German studies in India has a history of more than 100 years now. But because of a very rich history of German language and an equally rich and diverse literature and philosophy, it is a field of study worldwide, not only in German speaking countries. German is considered to be a language of science and philosophy. Though there are several bodies which represent the German studies internationally, IVG (Internationale Vereinigung für Germanistik) – International Association for German Studies, is the biggest among them. It has a president, two vice-presidents and one member each in its international committee from all the counties where German Studies are carried out.
The president and his/her University normally host the IVG-Congress once in every 5 years. For the 13th term - 2010 – 2015- Prof Zhu Jianhua of the Tongji University, Shanghai, China was elected the president. Therefore the 13th Congress of the IVG took place recently at Tongji University in Shanghai, China. The theme of this year’s Congress was “Germanistik zwischen Tradition und Innovation” – German Studies between Tradition and Innovation. All four major areas of German studies -- (A) linguistics, (B) literary Studies, (C) Culture Studies & (D) Didactics and multiculturalism -- were represented in the Congress. Altogether there were more than 50 sections; and some 1,300 participants from across the world participated in this Congress.
This was happening for the first time the Congress was held in China. It has not ever come to India. The last Congress took place in the year 2010 in Warsaw/Poland. Before this it took place in 2005 in Paris/France. The next-the 14th Congress of the IVG -will meet in Palermo/Italy.
Chandrika Kumar, in-charge of Doon University’s German department, participated at this Congress in the Section “Tradition and Transformation: The Far-East in German literature”. The title of his paper was “Indian Themes in the Poems of Matthias Claudius and Karl ludwig von Knebel”. His paper was in line with his area of research – India in German Poetry. In this M. Phil. Research, he could establish that a lot of themes, images and motifs of Indian origin that have found a significant place and strong echo in German Poetry of the late 18th and early 19th century. This was the time when for the first time Kalidasa’s Abhigyansakuntalam was translated into German by Georg Forster. He translated this Sanskrit Play using a latin version provided by William Jones, who was posted in Bengal as a judge by the East India Company those days. This translation strongly influenced several literary genius of that time and triggered German interest in the culture of India. Ever since then there is a lot of cultural interest for India in Germany. This led to the foundation of the first department of Indology at a university in Bonn/Germany. Subsequent scholarships have proved that this was a very special encounter which constituted a very significant part of the entire German Romantic Movement.
While research has shown interest in almost every single aspect of this encounter, Chandrika Kumar came across two poets, namely Matthias Claudius and Karl ludwig von Knebel, whose poems have not found enough echo in earlier research. “My paper tried to show that Indian Themes are present in the poems (Der fromme Heide by Claudius & Adrastea and Dushmantaby Knebel) of these two poets as well and therefore the poems of these two poets are worthy of closer analysis and interpretation. What is interesting and quite astonishing in this context is the fact that there was hardly any direct contact between Germany and India during those days, yet the poets used their imaginative faculty and out of their love for art they came very close to what was reality in ancient India,” he told The Pioneer.
These poems which showcase poetic and philosophic reflection are in fact works of art and call for practical ethics, religious harmony and a balance between nature and culture. The subsequent discussion on his paper witnessed a general acceptance that these poets deserve closer study and research in the context of India in German literature.
He also attended the panel discussions on some of the relevant issues pertaining to the present and future of German Studies in non- German speaking countries. How the new media calls for innovative methods of teaching was also one the themes of a panel discussion. The host institution also made a presentation on its own history.