Forms and Uses of the Commentary in the Indian World

22nd to 25th of February, 2005

A very important part of Sanskrit literature is formed by commentaries and sub-commentaries, and these texts give considerable aid to the comprehension of works that they complete and explain. From the beginning of Indology a number of them have been edited and utilized for various purposes, predominant amongst these being the elucidation of difficult passages in the texts being commented upon. However, comprehensive studies on the immense area, the very genre itself formed by commentaries in Indian civilization, have been rare. This abundant practice appears to be devoid of theory. This is why this conference proposes to study the notion of commentary in the widest possible manner on the disciplinary, historical, geographical and linguistic planes. It will allow us to focus our knowledge on this genre of texts and specify future directions for research. The acts of the colloquium would then constitute a signpost towards a work of synthesis on the question, one that does not exist to this day. The numerous themes for reflection can be grouped under some large rubrics:

The genre of commentary

  Typology of commentaries.
  Style and language of commentaries: the art of commentary.
  Can we speak of "non-textual commentaries"? This question is raised à propos of certain arts or also of the relation between mantras and ritual gestures in the sacrifice.

Why commentaries?

  Texts without commentaries?
  How do we explain the importance of the practice of commentary in the Indian world?
  The role of commentaries in the transmission of knowledge.
  The role of commentaries in the evolution of Indian thought: the commentary as a means of introducing novel and heterodox ideas.

The history of commentaries

  The history and genealogy of the commentarial practice from the Vedic period until the present day. Continuities, transformations and ruptures.
  Present day commentary: what texts are commented upon in contemporary India? How do the Indian commentators of today conceive of their activity?
  The various teachings of the commentaries: the commentary as a source-fragmentary-of knowledge of entire parts, otherwise unknown, of Indian history (political, social, cultural, religious…) .

Adaptations of the Indian commentary

  What place have the Indian influenced countries of Asia given to the commentary?
  And, to the contrary, have the various communities which have immigrated into India in the course of the centuries adopted the practice of the commentary, and, if so, in what manner?
  What are the particular problems posed by a commentary composed in a language different from that of the text being commented upon? Can we always trace a clear boundary between translation and explication?

Editing commentaries: theoretical and practical problems

  Commentators as "editors" of texts.
  What commentary should one choose for a given text?
  Is it necessary to translate the commentary in part or as a whole?
  How do we edit and present a commentary in order to ensure its readability, but also to make apparent to the reader the help the commentary brings in the understanding of the text?

This already large list of problems is certainly not exhaustive. We hope that the conference as envisaged will allow us to clarify them.

Faithful to its fifty years of history of collaboration between Western Indologists and traditionally lettered Indians, the IFP will be happy to host such a meeting of Indian and foreign scholars.

List of Participants & Papers

Organizers:

• Institut français de Pondichéry
  
• Ecole française d’Extrême-Orient
  
• Equipe de recherche LACMI, "Langues, Textes, Histoire et Civilisation du Monde Indien" (Université Paris-III/CNRS)
  

Organizing committee:

• Nalini Balbir
  
• François Grimal
  
• Satya Pal Narang
  
• Nicolas Dejenne
  

Venue:

Anandha Inn
S. V. Patel Road
Pondicherry-605001-INDIA

Email: commentary@ifpindia.org