Is the Gunjala Gondi script actually the extinct script as is being made out to be or is the obsolete and archaic Modhi script being passed off as Gondi? A controversy has erupted in the tribal heartland of Adilabad with Adivasi elders and those involved in development of the Gondi language disputing the claim of discovery of the Gondi script.
It was about two years ago that the discovery of a dozen manuscripts in Gunjala village of Narnoor mandal, after which the script of the manuscripts was subsequently named, was presented to the world as a sensational discovery which could well be the link to proto Dravidian languages. The discovery entailed promotion of the script by way of devising a font and bringing out readers for Adivasi students besides establishment of a Gunjala Gondi Lipi Adhyayana Vedika, at present at Utnoor.
The Centre for Dalit and Adivasi Studies and Translation (CDAST) of the University of Hyderabad was involved in the promotion with its visiting Professor, the retired Director of AP Oriental Manuscripts Library and Research Centre, Professor Jayadheer Tirumal Rao playing a key role. He was also instrumental in the Bhadrachalam Integrated Tribal development Agency (ITDA) incorporating the script, also called Koyaboli, in the syllabus for Koya students.
Complaints lodged
Though Gond elders have been disputing the claim since the find was exposed to the world, the murmurs became a controversy only in December last. Professor K.M. Metry, Head and Dean, department of Social Sciences, Kannada University, Hampi, who is also associated with tribal studies and research, expressed his reservations over the Gunjala script being Gondi.
He said the script was analysed by experts and was found to be Modhi. Complaints were subsequently lodged with the ITDA, Utnoor to determine the authenticity of the claim made by Prof. Tirumal Rao and his group of researchers.
“Yes, we have received complaints in this regard. We will definitely get it verified with experts in the field in addition to taking opinion of Gond community elders,” said Utnoor ITDA Project Officer Prashant J. Patil.
“The Gunjala script is not Gondi. The Gondi script is linked to the Indus valley civilisation and was discovered way back in 1929 by Munshi Mangal Singh in central India,” opined Sidam Arju, one of the Gond elders involved in standardisation of Gondi dictionary, as he drew comparison between the latest and the old finds.
