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Exhibition Honoring Linguist Sándor Kőrösi Csoma’s Legacy in Kolkata

MTI-Hungary Today 2024.04.19.
Lhasa in the 19th Century on the map of Russian orientalist Nikita Bichurin

On the 240th anniversary of Sándor Kőrösi Csoma’s birth, an exhibition featuring works by Szekler textile artist Ella Gazdáné Olosz opened in Kolkata, organized by the Liszt Institute – Hungarian Cultural Center Delhi.

The exhibition is part of events commemorating the linguist’s legacy, displayed Ella Gazdáné Olosz’s works alongside oriental motifs, inviting admiration for their fusion of Eastern inspiration with Western techniques.

The Liszt Institute’s Csoma 240 initiative, launched on April 4, underscores the significance of maintaining ties between Indians and Hungarians through the Kőrösi Csoma tradition.

The exhibition not only resonated with audiences for its artistic merit but also for its cultural significance.

Despite the artist’s absence from India, her pieces evoked the spirit of the East, resonating with viewers.

Ella Gazdáné Olosz’s travels across the Middle East and Southeast Asia, studying traditional textile cultures, deeply influenced her work, blending traditional and modern elements. Alongside the exhibition, photographs by Viktor Zichó, chronicling his cycling journey from Csomakőrös to Darjeeling, were displayed, further highlighting Kőrösi Csoma’s legacy.

The initiative also called for Hungarians who visited Kőrösi Csoma’s tomb to share their photos, reflecting a collective homage to his memory.

Planned activities include a scientific conference, drawing competition, and school program in Indian schools, aimed at introducing Sándor Kőrösi Csoma to students.

The Liszt Institute’s efforts serve to bridge cultural divides and honor Csoma’s enduring legacy, fostering understanding and appreciation between Hungarian and Indian communities.

Fact

Sándor Kőrösi Csoma was born in 1784 in Chiuruș (Csomakőrös), Transylvania. His childhood history teacher sparked his interest in the ancestral history of the Hungarians, which became the basis for his later travels. Kőrösi Csoma set out from Bucharest in 1820 and travelled through the Middle East and Inner Asia to Ladakh in India, arriving there in 1822. During his stay in India, he researched the Tibetan Buddhist canon and created an English dictionary of the Tibetan language, which is considered his major work. He died of malaria in Darjeeling in 1842.

Tibetologist Sándor Kőrösi Csoma Bridged East and West with His Work
Tibetologist Sándor Kőrösi Csoma Bridged East and West with His Work

Minister of Culture János Csák delivered a speech on the occasion of the famous Hungarian tibetologist's 240th birtday.Continue reading

Via MTI; Featured Image: Wikipedia


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