Indian Antiquary Vol 01

SR No.: 032493
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Jas Burgess
Publisher: Swati Publications
Publication Year: 1984
Total Pages: 430
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 22 MB

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THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
(JULY 5, 1872.
Kallar, vedar, masavarei
Or evin in some Maraver wretch; Nambalâm,
-But if you believe in a woman -Selei kattiya mâtarei
More hopeless your case will be,Nambinál, -
You will stand in the street in your angaish, Teruvil nindru tiyangi
And wither with agony ! Tavippare ! Now that Christianity is year by year be- | interest in the subject, and I hope I have proved coming more deeply rooted in Tamil-land, a new from the specimens, few as they are, which I class of popular poetry is springing up. Some have adduced, that in days gone by, Tamil--the of these Christian lyrics, or Kirtaneis, especially Queen of the Dravidian tongues-was not withthose penned by a late Christian poet of out sons who possessed, in some measure, the Tanjor, have attained a wide popularity, even vision and the faculty divine. It must be amongst non-Christian Hindus. But as a whole remembered that I have confined myself to cullthese modern Christian lyrics are wretched pro- ing specimens from a particular lass of poetry, ductions, and bear the same relation to Tamil and that not of the highest order. The nonpopular poetry of the first class, that Tate and Aryans of Southern India cannot for a moment Brady's effusions bear to Milton's " Ode on the vie with their Arvaa masters in the mighty Nativity." Common Hindu Labour-songs, too, arena of the Epic or the Drama. But I do not are for the most part extremely destitute of think that any Oriental language possesses & poetic merit.
richer collection of Folk-songs, than that which I must now bring this paper to a close. I is the especial glory of Tamilian literature. trust I have been able to awaken some little | Madras, 16th March, 1872.
ON THE "GAULI RAJ" IN KHANDESH AND THE CENTRAL PROVINCES.
BY W. F. SINCLAIR, Bo.C.S., ASSISTANT COLLECTOR IN CHARGE OF FORESTS. THROUGHOUT Gondwana and Khandesh there wiped out to-morrow, leave nothing but its name exist traditions more or less shadowy of a Gauli to show where it had been? Of the first class, Raj,-—which have occasioned considerable per-| the instant answer is, there are two, and they plexity as to their origin. Mr. Grant in his are both Gauli Kingdoms, the Gaikwar of Baroda Introduction to the Central Provinces Gazetteer, and the Gurkha (Go-rakh) of Nipal. To the practically gives the question up as insoluble. second class belong all the Maratha states. The This power, whatever it was, has left no coins, Gaikwar of Baroda therefore unites the two no inscriptions, nothing but a name attached qualifications, and stands forth the modern to a few old buildings. Enquiry has been made analogue of the Gauli Râjâs. among the people now called Gaulis; but they The next question is, how did the Gaikwari have now no menory of their ancient sovereignty; Râj in Gujarat get its name? From the surname (if it was ever theirs,) and the quotation from Sir of the ruler. Gaikwar is one of the commonest R. Jenkins (p. lx. C. P. Gazetteer) is too vague surnames in the Dekhan; and is generally atto be of any use, and may just as well refer to le- tached to the profession of a herdsman; but by gends of Krishna and his companions as to any- no means of necessity. Its bearers hold therthing else.
selves, and are held, pure Marathas :-" My The past therefore gives us little aid in iden- name is Gomaji, father's name Timaji, surtifying the Gauli kings, except the rather shaky name Gaikwâr, trade Gauli, caste Maratha ;" story of Asa Ahir, the eponymous chief of is a heading common enough on depositions in Asirgarh, spoken of by Ferishtah. Under the the Dekhan. The surname of Ahir is also comcircumstances we should, I think, have recourse mon in a small group of villages near the Ané to the geological method, and seek in the Ghat in Taluka Junnar (Jooner) of Poona. Its phenomena of the present for the explanation of bearers are held pure Marathas and are cultithe past. Is there then in the present day any vators by trade. Now to readers unacquainted dynasty in India deriving its title from a common with the Dekhan, it may perhaps be necessary trade; and is there any which woulil, if it were to explain that the use of surnames there is al