B. Lewis Rice

Benjamin Lewis Rice
Born(1837-07-17)17 July 1837
Bangalore, Mysore State
Died10 July 1927(1927-07-10) (aged 89)
Harrow
Occupation(s)Historian, archaeologist, epigraphist, educationist, writer
Spouse(s)Mary Sophia Garrett, daughter of John Garrett[1]

Benjamin Lewis Rice CIE (17 July 1837 – 10 July 1927), popularly known as B. L. Rice, was a British historian, archaeologist and educationist. He is known for his pioneering work in deciphering inscriptions, especially in Kannada, and in Sanskrit inscriptions in the Kingdom of Mysore and is eulogized as Shasanapitamaha (transl. Grandsire of Epigraphy) or Purathathva Pitamaha (transl. Grandsire of Archaeology)[2][3][4] Rice's researches were published as the voluminous Epigraphia Carnatica which contains translations of about 9000 inscriptions he found in the Old Mysore area.[5][6] Rice also compiled the much acclaimed Mysore Gazetteer which still remains the primary source of information for most places in Mysore and neighbouring Coorg. Rice served with distinction in the Mysore civil service and as first Director of the Mysore State Archaeology Department.

  1. ^ Shekar, Divya (6 March 2016). "The Balabrooie guest house in Bengaluru reminded the British of the Isle of Man". No. Bangalore. The Economic Times. Retrieved 25 August 2022.
  2. ^ "'My love for Mysore is unending'". Deccan Herald. 13 December 2010. Retrieved 26 July 2023.
  3. ^ "'Epigraphia Carnatica' brought out in CD-ROM". The Hindu. 7 November 2005. Archived from the original on 17 November 2006.
  4. ^ "Rice, Benjamin Lewis". Who's Who. Vol. 59. 1907. p. 1478.
  5. ^ "Rev. Benjamin Lewis Rice-Missionaries contributions to India". Christian Persecution Update India. Archived from the original on 2 December 2011. Retrieved 22 November 2011.
  6. ^ Iyer, Meera (13 December 2010). "'My love for Mysore is unending'". Deccan Herald.