Aizawl, February 10 (Maraland Today) - The Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) Mizoram Chapter believed 'A grammar & dictionary of the Lakher language' to be the first and oldest printed book in the state.
This was revealed by INTACH President P. Rohmingthanga and Dr. JV Hluna during their interactions with the press on Wednesday, 8th February 2012 in Aizawl, the capital of Mizoram. They said it was found at the Deputy Commissioner's office in Lunglei, the second biggest city in Mizoram.
The Grammar and Dictionary of Mara (Lakher) Language was written by Rev. Fred W. Savidge, one of the two pioneer missionaries to Mizoram. It was published by the Pioneer Press in Allahabad in the year 1908. It contains 230 pages and was sold at Rs.3 at that time.
The author Rev. F.W. Savidge and Rev. J.H. Lorrain are the first pioneer missionaries to Mizoram, they were mainly working with Lusei (Mizo) speaking people in the area. They were not working directly with the Lakher people (now known as Mara) for whom the dictionary was made. However, Rev. R.A. Lorrain, the younger brother of Rev. J.H. Lorrain, the author's co-worker who was close to them was working with the Mara/Lakher people since 2007. The area where Mara people live is further south of Fort Lunglei (Lungleh) where the author and his co-worker had the mission centre.
A scholar named Roland Burrace Dixon (Ph.D 1900) of Harvard, Massachusetts, USA also bought this book and gifted to Harvard University, Library of the Peabody Museum on May 7, 1936. In collaboration with Harvard University, the Google books have made it available online along with many other books since few years ago.
Get it or read it using your preferred format:
 |
| (A Grammar & Dictionary of the Lakher(Mara) Language: The oldest printed book in Mizoram) |
The Grammar and Dictionary of Mara (Lakher) Language was written by Rev. Fred W. Savidge, one of the two pioneer missionaries to Mizoram. It was published by the Pioneer Press in Allahabad in the year 1908. It contains 230 pages and was sold at Rs.3 at that time.
The author Rev. F.W. Savidge and Rev. J.H. Lorrain are the first pioneer missionaries to Mizoram, they were mainly working with Lusei (Mizo) speaking people in the area. They were not working directly with the Lakher people (now known as Mara) for whom the dictionary was made. However, Rev. R.A. Lorrain, the younger brother of Rev. J.H. Lorrain, the author's co-worker who was close to them was working with the Mara/Lakher people since 2007. The area where Mara people live is further south of Fort Lunglei (Lungleh) where the author and his co-worker had the mission centre.
A scholar named Roland Burrace Dixon (Ph.D 1900) of Harvard, Massachusetts, USA also bought this book and gifted to Harvard University, Library of the Peabody Museum on May 7, 1936. In collaboration with Harvard University, the Google books have made it available online along with many other books since few years ago.
Get it or read it using your preferred format:
- Read Online (~225 pg)
- PDF (Google.com) - (5.7 MB)
- EPUB (~225 pg)
- Kindle (~225 pg)
- Daisy (~225 pg)
- Full Text (370.3 K)
+ comments + 1 comment
This is interesting. I'm wondering why the missionary working with the Lusei (Duhlian) speaking people would want to print first the grammar and dictionary written for Lakher/Mara people. Anyways, thanks for the info.
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