A Self-Taught Lexicographer Who Defied Odds

COMPILING a dictionary is an arduous task that demands years of research, linguistic expertise, and an unwavering commitment to accuracy. Typically, it is a scholarly pursuit undertaken by academics with vast resources at their disposal. However, 86-year-old Njattyela Sreedharan, a native of Thalassery and a fourth-grade school dropout, achieved this extraordinary feat single-handedly — defying all odds. In 2020, he published the Chathur Dravida Bhasha Nighandu, a dictionary of four Dravidian languages.

- LAKSHMI ATHIRA @Kannur

Despite his unparalleled contribution to linguistic scholarship, the state government has failed to recognise his efforts. Although the Kerala Bhasha Institute republished the dictionary in 2022, Sreedharan is yet to receive any royalties. While institutions in other states have honoured him, he still awaits official recognition from his home state.

"I spent 40 years compiling the dictionary," says Sreedharan. "I travelled to Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh, spending months there to study the languages. Many, including close friends, discouraged me, insisting that dictionary compilation was a task for scholars. I may not be a scholar. I may not have a PhD. Yes, I am a fourth-grade dropout. But I love languages. I dedicated years to learning them, and that cannot be ignored," he points out.