Gunjala Gondi A New Tracing Typography Day 2014

S. Sridhara Murthy Typographer - Graphic Designer Guest Faculty, NIFT Hyderabad. [email protected]

Co-presenter : Prof. Jayadhir Tirumalrao Centre for Dalit & Studies and Translation University of Hyderabad, Hyderabad. [email protected] Linguistic Culture Linguistic Culture

• This paper explores details of a particular kind of Gondi Script has been found, it was recognized with the impact of regional local languages.

• One such kind of Gondi script of one hundred years antiquity, it still alive in the village ‘’, Narne Mandal, District in . • history and their powerful identity is spread amongst eight States of -, , Chattisghad, Uttarpradesh, Western Orissa and Northern Andhra Pradesh.

• Present Central part of India is known as Gondwana Kingdom with strong Gond Culture. The vast kingdom was abundant and full pledged Free State with strong and singular identity. • These simple living Lacs of Gonds are tend to lose touch with their language, spread living in many states of India coming under the influence of the regional languages of those respective states.

• Yet, time to time they strive to formulate new script with the help of (previous?) indigenous knowledge. One such effort was made hundred years ago. Gunjala script lies in their manuscripts very intact. It is based on a firm regulated format to create . • The impact and influence of languages like Marathi, , Telugu and English as they are languages of medium of instruction in education and further in administration caused a measurable harm to .

• These recently found manuscripts help us to trace the reminiscent of the script. Manuscripts found at Gunjala Village, Narnoor Mandal, , A.P Manuscripts found at Gunjala Manuscripts found at Gunjala Manuscripts found at Gunjala Manuscripts found at Gunjala Manuscripts found at Gunjala Manuscripts found at Gunjala

Horoscope chart in .

More images on display • Pendur Lingoji and Kumra Gangoji did cherish the desire that their script should appear in print, and sent the Alphabet order, number list, and the readers to Hyderabad. Their efforts were futile; they failed to see their script in print. • The efforts of Prof. Jayadhir Thirmala Rao, who made it possible to bring out the script and readers to Hyderabad and to enable us to listen to the translation of that literature into Telugu.

• The each written story is a marvel. , on the boarders of Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra then was a vast kingdom. • Much before the dates of the Indian independent struggle, approximately around 1768 the Gondwana King rebelled against the British. He waged war against them and invited the soldiers from Rohilkhand and Afghanisthan.

• The reader of this Saga, Kotnak Jangu, tries to put word by word to explain the meaning in Telugu. This listening experience is worth remembering. It is also to be noticed that reading of Gondi Scripts outside the Gondi Community happened for the first time. • The outsiders of Gondi Society could participate in the rare and unique experience to create a new page in history.

• The protests of Gonds make the history to remember about the war of independence. This story as text could reveal and provide more details to the society. • Font development for such script is important to document History, literature, language and culture to pass it on to next generations.

• With this motto the font has been designed and the first Reader – ‘Undi Vachakam’ has been designed in Gunjala Gondi script. Making of Font Manuscript to “Undi Vachakam” in Gunjala Gondi Script Glyph designing Process

The structure which is needed for work sheet in Readers

Glyphs designing Process Gunjala Gondi manuscript to font Sivalingapothi, Koyaboli and Gunjala Gondi Lipi Availble in Adilabad Dist Andhra Pradesh Varnamala Comparison Sivalingapothi, Koyaboli and Gunjala Gondi Lipi Varnamala Comparison Munshi Mangal Singh Masaram (1928) Sivalingapothi, Koyaboli, Prof. Prasanna Sree (2010) and Gunjala Gondi Lipi Numbers Comparison Sivalingapothi, Koyaboli and Gunjala Gondi Lipi

Gunjala Gondi Lipi

• Is nearer to the Indian Script evolution • It is easy to learn and write by the community. • It has such inherent characteristics for immediate acceptance • Hence hundreds of Gondi students from 2nd standard studuent to PG student learned and wrote stories, songs and Autobiographies in Gunjala Gondi Lipi. • With in few months, the above said books appear in print.

Gondi scripts other than Gunjala Gondi lipi are…

• Created for Self Satisfaction. • Some created away from the Tribal Communities. • Not related with Culture. • Hence they are alien Scripts.