The Invention of the Gramophone Record
HMV Company once published a pamphlet detailing the history of the gramophone record. The gramophone was invented by Thomas Alva Edison in the 19th century. Edison, who had invented many other gadgets like the electric light and the motion picture camera, had become a legend even in his own time.
When he invented the gramophone record, which could record the human voice for posterity, he wanted to record the voice of an eminent scholar on his first piece. For that, he chose Prof. Max Muller of Germany, another great personality of the 19th century. He wrote to Max Muller saying, "I want to meet you and record your voice. When should I come?" Max Muller, who had great respect for Edison, asked him to come at a suitable time when most of the scholars of Europe would be gathering in England.
Accordingly, Edison took a ship and went to England. He was introduced to the audience, and all cheered Edison's presence. Later, at the request of Edison, Max Muller came on stage and spoke in front of the instrument. Then Edison went back to his laboratory and by afternoon returned with a disc. He played the gramophone disc from his instrument. The audience was thrilled to hear the voice of Max Muller from the instrument. They were glad that voices of great persons like Max Muller could be stored for the benefit of posterity.
After several rounds of applause and congratulations to Thomas Alva Edison, Max Muller came to the stage and addressed the scholars, asking them, "You heard my original voice in the morning. Then you heard the same voice coming out from this instrument in the afternoon. Did you understand what I said in the morning or what you heard this afternoon?"
The audience fell silent because they could not understand the language in which Max Muller had spoken. It was 'Greek and Latin' to them, as they say. But had it been Greek or Latin, they would have definitely understood because they were from various parts of Europe. It was in a language that the European scholars had never heard.
Max Muller then explained what he had spoken. He said that the language he spoke was Sanskrit and it was the first sloka of the Rig Veda, which says "Agni Meele Purohitam." This was the first recorded public version on the gramophone plate.
Why Max Muller Chose Sanskrit
Addressing the audience, he said, "Vedas are the oldest texts of the human race. And Agni Meele Purohitam is the first verse of the Rig Veda. In the most primordial time, when people did not know how even to cover their bodies and lived by hunting and housed in caves, Indians had attained high civilization and they gave the world universal philosophies in the form of the Vedas."
Such is the illustrious legacy of our country!
When "Agni Meele Purohitam" was replayed, the entire audience stood up in silence as a mark of respect for the ancient Hindu sages.
This verse means:
"Oh Agni, You who gleam in the darkness, To You we come day by day, with devotion and bearing homage. So be of easy access to us, Agni, as a father to his son, abide with us for our well-being."
Regards
HMV Company once published a pamphlet detailing the history of the gramophone record. The gramophone was invented by Thomas Alva Edison in the 19th century. Edison, who had invented many other gadgets like the electric light and the motion picture camera, had become a legend even in his own time.
When he invented the gramophone record, which could record the human voice for posterity, he wanted to record the voice of an eminent scholar on his first piece. For that, he chose Prof. Max Muller of Germany, another great personality of the 19th century. He wrote to Max Muller saying, "I want to meet you and record your voice. When should I come?" Max Muller, who had great respect for Edison, asked him to come at a suitable time when most of the scholars of Europe would be gathering in England.
Accordingly, Edison took a ship and went to England. He was introduced to the audience, and all cheered Edison's presence. Later, at the request of Edison, Max Muller came on stage and spoke in front of the instrument. Then Edison went back to his laboratory and by afternoon returned with a disc. He played the gramophone disc from his instrument. The audience was thrilled to hear the voice of Max Muller from the instrument. They were glad that voices of great persons like Max Muller could be stored for the benefit of posterity.
After several rounds of applause and congratulations to Thomas Alva Edison, Max Muller came to the stage and addressed the scholars, asking them, "You heard my original voice in the morning. Then you heard the same voice coming out from this instrument in the afternoon. Did you understand what I said in the morning or what you heard this afternoon?"
The audience fell silent because they could not understand the language in which Max Muller had spoken. It was 'Greek and Latin' to them, as they say. But had it been Greek or Latin, they would have definitely understood because they were from various parts of Europe. It was in a language that the European scholars had never heard.
Max Muller then explained what he had spoken. He said that the language he spoke was Sanskrit and it was the first sloka of the Rig Veda, which says "Agni Meele Purohitam." This was the first recorded public version on the gramophone plate.
Why Max Muller Chose Sanskrit
Addressing the audience, he said, "Vedas are the oldest texts of the human race. And Agni Meele Purohitam is the first verse of the Rig Veda. In the most primordial time, when people did not know how even to cover their bodies and lived by hunting and housed in caves, Indians had attained high civilization and they gave the world universal philosophies in the form of the Vedas."
Such is the illustrious legacy of our country!
When "Agni Meele Purohitam" was replayed, the entire audience stood up in silence as a mark of respect for the ancient Hindu sages.
This verse means:
"Oh Agni, You who gleam in the darkness, To You we come day by day, with devotion and bearing homage. So be of easy access to us, Agni, as a father to his son, abide with us for our well-being."
Regards