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:
ديوانِ موسوی Dīvān-i Mūsavī, undated copy (original text composed 17th cent. C.E.)
The lyrical poems (ghazals only) of Sayyid Mu‘izz al-Dīn Muḥammad "Mūsavī-Khān" (d. 1106 A.H., 1694 C.E.). This manuscript is bound with Or. Ms. 310 that bears the seal of an ‘Ibād-Allāh, dated 1188 A.H. (1774 C.E.), and Or. Ms. 312, whose scribe is given as Muḥammad Yūsuf. It may well be by the same hand.
ديوانِ ناصر علی وغيره .Dīvān-i Nāṣir ‘Alī, etc, 1185 A.H., 1771 C.E.
The lyrical poems of Shaykh Nāṣir ‘Alī Sirhindī, who died at Dehli c. 1108 A.H., 1697 C.E. The colophon gives the scribe's name as Muḥammad Yūsuf.
This manuscript is bound with Or. Ms. 310 that bears the seal of an ‘Ibād-Allāh, dated 1188 A.H. (1774 C.E.).
ديوان ولی Dīwān-i Walī, undated copy (earliest version compiled 18th cent. C.E.)
The lyrical poems of Shāh Walī-Allāh, who was a native of Gujarāt, but passed the greatest part of his life in the Deccan. He is believed to be the first poet who wrote a complete Diwān in the Urdū language.
رساله در سعادت ونحوستِ ايّام Risālah dar sa‘ādat-u nuḥūsat-i ayyām, undated
An enumeration of a few lucky and unlucky days, with hints for the remedy of evil. It is ascribed by ‘Alī b. Ṭāʼūs to the sixth Twelver Shī‘ī Imām Ja‘far b. Muḥammad al-Ṣādiq (d. 148 A.H., 765 C.E.). The present version is by ‘Ibād-Allāh Muḥammad Bakr b. Muḥammad Taqī. One of the manuscripts with which the present manuscript is bound, Or. Ms. 308, is dated 1066 A.H. (1655 C.E.) and bears the name of the scribe Murtaẓá Qulī Qazvīnī.
رساله در علم عروض Risālah dar ‘ilm-i ‘Arūz̤, undated copy (extant by 18th cent. C.E.)
A well-known treatise on Persian prosody by Mawlānā Sayfī of Bukhārā, also called ‘Arūz̤ī (d. 909 A.H., 1503 C.E.). According to the chronogram at the end, it was compiled in 896 A.H., 1490 C.E.
رشحات عين الحيات Rashaḥāt-i ‘ayn al-ḥayāt, undated (original text compiled 17th cent. C.E.)
A well-known collection of biographies of spiritual guides of the Naqshbandī order and principally of Khwājah Naṣīr al-Dīn ‘Ubayd- Allāh, by his disciple Mawlānā Fakhr al-Dīn ‘Alī b. al-Ḥusayn al-Wā‘iz al-Kāshifī, better known as "Sāfī" (d. 939 A.H., 1532 C.E.).
روح القصص Rūḥ al-qiṣaṣ, 1170 A.H., 1756 C.E.
The romance of Prince Āftāb and Princess Mahtāb by Allāhdād-Khān, poetrically styled "Fayyāz̤". According to the chronogram, it was copied at Jaipur in 1170 A.H., 1756 C.E. A piece of shed snakeskin and some leaves have been inserted into the volume.
روشن کلام Rawshan-kalām, undated
A collection of letters composed by Bhūpat-Rāi, at the request of his patron Ra‘dandāz-Khān.