H. S. David

Reverend Father Doctor

Hyacinth Singarayar David
ChurchRoman Catholic Church
Personal details
Born28 June 1907
Thumpalai, Jaffna, Sri Lanka
Died1 June 1981(1981-06-01) (aged 73)
St. Patrick's College, Jaffna
Bust of Rev Fr. (Dr.) Hyacinth Singarayar David at his birth place in Thumpalai, Point Pedro

Rev Fr. (Dr.) Hyacinth Singarayar David was a Sri Lankan Tamil priest, scholar and linguist.[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8]

David mastered in 33 languages in his life time.[9]

He died of shock the next day after seeing flames engulfing Jaffna Library from his room at St. Patrick's College, Jaffna the night before.[1][10]

Early life and education

David was born as the eldest son of Abrahampillai and Elizabeth David on 28 June 1907 in Thumpalai, Jaffna Peninsula.[9]

He went to St. Patrick's College, Jaffna for his education from 1913 to 1924. His father Abrahampillai was a teacher at the St. Patrick’s College during the period of his schooling.[9]

Higher studies and career

David joined at University of London as an external student through University College, Colombo to pursue his higher studies in history and completed with first class honours degree.[9]

Instead of joining highly sought-after Ceylon Civil Service, he joined at St. Bernard’s seminary and was ordained as a priest on 19 December 1931.[9]

David started his career as a teacher at St. Patrick's College, Jaffna in 1936 and continued till 1967.[9]

After completing his Master's degree in Indo-Aryan languages in 1947, he went to United Kingdom for his postgraduate studies during the period of 1948 - 1952.[9]

David completed his doctorate at University of London with his research work on, A critical study of Tolkappiyam, with special references to the Eluttatikaram in 1952.[9]

He served as an examiner for doctorate candidates at the University of Madras.[1]

Research and publications

David completed the incomplete work of Gnanapragasar on Tamil lexicon, because of his death. He traced the connection in Aryan, Dravidian and European languages to the Tamil language while completing the lexicon.[9]

He published numerous books and articles of scholarly interest during his career. Though some of his books were destroyed during the Sri Lankan Civil War in 1987, some of his works are traceable currently among the academic community and institutions internationally including Harvard University, University of Wisconsin, and University of Virginia.[9]

Proficiency in languages

David became fluent in 33 languages in his life time; the languages he mastered include 14 European (English, Latin, French, Greek, German, Dutch, Lithuanian, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, Danish, Norwegian, Swedish, Russian); 5 Semitic and other (Hebrew, Malay, Assyrian, Sumerian, Arabic); and 14 Indo-Asiatic Dravidaryan (Ardra) (Tamil, Sinhalese, Sanskrit, Vedic, Hindi, Kannada, Pali, Prakrit, Avestan, Telugu, Malayalam, Brahui, Tulu, Kui).[9]

He had also some familiarity with nearly 70 other languages.[1]

Death

David was in his room which was located on the third story of St. Patrick's College. He came out of the room after some priests called him out. They showed the flames engulfing Jaffna Library and he became uneasy with heavy-heart. He was looking at it with shock for some time. He then came to his room and went to sleep. He was found dead in his room next morning.[1]

Legacy

A statute of David was erected in the library courtyard.[10]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e "Appreciations:He died seeing the Jaffna library burn". The Sunday Times (Sri Lanka). 1 June 1997. Retrieved 22 May 2024.
  2. ^ "42 years since burning down of Jaffna library". The Leader. 2 June 2023. Retrieved 22 May 2024.
  3. ^ "The Jaffna Library". Daily FT. 1 August 2012. Retrieved 23 May 2024.
  4. ^ "THE JAFFNA PUBLIC LIBRARY Part 2 (Revised)". LanksWeb. 27 May 2019. Retrieved 23 May 2024.
  5. ^ "THE JAFFNA PUBLIC LIBRARY Part 1 (Revised)". LanksWeb. 27 May 2019. Retrieved 23 May 2024.
  6. ^ "Trial by fire in Jaffna". The Sunday Guardian. 22 October 2016. Retrieved 23 May 2024.
  7. ^ "Remembering the burning of Jaffna public library – 41 years on". Countercurrents.org. 25 May 2022. Retrieved 23 May 2024.
  8. ^ "Commemorations held to mark 39 years since burning of Jaffna Library". Tamil Guardian. 2 June 2020. Retrieved 23 May 2024.
  9. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Mukunthan, Thevarasa. "A Brilliant Scholar". Academia.edu. Retrieved 23 May 2024.
  10. ^ a b "37 years on - remembering the burning of the Jaffna Public Library". Tamil Guardian. 31 May 2018. Retrieved 23 May 2024.