NARASIMHACHAR R., 1860-1936
R. Narasimhachar(ಆರ್. ನರಸಿಂಹಾಚಾರ್) is
one of the stalwarts who worked tirelessly for the cause of Kannada culture
during the later decades of the nineteenth century and the early decades of the
twentieth century. His contributions to the areas of Archaeology, Epigraphy,
Textual Criticism and History of Kannada literature are unsurpassed to this day
and they have served as veritable gold mines for future generations of scholars
many of whom were under his tutelage.
He
was born in Srirangapattana and obtained his B.A. degree in 1882. He was the
first person to secure a master’s degree in Kannada from the
Narasimhachar
was well versed in Sanskrit, Tamil, English and Kannada. He acquired many
skills necessary for his life’s mission under the able guidance of his mentor
B.L.Rice. His contribution to various fields of knowledge involving erudition
and commitment are described here afterwards.
Textual Criticism: Narasimhachar’s work in this field was path breaking. The science of
textual criticism was not established and he had to form his own rules and
adopt methods that were invented by him. Some details about the works edited by
R.N. are given below:
1.
‘Kavyavalokana’
by Nagavarma-2, 1903.
2.
Karnataka
Bhashabhushana by Nagavarma-2, 1903.
3.
Karnataka
Shabdanushasana by Bhattakalanka. (With ‘Bhashamanjari’ and Manjari
Makaranda’.)
These works are models of
textual criticism. Narasimhachar has made use of all the manuscripts that were available.
He has created many techniques of editing and used them competently. All the
variants are indicated. The books are provided with an erudite introduction in
English which provides information about the author and his works. A
comparative analysis with other works in the same genre both in Kannada and
Sanskrit are handy. The indices given at the end of the text are helpful.
Contributions to archaeology : During his tenures both as an assistant to B.L.Rice
and as the director of the department in independent charge, which lasted for
more than two decades R.N. toured extensively all over the princely state of
Mysore, looking for ancient temples, inscriptions and manuscripts. He could
find almost 5000 new inscriptions and study more than one thousand temples.
Many of these monuments and thousands of coins unearthed by him were diligently
photographed and preserved for posterity. ‘Shasanapadyamanjari’
an anthology of poems found in inscriptions arranged chronologically with
appropriate notes have passed the test of time and are valuable even today.
‘Neethimanjari’ (Part 1 and Part 2) as well as Neethivakyamanjari’ were two
more anthologies edited by this scholar. He was responsible for the making of
thousands of photographs and maps which are well preserved. He made a thorough
revision of the second volume of the monumental Epigraphica Carnatica
pertaining to the inscriptions of Shravanabelagola. The inscriptions which
numbered 144 in the first edition escalated to 500 in the next edition. He
collected a number of works in Kannada and Sanskrit and got them copied. They
were preserved in one hundred volumes. It was Narasimhachar who established the
Hoysala sculpture as a separate entity different from the Chalukya sculpture.
He has published illuminating guides and notes on the temples of Keshava at
Somanathapura, Keshava at Belur and Mahalakshmi at Doddagaddavalli. These three
monographs were brought out as a three volumes set called ‘Architecture and
Sculpture of Mysore’
The
Lakshmidevi Temple At Dodda Gaddavalli
Architecture
And Sculpture Of Mysore (3 Vols. Set))
By
The
Kesava Temple At Somanathapur
He led the excavation work at places such as
Chandravalli, Talakadu and Halebeedu. Many coins including those of Roman and
Chinese origin were found during these forays.
“Gangara
Charitre’ and ‘Sayana-Madhava’ are two more works written by R.N. on the
history of Karnataka. He was the author of the annual reports of archaeological
department of
History of literature: ‘History of Kannada Literature’ (1934, 1988) and
‘History of Kannada Language’ [History of Kannada
language, (Readership lectures) by R.
Narasimhachar, Printed by the Asst. Supdt., Govt. Branch Press, 1934.]
both written in English by Narasimhachar provide a succinct and
authentic introduction to the topics dealt with, of course within the frame
work of the material available at that time.
‘Karanataka
Kavicharite’ published in three volumes in the years 1907, 1919 and 1929
respectively constitutes the most significant contribution of Narasimhachar to
Kannada culture. This sets out to provide detailed information about every
single work found in Kannada up to that point of time and succeeds in achieving
that stupendous task with a commendable degree of success. He gives useful of
information about the authors, texts, cross references and selected passages
from the texts under consideration.
Narasimmhachar
has received many accolades from the government as well as a thankful public.
Rao Bahaddur, Praktana Vimarsha Vichakshana’, “Prachyavidyavaibhava’ and
“Mahamahopadhyaya’ are some of the titles awarded to him. He was made an
honorary member of the Royal Asiatic Society in 1907. He presided over the
fourth Kannada Sahitya Sammelana held at Dharawada in 1918.