Victoria Memorial Hall, a noteworthy landmark situated in Kolkata, has recently showcased an 18th century manuscript of the Bhakti Movement text – Gita Govinda to celebrate International Mother Language Day on February 21st. This specific manuscript holds immense historical importance as it offers profound insights into early handwritten scripts long before the emergence of the printing press.
The Unveiling of a Handwritten Relic
At the center of this exhibition stands the Gita Govinda, a significant text from the Bhakti Movement era. Focusing on the spiritual and emotional bond between Lord Krishna and his consort Radha, this masterpiece was composed by Jayadeva, the last renowned poet of the Sanskrit language, during the 12th century A.D.
His lyrical narrative explores various stages of love between the divine couple – desires, jealousy, anticipation, despair, fury, reconciliation, and fulfillment. The richness of the picturesque lyrical language used in these texts vividly portrays the beauty of nature, intricately interwoven with descriptions of human love.
With its vivid imagery, the text resembles Bengal Pat Paintings and the Bengal School of Art that appeared a century after the manuscripts were initially written.
The Story Through Centuries
The Gita Govinda, like many other medieval texts, has been translated numerous times over the centuries. In the era preceding the debut of the printing press, these translations were penned down by hand in a beautiful script. As a result, each manuscript not only provides the text’s rich content but also serves as an exquisite piece of art enhancing its overall aesthetic value.
An Array of Fascinating Facts
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Author of Gita Govinda | Jayadeva |
| Era of Creation | 12th century A.D |
| Theme of the Text | Love between Radha and Krishna |
| Connection to Art | Bengal Pat Paintings, Bengal School of Art |
International Mother Language Day – A Global Celebration
International Mother Language Day was instituted to honor and promote linguistic and cultural diversity, as well as multilingualism every year on February 21st. The idea for this global occasion was first proposed by Bangladesh and approved by the UNESCO General Conference in 1999. Thus, it has been celebrated worldwide since the dawn of the new millennium.
The theme for the International Mother Language day in 2019 was “Indigenous languages matter for development, peacebuilding, and reconciliation”. Emphasizing the precarious status of many global languages, UNESCO states that 43% of the estimated 6,000 languages spoken worldwide are endangered, with any language spoken by fewer than 10,000 people considered to be potentially at risk.