A general all-embracing notion of their contributions will show us how far natives have either progressed or lagged behind. Any study of Tamil literature is irremovably entwined with the perpetual stamps they have left behind. No study of it can be complete, devoid of an honest and candid appreciation of them. They retrieved for us the glories of our past literature, they reawakened in us the sparks of lively interest and they introduced us to the great scientific strides of the west.

A biographical sketch of these foreign scholars in indispensable. Some Catholic Missionaries on arriving in India adopted either Tamil or Indianised names and became known by them. Protestant Missionaries on the contrary gave foreign names to native converts. Thus names became misleading. To determine nationality on the basis of names was impossible and to ascertain and distinguish natives from foreigners one had to probe into their life stories. Most of their works are devoid of their life sketches and no idea of the methods pursued by them can always be gained. By reverting to their biographies one discovers, though at times only meagrely, the many and varied modes of work adopted by them. These scholars came from many nations-Italy, Portugal, Denmark, Scotland etc., and the influence each different environment had on its respective scholar is interesting and important. They render the discovery of the original roots of the words they coined, easier. I have endeavoured to get authentic accounts of most of their histories and it was no easy task. Much of these stories though quite recent have been mixed up with concocted incidents. I have relied on printed information from standard books, and pamphlets and articles in reputed but acknowledged magazines in English and Tamil.

Unless the history of Tamilnad synchronising with their advent and labours is investigated, it is not easy to comprehend and appreciate the difficulties that surrounded them and the obstacles which deterred their progress. History has never been a fertile soil for Indian minds. History was shrouded by legends and myths and facts were distorted beyond recognition. It was only after European scholars commenced their labours that a taste for