Kachchhi dictionary with pronunciation CD by 2009

Noted Kachchhi writer Narayan Joshi Karayil has termed this as a major work in the linguistics field of Gujarat. He said the man behind the Herculean task is Mumbai-based Dr Vishan Nagda, who has been working on the project for quite long time now.

Dr Nagda received the inspiration for the CD print dictionary from an audio book for children around 13 years ago. His idea received a boost during a recent seminar at Bhuj where papers were presented on lexicology.

Jayanti Joshi, ‘Shabab’, former station director of AIR Bhuj, mooted the idea of a pronunciation CD along with the dictionary.

‘Shabab’ said that as sounds precede written words and the former make a perfect communication tool, therefore, a CD with pronunciation is the perfect aid to preserve the language in its purest form.

He said Dr Nagda had agreed to incorporate the CD in the dictionary. ‘Shabab’ said the entries would be referred to Deccan College, Pune, for standardisation of pronunciations to bring them close to the ones in vogue in areas of Kutch.

Dr Nagda said the dictionary would be ready in a year, with 60,000 entries in two volumes. These would carry pronunciation guidelines across the world among Kachchhi learners. The project has the support of the Kachchhi Sahitya Academy besides members of a group of Kachchhi speaking people in the US.

Dr Kanti Gor, Vice-Chancellor, Kutch University, is hopeful of the project’s success. He, however, said the work should be accomplished with the help of a committee of experts who should also be dedicated to the cause of Kachchhi language.

“There must be some research work on the standardisation of pronunciation of words spoken in areas like Abdasa, Mundhra and Mandvi, among others, to bring pronunciations closest to the ones in vogue at these places,” he said.

He said the dictionary and the pronunciation CD project would not go down the drains because the language was becoming richer with the passage of time. As of now, there are more than a hundred writers in Kachchhi language and almost all of them have authored more than one book each, he said.

Giving glimpses of the history of Kachcchi dictionary, Bhuj-based writer Vraj Gajkand said the first dictionary came out 120 years ago when a primary schoolteacher, Prabhudas Chatrabhuj, taught children at Mota Laiza in Mandvi taluka.

He said other efforts followed this, like a dictionary by Gaurav Puraskar winner Prataprai Trivedi, Dulerai Kalanibapa, Abdakhan and Keka Shastri. “Of these, the work by Keka was submitted to the Gujarati Sahitya Academy, but nothing substantial came out. It is now lying with Bharat Chhaya of Jamangar,” he said.