Anderson, David, 1750-1828 (Diplomat, East India Company)
Dates
- Existence: 1750 - 1828
Biography
David Anderson (1750-1828) was an East India Company diplomat born in Edinburgh. Both David and his brother James Anderson (1757-1833) were close associate of Warren Hastings (1732-1818), the first British Governor-General of Bengal, Hasting’s inner circle being known for their interest in Indian and Muslim culture and heritage. David matriculated at the University of Edinburgh in 1762, studying Humanities under Professor George Stuart (no graduation recorded). By 1767 he was in India, employed as an EIC “Writer”. By 1769 he was an assistant to George Gustavas Ducarel in (Purnea district), by 1772 he held the position of Factor, assistant to the EIC Political Resident at Murshidabad where he appears to have risen through the ranks over the subsequent years. In 1782 he negotiated a peace treaty between the Marāthās and the EIC, with Madho Rao Pundit Purdhan, in Scindia. He then remained in Scindia as Political Resident until 1785 when he returned to Britain on the same ship as Hastings. He was later a witness for the defence at Hastings’ impeachment trial, and purchased St Germain House (East Lothian).
Upon his death David Anderson bequeathed 113 manuscripts to the University of Edinburgh Library in Persian (104 items), Arabic (6) and Hindustani (3). His collection indicates practical concerns such as the gathering of information on the history of India, and informing himself on letter writing and elegant composition, but also an interest in Persian literature (particularly poetry of a Sufi nature) and some interest in Hinduism. It includes a number of items translated from Sanskrit to Persian.
Found in 114 Collections and/or Records:
محيط اعظم Muḥīṭ-i a‘ẓam, undated
A mas̲navī by Mirzā ‘Abd al-Qādir Astarābādī, poetically styled "Bīdil" (d. 1133 A.H., 1720 C.E.).
Frontispiece illuminated with gold.
مختصر الدول Mukhtaṣar al-duwal, undated copy (including sections originally composed 14th cent. C.E.)
مراثی هاشم علی Marāsī-yi Hāshim ‘Alī, 1193 A.H., 1779 C.E.
The marāsī, or elegies, on ‘Alī b. Abī Ṭālib (d. 40 A.H., 661 C.E.), the first Shī‘ī Imām and fourth Rāshīdūn Caliph, as well as his sons and grandsons. The author, Hāshim ‘Alī, is considered the first poet to write poetry in the Urdū language.
This manuscript is the first volume (see Or. Ms. 380 for vol. 2).
مرقومات عبداللّه بن محمد المرواريد Marqūmāt-i ‘Abd-Allāh b. Muḥammad al-Marwārīd, 1023 A.H., 1614 C.E.
A number of letters, etc, written and collected at the request of friends by Khwājah Shihāb al-Dīn, or as he calls himself, ‘Abd-Allāh b. Muḥammad al-Marwārīd (d. 922 A.H., 1516 C.E.), a poet from Kerman, present day Iran, who used the pen name "Bayānī".
مقاصد الاوليا فی محاسن الانبيا Maqāsid al-awliyā fi maḥāsin al-anbiyā, undated copy (original text composed 13th cent. C.E.)
An account of the Prophets from Ādam to Muḥammad, by Abū al-Qāsim Maḥmūd b. Aḥmad b. Abū al-Ḥasan Faryābī (d. 607 A.H., 1210 C.E.), or, as he is called by Ḥājī Khalfah, Farābī.
At the end there are appended very brief notes on the four great successors of Muḥammad, and the names of the Khalīfahs are also enumerated (after the Imāms Ḥasan and Ḥusayn) from Mu‘āwiyah to al-Mustanjid bi Allāh, who was the 32nd ‘Abbāsid Khalīfah (d. 566 A.H., 1171 C.E.).
منشئات برهمن Munshaʼāt-i Brahman, 1185 A.H., 1775 C.E.
A collection of letters written to the Mughal ruler Shāhjahān (r. 1628–1658 C.E.) and other distinguished individuals during his reign, by Chandarbhān (d. 1068 or 1073 A.H., 1657 or 1662 C.E.), poetically named "Brahman". He was for a time a record-writer at the royal court and author of the Chahār-Chaman.
Copied in the Faṣlī year 1179 (see dating for A.H. and C.E. equivalents) by Ṣāhib-Singh of Fatḥpūr (Awadh).
نان و حلوا Nān va-ḥalvā, undated copy (original text composed 17th cent. C.E.)
A mas̲navī by the great Shī‘ī theologian Shaykh Bahā’ al-Dīn b. Shaykh Ḥusayn, poetically styled "Bahā’ī" (d. circa 1030 A.H., 1621 C.E.)
نسخهٔ فيض بخش Nuskhah-yi Faiz̤-Bakhsh, 1182 A.H., 1768 C.E.
A collection of letters composed by Shīr ‘Alī, or his more common name 'Shīr-Ḥamlah'. Copied by Shīw-Bakhsh in the Faṣlī year 1178 (see dating for A.H. and C.E. equivalents) at Maḥmūdābād.
نصيحت نامهٔ حکماء Naṣiḥat-nāmah-yi ḥukamāʼ, undated
A few rules for health in verse, taken from ancient physicians, and containing a few hints as to the treatment of ordinary ailments, also in verse.
نفائس الفنون فی عرائس العيون Nafāʼis al-funūn fī ‘arāʼis al-‘uyūn, 1011 A.H., 1602 C.E.
An encyclopaedia of one hundred and sixty different sciences known to Muslims, compiled by Shī‘ī scholar Muḥammad b. Maḥmūd al- ‘Āmulī (d. 753 A.H., 1352 C.E.). Illuminated frontispiece.