William Jones Orientalist - Great Works and Controversies

Sir William Jones a great scholar, a historian, a lawyer, an orientalist and a linguist is remembered not only for his great works but also for the controversies which some of his great works generated. As a western scholar, he had contributed immensely to the Indo-European languages. He is widely acclaimed for the development of comparative linguistics. William Jones is regarded as one of the greatest of the Orientalists. He holds the reputation of adding hugely to the body of Oriental studies.

 

Works of Sir William Jones

 

William Jones knew sea of languages such as Latin, Greek, Italian, Spanish, French, Portuguese, Hebrew, Arabic, Turkish and Persian. His command over vast number of languages was unparalleled and unmatched. Under the commission of the king of Denmark, he translated into French, the history of Persian Conqueror, Nadir Shah. This goes as his first published work. His another ground-breaking work was the “Grammar of the Persian Language”(1771).

William Jones mastery in Sanskrit makes him one of the greatest western scholars in Indian History and laws. It all began when Jones got an Indian post in 1783. He landed in Calcutta with the designation of a judge at Bengal Supreme Court. Though he was a great scholar but his persona cannot be disassociated with his colonial connection. As a judge at Bengal Supreme Court, he had to promote colonialism. Jones founded the Asiatic Society of Bengal. He studied sanskrit to understand Hindu laws.

Jones tremendous mastery over Sanskrit made him delve into the Indian literature and study history, society, culture and tradition in India. His practice and skills in law as a jurist and his scholarship in sanskrit sailed him all the way in the realms of Hindu laws which formed the backbone of Indian society. Jones served as a great British diplomat. Critics say, he interpreted the Hindu laws to support the colonial legacy in India.

Jones translated the Manusmriti (the Hindu code of Law). Manusmriti, a discourse given by ancient Indian law-giver Manu, is regarded as the code of law that governed the ancient Indian society. He became the first to translate this Hindu scripture. Jones reached new heights of acclamation with his translation of Manusmriti. But at the same time his translation drew controversy.

Indian critics of Jones said that that Jones’ interpretation of Manusmriti was to justify the presence of British colonial rule in India. The British tried to portray India’s social and economic conditions in poor light to justify their presence. Jones translation of the verse in Manusmriti which says that a woman is never independent but are dependent first on parents, then on husband and later on son showed women were oppressed in ancient India.

The subjugation of women in Jones translation reflects the the rights denied to Hindu women. Many Indian nationalists criticized Jones for portraying miserable plight of ancient Indian women to support British rule. They argued that the British tried to present themselves as rescuers of Indian women from the clutches of patriarchy in India.

William Jones translation of Manusmriti brought both acclamation and criticism from all quarters and circles. His translation of Manusmriti became controversial and fuelled debates. But this does not overshadow Jones scholarship in languages and his great contribution to Oriental studies. His other renowned works include translation of Indian dramas Sakunta or the The Fatal Ring (1799) by Kalidasa and Gita Govinda by Jayadeva (1789). Jones has made immense contribution to history and establishing the family of Indo-European languages. Sir William Jones can rightly be called one of the founding father of comparative linguistics.