The First - Editor of the Rig Veda was a German

I stood on the broken wall that had divided the German people . That day thousands of men, women and children, young and old, with determination had brick by brick – stone by stone – removed the divider and once again emerged a United Germany. I was in Berlin attending a Seminar and joined the youth in the historical task of re-united nation. I too broke a portion of the wall and collected some stones for keep.

But Indo-German friendship is based on long emotional and cultural history.
It was Professor Max Mueller of Germany who studied Sanskrit and translated many ancient Indian philosophical texts and with the support of (English)East India Company edited and published first edition of Rig Veda, followed by other Vedas. He had taken up professorship of Indian (Oriental) Studies at Oxford University 1840-1880 (?). Professor Mueller delivered lectures to the English officers who went to India to administer the British Raj. His lectures were titled: “What India can teach us (Europeans).”

German scholars led by Mueller studied Sanskrit and other European languages and the philologists (linguistics had not developed yet) advanced the theory of a common origin of all Indo-European languages. The Upanishads and many other Sanskrit works including of Kalidasa’s famous Shakuntalam were translated by German Indologists.

In our times, we cannot forget the political and international support for Indian freedom struggle we received in the 19-20th century from German people. India’s national hero was Subhash Chandra Bose, affectionately called “Neta-ji” ( The Leader). Our Netaji was under house arrest in 1940s. He planned the heroic escape from the British Raj and via Afghanistan reached Germany. He met Hitler and in a German submarine reached Japan. In Asia, the Japanese had held thousands of Indians belonging to the British forces as Prisoners of War. Netaji got them released and organized them under the Indian National Army (INA) to hoist the Indian Tri-colour ( Tiranga) on the Red Fort and the INA’s war cry was: Dilli Chalo (March to Delhi). Netaji’s salutation to his forces was: Jai Hind. That is why on the 15th August we hoist the Tiranga on the Red Fort with a united voice: Jai Hind. Netaji had established the First Indian Independent Government ( in Exile) in Singapore.

But before leaving Germany, Netaji had married a beautiful German girl. The only child of Netaji – was a daughter who with her mother lived in Germany.

With German people we share the democratic and secular socio-political philosophy. Today, as India has emerged as an Economic Giant on the global scene, we look towards greater scientific, socio-economic and industrial partnership with Germany and the European Union.