What language is this written in ?

[Barnzzz]

Hello, this is part of a document that was with letters my gg grandfather wrote to his mother from South Africa. He went there in 1849 to make his fortune farming, although he didn't succeed and went home to Hartlepool a few years later.

No one has ever known what this document says. I would love to get it translated for my mum who has been intrigued for years, but I don't even know what language its in !

Can anyone help ?

I fondly believe that before leaving for Hartlepool, gg grandfather sold his land and used Ghandi as his lawyer.........

http://i193.photobucket.com/albums/z191/Redantt/johnwetherelldoc.jpg
Sue

[Kate Allan]

I'm no expert but it look like some form of Indian? maybe Hindi? There were a lot of Indians in South Africa and I believe Ghandi did spend some time there.

Good Luck!

Kate

[Jan1954]

I will ask the Indian language experts at work tomorrow to take a look. :D

[SBSFamilyhistory]

I think it is Urdu

Sue

[MythicalMarian]

I think it is Urdu

Sue

No - it's not Urdu. Urdu has Arabic characters (curved) rather than these squared characters. I would agree that this is Hindustani.

ETA: Actually - just had a bit of a scout around - this could even be Sanskrit - from which Hindu derived. It may fit your time period better.

[Mona]

The script looks like the Devanagari alphabet, which is used to write both Hindi and Sanskrit plus other languages in South-east Asia.

[Jan1954]

Was unable to access the link today at work (Security - tuh!)

Have saved it and will try to email it to myself for Friday - if you see what I mean... :o

[Barnzzz]

Thanks for looking everyone.

Jan, I hope the Indian experts at work can help on Friday !

Sue

[Jan1954]

A member of staff is taking a print-out of it home for the weekend as she's offered to have a stab at translating it.

Isn't she lovely?

She says it's a bit "fuzzy" but will give it her best shot.

Fingers crossed!

[keith9351]

Sorry no help with the translation but on Gandni .

After university, he went to London to train as a barrister. He returned to India in 1891 and in 1893 accepted a job at an Indian law firm in Durban, South Africa.

Keith

[Barnzzz]

Keith, sadly my pie in the sky wish/theory about Ghandi doesn't work as gg grandfather went home to Hartlepool in the 1860s. Never mind, perhaps my connection to the great and the good will turn up elsewhere.............

Jan, please pass my thanks to your colleague for trying to translate. People are very kind and its appreciated.

Sue

[Jan1954]

Hello Sue,

Back at work today and asked Sudha how she had got on.

She says that it seems to be pages 2 and 3 of a 4 page (or more) letter about the trials and tribulations of a family. A son is moaning about the little support that he is getting from an older brother in supporting their mother. It mentions the cost as well as the difficulties involved.

Sudha will be translating it verbatim and I will post her full translation when I receive it - I just wanted to let you know that it hasn't been forgotten :) She is having to use a magnifying glass (bless her!) and says that it may have the odd ommitted word as the writing is not that clear.

However, she is finding it really fascinating - her eyes lit up when she was telling me about it today - so we may have yet another convert to family history research :D

Watch this space!

[Barnzzz]

Hi Jan, this is fantastic, no one has ever had any clue what this says. Please pass huge thanks to Sudha for her efforts, I hope she doesn't get eyestrain ! I hesitate to mention that I do have another page...................|blush|

I can't wait for the next installment !

Sue

[Jan1954]

Sue,

If you can post a link to a scan of any missing pages, I am sure that it will help Sudha make sense of what she is reading.

She seems quite taken with it all... :)

I think this is because she is reading real-life Indian history that she has not had the opportunity to do before.

[Barnzzz]

Hi again Jan, here is the link to the other page, not sure which way up it should be unfortunately !

http://i193.photobucket.com/albums/z191/Redantt/johnwetherelldoc2.jpg

Thanks, Sue

[Jan1954]

Thanks Sue. I have emailed it to me at work. I'll update you as I can. http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee187/Jan_07/crossedfingers.png

[Jan1954]

Hi Sue,

Sudha says that the second one's too fuzzy to read properly. However, another member of staff has also offered to have a go and so I've just emailed him the links. He's a bit of a computer whizz and so will be able to play with it to enhance the clarity.

Fingers crossed!

[Barnzzz]

Thanks again for all your efforts and those of your collegues.

Sue

[Jan1954]

No problem, Sue.

They are probably humouring me to stop me from banging on about family history! They do this and it should keep me quiet for a while :D

[Jan1954]

Sue - at last - the translation of the first pages that you gave us. Sorry that it's taken so long, but Sudha's been ill and I've been away. We kept missing each other.

Anyway, enough rambling...

Grandpa, you have written that my mother is somewhat upset with me. It’s not always like that. Occasionally she gets upset and then she is alright. You have also written that you do understand that I am telling the truth that the money from the wages - 15 rupees is spent on her. She refuses to take more money. Her condition is worse, which I have written you before. You are asking about the relation of elder brother with me. I do not feel bad about his behaviour with me and accept the fact that after dark nights there is always a full moon. Grandpa, do not expect any letter from him as he hardly writes to me either. And don’t worry about Nanu (younger brother) as he is alright. Since we have come here, he has not written to me or Rama. He says his hands are trembling, so he cannot write. Since Ramu has gone to Manekpur, I do not get time. These days Nandu is staying with her mother in law as she is very sick. Nadiri has a baby girl.

I hope that the names mean something... :confused:

The second part that you gave us is still in the process of being translated. It's proving rather difficult to read but we have hopes...

[Barnzzz]

Hi Jan, this is great, please thank your friend again for me.

The names mean nothing to me at all ! Somehow that makes it all the more intriguing. Whatever was the connection between gg grandfather and these people ? I've read all his letters that he sent to his parents at the time and its clear from some of the comments he makes that lots went on that he didnt tell them much about. I shall have to read them all yet again and see if there is any hint as to who they may be.

Thanks again, Sue

[Jan1954]

You're welcome. I shall pass on your thanks and keep my fingers crossed for the next instalment. :D

[Colin Moretti]

Isn't it sooo frustrating when you only have one side of some correspondence. |banghead|

Colin