Film on Kittel, author of first major Kannada-English dictionary, to screen in Bengaluru on July 27
Bengaluru: A new film chronicling the life and legacy of Rev. Ferdinand Kittel, the 19th-century German missionary who compiled the first comprehensive Kannada-English dictionary, will be screened this weekend in Bengaluru. The screening will be followed by a talk by director Prashant Pandit.
Titled The Word and the Teacher, the trilingual documentary—made in English, Kannada, and German—delves into Kittel’s significant contributions to Kannada linguistics, particularly his landmark 70,000-word dictionary.
The project is a result of three years of research by Pandit, a filmmaker from Mysuru, who was first introduced to Kittel’s work in school, as reported by Deccan Herald.
Pandit initially struggled to find more information than what he had learnt in his childhood. “Indians don’t believe in documentation,” he remarked. In contrast, he found extensive records and archival material in Germany, which helped unearth what he describes as “many surprises” for the audience.
The film uses a first-person narrative, crafted from Kittel’s letters and reports. It has been shot across locations in South India and Germany and features archival footage. Notably, it also showcases an early Kannada typeface created by Kittel himself, which Pandit has now digitised. Once widely used in the 1860s, this typeface has been revived and made publicly accessible, DH added.
Reflecting on Kittel’s commitment to language and meaning, Pandit observed, “We live in a post-truth world where words have no fixed meaning,” adding that Kittel’s efforts to define language offer a striking contrast to today’s ambiguity.
Pandit hopes the film will prompt reflection, noting that in today's world, people are divided by numerous boundaries—politics, religion, and language—whereas Kittel had the courage to transcend them all.
The screening will take place on July 27, 2025, at 11:00 AM at the Bangalore International Centre, Domlur. Entry is free. For more details and registration, visit bangaloreinternationalcentre.org
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Attack on Indian-flagged merchant ship off Oman coast unacceptable: MEA
New Delhi (PTI): An Indian-flagged commercial vessel has come under attack off the coast of Oman but all its 14 crew members are safe, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Thursday.
It is not immediately known who carried out the strike on the vessel on Wednesday.
The MEA described the attack as "unacceptable".
"The attack on an Indian-flagged ship off the coast of Oman yesterday is unacceptable and we deplore the fact that commercial shipping and civilian mariners continue to be targeted," it said.
"All Indian crew on board are safe and we thank the Omani authorities for rescuing them," it said.
The MEA said India reiterates that targeting commercial shipping and endangering innocent civilian crew members, or otherwise impeding freedom of navigation and commerce, should be avoided.
The vessel was sailing from Somalia and the strike triggered a fire that led to sinking of the vessel, it is learnt.
The crew members were rescued by Oman's Coast Guard and taken to Diba port.
At least two other Indian-flagged ships have been attacked since the war between the US and Iran began on February 28.
The latest attack came amid the fragile security situation in the Strait of Hormuz.
