British linguist Ronald E Asher, specialised in Dravidian languages, passes away.
Renowned linguist and ambassador of Tamil and Malayalam to the world Ronald E. Asher, 96, died in Edinburgh, Scotland.
- Although Prof. Asher is known to Malayalis as the man who discovered and exposed Vaikom Mohammed Basheer as a “universal writer”, he was the most popular linguist in India from Europe.
- He passed away soon after Christmas, said his student and Central University of Kerala Associate Professor P. Sreekumar quoting Prof. Asher’s son David Asher from Scotland.
- There was uncertainty among the writers and linguists in Kerala and Tamil Nadu about Prof. Asher’s death as none could contact the British linguist’s family. Condolences started pouring in after Dr. Sreekumar broke the news on his social media wall on Wednesday.
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By: Brijesh Kumar