| The arrival of Bartholomaeus Ziegenbalg on July 9, 1706 in a Tamil village of Tranquebar on the Coromandel Coast in South East India marks the beginning of an interesting chapter not only in Indo-German relationship but also in Tamil language literature and culture. Ziegenbalg came to Tranquebar with an expressed purpose of introducing German Lutheran pietism to the people of Bhakthi religions belonging to popular village religiosities but his encounter with Tamil people and Tamil culture and literature transformed him so much that he became the author for Tamil culture and religious heritage. The 300th anniversary of his arrival gives an exciting opportunity to commemorate the contribution of this great Dravidologist of South India. |
Born in Germany, 1682
Died in India, 1719
