Book Printing In India- with Special Reference to the Contribution of European Scholars to Telugu (1746-1857)

Born in 1925 at Madanapalle A.P., P.G. from Banaras Hindu University and Ph.D. from Delhi University. As a member of the Indian information service she was the first lady to read Telugu news from All India Radio, Delhi Campaign Officer for the Defence Ministry from the DAVP, IIB Ministry — Chief Editor at the Indian Council for cultural Affairs, New Delhi.

Books published in English "The Rate Schools of Godavari’, "Alluri Sitarama Raju"; and Telugu books are "The Indian Constitution"; "Aurobindo"; Telugulo Achayina Toli Pusthakalu’"’; and "Jhansi Lakshmi Bat’. She is on the roster of experts of the United Nations on Public Administration and Information.

That the foundations of Indian culture were deeply embedded in Dravidian culture is now an incontrovertible fact. Dravidian culture is one of the most ancient cultures of the world. Those cultures, slightly contemporaneous to one another, slowly started fading out. However, the primordial Dravidian culture continues to thrive without losing its quintessence despite the apparent changes in systems of dress and address.

Dravidian University was established in 1997 to mirror the real and rich picture of Dravidian culture not only in its linguistic, literary, cultural and philosophical facets but in science and technological angles also.

The main objectives of Dravidian University are to augment the common weal and social well being of the communities of marginal languages and to build bridges among the Southern states. While working on each language separately in varied areas, it aims at a synthesis and a discovery of the common heritage through Comparative Studies.

PrasGrdnga (Publications wing) and Anusyjana (Translation Bureau) are the two most significant wings of the University embarking on several on going progressive activities.

The development of the printing press by Johannes Gutenberg around 1440 marks the entry of the book into the industrial age. The publication of a book became an enterprise. Within a span of a century the art of printing spread beyond European continent, including India. As already been established by many a scholar, Europeans or the early missionaries had contributed richly to the spread of printing technology and book printing in India. But it is not yet traced properly. Hence, there is a great historic need to take up such an important task. It iS heartening to note that Dr.J.Mangamma had published a full-length book "Book Printing in India: With special reference to the contribution of European scholars to Telugu (1746-1857)" in 1975 itself.

As Bangorey identified in the Publisher’s Note Dr. Mangamma has skillfully unearthed certain pertinent aspects related to the services rendered by the scholars ranging from Colin Mackenzie to Cavali Brothers. She did a focused study on the Portuguese and Dutch missionaries who arrived in South Indian during the 16 and 17 centuries. The chapters on the official efforts in the promotion of Oriental languages, early grammars in Telugu and Mackenzie and on a few other Orientalists reflect her analytical skills. Dravidian University is extremely happy in undertaking this pioneering work for publication.