Kerala Translates 300-year Old Missionary-aided Work
(August 16, 2008) A three century old work on medicinal properties of Kerala’s flora,
composed with help of missionary, got its first Malayalam translation this week. Hortus
Malabaricus, meaning the garden of Malabar, was originally published in Latin during
1678-1703. It was translated to Malayalam by experts of Kerala University, based in
state capital. State Governor R.S.Gavai released the book on Aug.14 lauding the university’s
attempt and urging other universities to follow the example by translating scholarly
works. Hortus Malabaricus comprises 12 volumes of about 500 pages each, with 794
copper plate engravings. The first of the 12 volumes that comprise the book was published
in 1678, and the last in 1703. It is believed to be the earliest comprehensive printed
work on the flora of Asia. Governor of the Dutch administration in Kochi, Hendrik
van Rheede concieved the idea first. A number of scholars hence worked together. Dutch
and native experts of time diligently searched Kerala and brought fresh specimens
to Cohin. Carmelite Missionary Mathaeus sketched them, with such striking accuracy.
A description of each plant was written in Malayalam and thence translated into Portuguese,
by a resident at Cochin, named Emmanuel Carneiro. Kerala’s noted poet O.N.V. Kurup
addressed the release ceremony saying people worked for the laborious project indiscriminative
of caste and faith.