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THIS
year (1927) is the centenary of the birth of Vidvan H. A. Krishna Pillai,
and it is therefore fitting that at this time a second edition of his
great Tamil work should be published. This work has for many years been
out of print, and owing to various difficulties it was not possible to
arrange for republication; however those difficulties have now been removed,
and through the kindness of the executors of the late Vidvan H. A. Krishna Pillai it has been possible to bring out this new edition of his work.
We are especially grateful to Mr. Doss Krishniah, B..A., L.T., of Palamcottah
who has given permission on behalf of the executors for this publication.
In
the memoir of Krishna Pillai written by Miss Amy Wilson Carmichael she
tells us that he put his very soul into this book. It was published first
in the year 1894 and was very greatly appreciated both by Hindus and Christians.
Written in a chaste style with a wealth of imagery and a skill in poetical
rhythm, it has come to take a place among the great classical works of
Tamil Literature. It purports to be a Tamil version of John Bunyan's Pilgrim's
Progress. While it does reproduce the story and the characters of the
original as well as a good deal of the conversations, it is much more
than this because it gives the picture of the author's own inner life
and of his devotion to Christ. It is full of delightful touches and shows
how rich and deep was his Christian life, and how greatly he had profited
by his wide and deep studies in the Hindu sacred literature.
This
volume has been prepared for the Press by Pandit Rev. J. S. Masillamony,
B. D., of Pasumalai, who has given a great deal of time and thought to
the work. Comments and explanations have been added for some stanzas and
also the meanings of difficult words.
It
is hoped that the book in its revised form will be of great value not
only to the Tamil Church but also to Hindu friends who are anxious to
understand the meaning and value of Christian experience.
It
has been decided to publish the book in two volumes and it is hoped that
shortly the whole work may be in the hands of the public.
We are very grateful to the Christian Literature Society for undertaking
the publication.
H.A. Popley.
July, 1927.
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