Sir William Jones's Indian Studies

Abstract

Jones's scientific studies in India were too incomplete to be successful or historically important. However, his English translations and interpretations of Sanskrit literature helped expand the frontiers of European knowledge, while facilitating the movement of Sakuntald and of Kalidasa to their place in world literature. His comparative conclusions demonstrated the value of a grand East-West cooperation. Yet his Sanskrit literary work was primarily the byproduct of his central goal, an English version of Indian laws which would permit the English to rule Indians by their own laws. His sources were previously unpublished, unstudied manuscripts, which simultaneously led to his innovational conceptualizing of comparative linguistics. He composed nine hymns to Indian divinities and The Enchanted Fruit, based upon a Mahdbhdrata story. His prose versions of Brahmana Vishnusarman's four tales of the Pancatantra and of Jayadeva's Gztagovinda were somewhat undistinguished, originating as copybook exercises. His translation of Sakuntala had immense effect. The version of Manava-Dharmagastra was equally distinguished. Such work made him one of the greatest Orientalists and humanists of all time.