In a remarkable revelation connecting diverse historical threads, Tamil Bharathan TK, a young PhD scholar, stumbled upon an important discovery in the quiet halls of an Armenian Mekhitarist monastery on San Lazzaro degli Armeni, near Venice, Italy. This discovery, a Tamil manuscript, turned out to be an adaptation of ‘The Spiritual Exercises’, a renowned book of meditations penned by Saint Ignatius of Loyola. The manuscript was authored by an Italian missionary, who wrote under the adopted Tamil name, Gnana Pragasa Swami, identified as Bertoldi.
The manuscript, a relic from the 18th century, acts as a testament to the historical connections between Spain, Armenian traders in Tamil Nadu, Italian-led missions in South India, and education institutions in Venice. Bharathan’s journey to access the manuscript was not devoid of challenges. However, armed with the required authorization from Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), he managed to secure and photograph the document, thus bringing to light an extraordinary piece of history.
The discovery resonates with the significance of Armenian networks in the early-modern period. It also sheds light on the role of missionaries in practicing and spreading the Ignatian exercises among Tamil Catholic teachers. Nivedita Louis, a noted historian, emphasizes the exchange between Madras and Italy, a process facilitated by Armenian traders and the Mekhitarist Order. This exchange route, she believes, is likely how the manuscript found its way to Venice.
As a next step, Bharathan, in cooperation with Trento, a historian specializing in early-modern South India, plans to delve deeper into the text. Their goal is to gain insights into how the missionaries studied Tamil, framed poetry, and preached evolving practices. Bharathan is also eager to join hands with the government for the manuscript’s digitization and further research. In this scholarly pursuit, the monastery officials have expressed their full support.
