Title: Sourashtri Language Strives to Preserve its Rich Heritage and Culture
Sourashtri, a unique language spoken by the descendants of families who migrated from the Saurashtra region of Gujarat to Tamil Nadu in the 11th century, is fighting to secure its future. This dwindling language, which encompasses elements from Gujarati, Tamil, Konkani, Maharashtri Sanskrit, and Prakrit, is facing the risk of fading into oblivion as only 2.5 lakh people can speak, read, and write Sourashtri today.
The Sourashtra community, primarily comprising weavers and traders who settled in the temple town of Madurai, fiercely guarded the language for generations. Today, efforts are being made to revive Sourashtri and preserve its rich heritage and culture. Films in the language are being produced, and translated works and dictionaries are being published to ensure its survival.
Historically, Sourashtrus, especially weavers, played a significant role in Madurai’s royal family during the reign of King Thirumalai Naicker from 1623 to 1669. They were considered the royal weavers and crafted silk robes for the king. The early settlement zones of the Sourashtra community were identified in Trichy Uraiyur, Salem-Shevapet, Tirunelveli-Palayamkottai, Paramakudi-Emaneswaram, and Kumbakonam-Thuvarankurichi.
One of the challenges faced by the Sourashtra community is the choice of script. They are engaged in a debate over whether to adapt the original Sourashtri script or switch to Devanagari. Sourashtri scholars have firmly resisted any resemblance to Gujarati and emphasize that Sourashtri is an Indo-Aryan language believed to be an offshoot of Sauraseni Prakrit. The language also retains Dravidian influences.
The community’s efforts to revive Sourashtri gained momentum with the contributions of scholars like Chaturvedi Pandit Lakshmanacharya and Prof T M Ramarai. Prof Ramarai, with the support of the Saurashtra community, developed an independent Sourashtri script. However, a dispute emerged during the freedom struggle, resulting in the destruction of the script’s matrix and printing materials. Despite this setback, Ramarai’s followers managed to print his books using photoblocks.
To ensure Sourashtri’s survival, various initiatives have been undertaken. Saurashtra University started a chair for Sourashtri language and conducted research programs while training over 1,000 individuals in the language. Several books, religious texts like the Ramayana and Bible, and even films have been translated into Sourashtri, bringing the language to popular platforms.
Sourashtri holds immense cultural significance, documenting unique traditions like ‘Bovlas’ (Bhogulvas). During this wedding custom, elders engage in a Q&A session discussing the migration of their families from Saurashtra and their settlements. Another tradition, ‘vesham,’ requires the bride and groom to enact a scene after the mangalsutra ceremony.
Efforts to revitalize Sourashtri aim to transform it from a language of emotions, relationships, and kinship into a language of reason, science, and business. While linguistic boundaries pose challenges, the community believes in preserving and promoting their heritage.
Despite a dwindling number of speakers, the Sourashtri community remains resilient in their quest to safeguard their language’s heritage and bring it into the modern era. With continued efforts and support, Sourashtri has the potential to thrive and flourish for generations to come, keeping its culture alive and thriving.
