Beschi

Beschi, also known as Costanzo Giuseppe Beschi (8 November 1680 – 4 February 1747), was an Italian Jesuit priest and missionary in South India, known for his expertise in Tamil language and literature. He is considered to be a significant figure in the history of Tamil literature.

Beschi arrived in Goa, India, in 1700 and subsequently travelled to Tamil Nadu, where he spent most of his life. He dedicated himself to learning Tamil, eventually mastering it to the point where he became fluent and composed numerous literary works in the language.

Beschi's major contributions include:

• Thembavani (தேம்பாவணி): A Tamil epic poem of 3,615 stanzas on the life of St. Joseph, the foster father of Jesus. This is considered one of the finest examples of Tamil Christian literature.
• Grammar Books: He compiled grammatical works such as Tonnool Vilakkam (தொன்னூல் விளக்கம்), a comprehensive grammar of high Tamil, and works on common Tamil.
• Lexicons: He created Tamil-Latin and Latin-Tamil dictionaries, which were valuable resources for understanding and learning both languages.
• Prose Works: He wrote several prose works, including polemical and apologetical writings in defence of Christianity.

Beschi adopted a local lifestyle and attire to better connect with the Tamil people. He became known as Veeramaamunivar (வீரமாமுனிவர்) in Tamil, meaning "courageous ascetic." His works played a crucial role in promoting Christianity and facilitating cultural exchange between Europe and South India. Beschi is remembered as a scholar, poet, and missionary who made significant contributions to Tamil literature and culture.