Proper Mangalore References edit a b c d Lane Poole Stanley revised by J B Katz 2004 Burnell Arthur Coke 1840 1882 Oxford Dictionary of National Biography Oxford Dictionary of National Biography online ed Oxford University Press doi 10 1093 ref odnb 4052 Subscription or UK public library membership required Winckworth C P T 1929 A new interpretation of the Pahlavi cross inscriptions of southern India The Journal of Theological Studies 30 119 237 244 doi 10 1093 jts os XXX April 237 ISSN 0022 5185 JSTOR 23950669 nbsp One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain Chisholm Hugh ed 1911 Burnell Arthur Coke Encyclopaedia Britannica Vol 4 11th ed Cambridge University Press p 850 Frere H Bartle E 1883 Royal Asiatic Society Proceedings of the Sixtieth Anniversary Meeting of the Society Held on the 21st of May 1883 Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland 15 1 I CXL ISSN 0035 869X JSTOR 25196944 External links edit nbsp Media related to Arthur Coke Burnell at Wikimedia Commons Works by or about Arthur Coke Burnell at Internet Archive Henry Yule Arthur Coke Burnell 1886 Hobson Jobson Being a glossary of Anglo Indian colloquial words and phrases John Murray Photograph of Burnell in the Royal Asiatic Society Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Arthur Coke Burnell amp oldid 1222251096, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
