Unheard Voices

Beskrivelse

Discover the fascinating history of Tranquebar, where Danish settlers thrived for over two centuries. This book takes you on a journey through the town’s rich cultural and scientific heritage.

A captivating walking tour through Tranquebar’s Danish legacy and its remarkable historical milestones.

On April 16, 1620, Raghunatha Nayak of Tanjore invited the Danes to establish trade and settle in Tharangampadi, also known as Tranquebar. Over the next 225 years, hundreds of Danes made this town their home, and more than a thousand were laid to rest here. During this era, German missionaries introduced printing, a Protestant mission was founded, and the town became a hub of science and the arts.

Significant achievements included the creation of an astronomical observatory and an expedition to the Nicobar Islands. Despite facing threats from wars, Tranquebar was repeatedly saved from destruction. This book offers a glimpse into this vibrant period through the remnants left behind by the Danes.

Presented as a walking tour, it guides readers past the homes of notable figures and sites where important events unfolded.

The author, P. S. Ramanujam, is Professor Emeritus in Optics at the Technical University of Denmark. Born in Tamilnadu, India, he has lived in Denmark for over 40 years. Alongside numerous scientific publications, Ramanujam has written extensively about Tranquebar and coauthored Videnskab, oplysning og historie i Dansk Ostindien (2020), a book about Henning Munch Engelhart, the Norwegian astronomer, scientist, historian, philosopher, and reformer associated with Tranquebar.

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