Giuseppe Maria Bernini

Giuseppe Maria Bernini, also known as Giuseppe Maria da Gargnano (English: Joseph Mary Bernini, Hindustani: ज्यूसेपे मारिया बेर्निनी (Devanagari), جیوسپی ماریا بیرنینی (Nastaleeq)), who lived from 1709–1761, was an Italian Capuchin missionary, physician and Orientalist. Maharaja Dhurup Singh, the ruler of the Bettiah Raj in India, developed a close friendship with Giuseppe Maria Bernini.

In 1749, Joseph Mary Bernini was transferred to Chandannagar to minister to European Christians but he became "sickened at heart with the loose morals of the settlers in the colonial [French] settlement" and wished to be transferred to a location "where there were no Europeans."

Works In his travels through the country he made a study of the manners, languages, customs, and religious beliefs and practices of the people. The results of his studies were collected in his work: "Notizie laconiche di alcuni usi, sacrifizi, ed idoli nel regno di Neipal, raccolte nel anno 1747". This work has never been published, but was preserved in manuscript in the library of the Propaganda at Rome, and in the museum of Cardinal Borgia. Bernini also wrote "Dialogues", in one of the Indian languages, also preserved in manuscript in the Propaganda; a translation of "Adhiatma Ramayana"; one of "Djana Sagara", and a collection of historical studies under the title, "Mémoires historiques" (Verona).

Bernini authored a Hindustani-Italian dictionary, which Joseph da Rovato declared was "perfect in every respect".