Robert Caldwell facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Robert Caldwell
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| Born | 7 May 1814 |
| Died | 28 August 1891 (aged 77) |
| Resting place | Idaiyangudi, Tirunelveli District, Tamil Nadu, India |
| Citizenship | British |
| Occupation | Missionary, Linguist |
| Known for | Bishop in South India |
Robert Caldwell (born May 7, 1814 – died August 28, 1891) was a British missionary and a language expert. He is famous for his work in South India.
He came to British India when he was 24 years old. He was a missionary for the London Missionary Society. He learned the local languages to share the Bible's message. His studies led him to write an important book. This book compared the grammar of South Indian languages.
In his book, Caldwell suggested that some words in ancient Hebrew (from the Old Testament) and old Greek might have come from Dravidian languages. He also thought some place names mentioned by Ptolemy were Dravidian.
Caldwell married Eliza Mault. She was the daughter of another missionary in India. He became an assistant bishop of Tirunelveli in 1877.
The Government of Tamil Nadu has honored him with a memorial. A postage stamp was also made in his name. In 1967, a statue of Caldwell was put up near Marina Beach, Chennai. This was a gift from the Church of South India.
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Robert Caldwell's Early Life
Robert Caldwell was born in Clady, Ireland, on May 7, 1814. His parents were poor Scottish Presbyterians. His family moved to Glasgow, Scotland. He started working there when he was only nine years old.
He mostly taught himself. At 15, he went back to Ireland. He lived with his older brother in Dublin. From 1829 to 1833, he studied art. Later, he returned to Glasgow. He became very active in the Congregational church.
Caldwell won a scholarship to Balliol College, Oxford. But it was taken away when they found out he was born in Ireland. So, he joined the London Missionary Society. They sent him to the University of Glasgow for training.
At the university, he was inspired by Daniel Keyte Sandford. Sandford was a professor of Greek. He encouraged Caldwell's love for comparing languages and studying religion. Caldwell finished university with high honors. He became a Congregationalist minister.
His Work in India
Caldwell arrived in Madras, India, on January 8, 1838. He was 24 years old. He worked as a missionary for the London Missionary Society. Later, he joined the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel Mission (SPG).
He quickly realized he needed to know Tamil very well. This would help him share his message with many people. So, he began to study the language carefully. He became the Bishop of Tirunelveli in 1877.
In 1844, Caldwell married Eliza Mault in Nagercoil. They had seven children. Eliza was born in Nagercoil. Her father, Rev. Charles Mault, was also a missionary. Eliza worked for over 40 years in Idaiyangudi and Tirunelveli. She helped many people, especially Tamil-speaking women.
Caldwell's Book on Languages
Robert Caldwell wrote a very important book. It was called A Comparative Grammar of the Dravidian or South-Indian family of languages. In this book, he was the first to show that the South Indian languages (like Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, and Malayalam) form their own language family. He called them "Dravidian" languages.
His book was a big step in understanding these languages. It helped people see them as unique and important. Even today, his work is respected in the field of Dravidian linguistics.
Exploring Ancient History
While serving as Bishop of Tirunelveli, Caldwell also did a lot of research on the history of the area. He was not a trained archaeologist, but he was very curious.
He studied old palm leaf writings and ancient Tamil literature. He also dug up several sites. He found old building foundations, burial urns, and coins. These coins had the fish symbol of the Pandyan Kingdom, an ancient South Indian kingdom.
His historical research led to another book. It was called A Political and General History of the District of Tinnevely (1881). The government of the Madras Presidency published it.
His Lasting Impact
Caldwell worked in India for more than 50 years. His books on languages and history were very influential. They helped to start the Non-Brahmin movement. This movement aimed to promote the culture and identity of the Dravidian people.
He also helped many lower-caste people become Christians. He learned from earlier missionaries to find the best ways to connect with people.
Robert Caldwell is still an important figure in the history of South India. He was a great scholar of the Tamil language. He was also a Christian evangelist and a supporter of the local church. His statue stands near Marina Beach in Chennai. This shows how much he is still remembered.
A historian named Dr. M.S.S. Pandian said that Caldwell's work was unmatched. He greatly helped both Christianity in South India and the cultural awakening of the region.
A special postage stamp was released in his honor on May 7, 2010.
Images for kids
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Grave stone of Caldwell
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Caldwell Memorial
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Caldwell Memorial
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Caldwell's House Veranda
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Caldwell's Family Tree
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Caldwell's Marriage Certificate
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A letter written by Robert Caldwell
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Side Chapel
