Learning the letters

Having authored different books in Gujarati like Pari­mal and Ramya Katha Shabdoni, Bejon N. Desai has real­ized that "very many enthusiastic Gujaratis, mainly Parsis, Jains and Vaishnavas are now in a hurry to learn the language of their forefathers i.e. Gujarati. They now want their children also to learn Gujarati whether they are in India or abroad.” This primer, Learning Gujarati through English is hence "specially written and published in English language only so that most of the young and adult learners abroad can make use of it in a facile manner,” notes the author in his introduction.

The practice of transliterating or transcribing prayers and scriptures in the Roman script has, accord­ing to the author, "not at all served the purpose of learning in a proper manner, simply because the Roman script does not lend itself to the correct phonetic pronunciation so vital for the proper recital or read­ing and understanding of the contents.”

Those who are keen to learn how the Gujarati script is to be written using vertical, horizontal and slanting lines, curves, circles and hooks will find here lucid explanations for each alphabet with its corresponding usage and phonetic sound. In fact 110 of the 138 pages in this book are devoted to this exer­cise. "Your book Learning Gujarati through English is really intended to teach (the) Gujarati alphabet,” M. A. Mehendale of Poona’s Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute is quoted in the book. If the Devnagiri script is already known, learning the Gujarati script is easy in which case the pupil may progress to the lessons which start with one letter words like baa and maa (meaning mother), gradually proceed to five letter words like masaaledaar (spicy) and chamakdaar (glitter­ing) and end with one page of math sums.

For those conversant with the spoken Gujarati word but fumbling with the written language this book would be ideal but those hoping to comprehend and participate in Gujarati discussions may continue to be at a loss for words. The two practice sessions in sentence forma­tion may not suffice to gauge the trainee’s prowess in sentence formation but they do well reflect Desai’s spiritual leanings and philosopy of life. "Brother Bejon is a man of that true scholarship which blends knowledge with qualities of character and both with the spirit of reverence and devotion,” Dada Jashan P. Vaswani is quoted in the book. Principal emeritus of the Boys’ Town Public School in Nasik, Desai’s earlier works include Avestan Scripture transcribed in Devna­giri script, Homage Unto Asho Zarathushtra, Thus spake the Master and biographies of Sir Jivanji Modi and industrialist J. N. Marshall.

The book priced at Rs 150 was published in 2001 by Navaz Publication (De Sai, 111 Shiv­giri Colony, Desou­za Marg, College Road, Nasik 422005, Tel: 577821) and is dedicated to Desai’s gurus who taught him Vedic Sansk­rit and Prakrit — the late Swami Gangesh­waranandji Udasin and the late Hari­vallabh Bhayani. Referring to the contents of the book as constituting "very unusual, interesting material worth knowing during one’s life­time,” Dr Sam Bhacca, president of the Surat Parsee Panchayat commented, "The book has the indelible mark of your authorship.”

P. M. G.