Talk:Robert B. Wray

Untitled

I am the author of this page.

I just direct the attention to the further elaboration in the second paragraph. Robert B. Wray may not have attracted the attetion of the scholarly world. However, the forging of the type definitely left influence on the history of India as well as the orientalists.

If the argument is that Robert B. Wray is not all that important personality to qualify for an entry in an encylopedia, then I have nothing to say. I do not object if it is removed.

However, if before removing it one just look at the significance of the act in context of Indian history, South Asian history and British Colonial history, then I believe, one can be easily moved to the conclusion that it is worth making an entry on the act of making a Bangla type. It brings in the need to mention the name of the person who had done it.

In social history, the significance of printing holds a prominent place as a subject of study for the Posterity. It has found special mention in Kenneth Jones book, an established historian writing for New Cambrdige History serious.

I just request that before taking any further action, the above views should be considered. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by Sumir Sharma (talk • contribs).

It may be appropriate to include this information in the Bengali script article. Indeed there was a suggestion to merge this in. So, if you have valid sources then it would warrant a mention in the other article. → AA ^(talk) — 16:52, 1 August 2007 (UTC)

Against deletion

A guy who developed printing in a new language in the 18th century deserves a mention in Wikipedia.

The book can be easily found on http://print.google.com , and Wray is mentioned there.

However, it won't be a big disaster to merge/redirect it into Bengali language. --Amir E. Aharoni 19:40, 2 August 2007 (UTC)

Robert B. Wray or Charles Wilkins

@Sumir Sharma, AA, and Amir E. Aharoni:

I recently reviewed the source reference for this article and I believe it misidentifies who the creator of the Bengali typeface is.

Socio-Religious Reform Movements in British India cites and appears to base much of its information on the typeface creation on British Orientalism and the Bengal Renaissance. See page 26 of the former. Then read page 22 of the latter: (original citations omitted)

Charles Wilkins, another of Hastings's favorites, and nephew of the English printer and engraver Robert B. Wray, applied himself to the task in the 1770's. By 1778, he had completed a set of Bengali types and established the first vernacular printing press in India.

I read that section to say that Charles Wilkins was the nephew of Robert B. Wray; Wilkins created the typefaces. In fact, if you review the Wikipedia article for Charles Wilkins identifies him as a typographer and the creator of the typefaces.

I do believe Robert B. Wray, full name Robert Bateman Wray, is notable as an engraver, but current article is not accurate. William Graham ^talk 16:24, 17 January 2020 (UTC)