Anderson, James, 1758-1833 (Persian Interpretor, East India Company)
Dates
- Existence: 1758 - 1833
Biography
James Anderson (1757-1833) was a soldier and Persian interpreter for the East India Company. He and his brother, David Anderson (1750-1828), were close associates of Warren Hastings (1732-1818), the first British Governor-General of Bengal, Hasting’s inner circle being known for their interest in South Asian and Muslim culture and heritage. Born in Edinburgh, he studied at the University of Edinburgh matriculating in 1768 and graduating in 1774, taking courses in Greek, Rational, Moral, and Natural Philosophy, Rhetoric and Belles Letters. He also studied with James Robertson (Chair of Hebrew 1751-1792), participating in Robertson’s "Hebrew Language" classes that included the tuition of Arabic and Persian. In 1775 Anderson joined the East India Company Army, being promoted to Lieutenant in 1778. He acted as translator for an important peace treaty between the Marāthās and the EIC, negotiated between David Anderson and Madho Rao Pundit Purdhan at Scindia in 1782.
James Anderson worked together with Charles Hamilton (c.1752-92) on the translation of the Hedāyah, an important work of Hanafī jurisprudence by Burhān al-Dīn Marghīnānī (1135-1197 C.E.) that became central to the legal system operated by the British in South Asia. East India Company records show that by 1789 Anderson was on furlough in Europe, and that by 1791 he had been “Struck Off”. He later purchased Wilton Lodge near Hawick. In November of 1844 Adam Anderson, James’ nephew donated his late uncle’s manuscripts to the University Library. This included 57 items, the vast majority in Persian (several in Arabic). Poetry and historiography feature prominently among these works with medicine, Islamic Law, the Persian epics, and other topics also treated.
Found in 11 Collections and/or Records:
اظهار الحق Iẓhār al-ḥaqq, undated (extant by 17th cent. C.E.)
A Persian translation of some of the difficult lines in the qasīdahs written by 'Alī b. Abī Ṭalib (cousin and son-in-law of the Prophet Muḥammad, and First Imām of Shi'i Islam). It includes comments by Mīr Sayyid Walī, who compiled it at the desire of his father.
The main text is written in nasta'līq script with the Arabic quotations from the poetry written in naskh.
بياض Bayāz̤, 1143-55 A.H., 1730-42 C.E.
Short selections, mostly in verse, from the following poets: A‘ẓam-Bakhsh, As̲ar, Ni‘mat Khān ‘Alī, Sa‘dī Shīrāzī, Walī, Muḥammad Ja‘far, Ghanī Kashmīrī, Maz̲hab Isfahānī, ‘Abd al-Jawwād, Mukhlis-Khān, ‘Urfī Shīrāzī, Khushdīd, Aḥmad ‘Alī Payām, etc.
ديوان خاقانی Dīvān-i Khāqānī, undated copy (original text composed 12th cent. C.E.)
The collected poems of Imām Afz̤al al-Dīn "Khāqānī" of Shirvān (who died at Tabriz between 582 and 595 A.H. /1186 and 1199 C.E.), with a few pages missing at the end.
Fronticepiece illuminated with gold.
ديوان صائب Dīvān-i Ṣāʼib, 1108 A.H., 1696 C.E.
ديوانِ عرفی Dīvān-i ‘Urfī, 1024 A.H., 1615 C.E.
سرورافزا Surūrafzā, 1216 A.H., 1801 C.E.
A poem in praise of London, composed during his travels in Europe, by Mirzā Abū Ṭālib Khān Hindī Isfahānī (d 1220 or 1221 A.H., 1805-1806 C.E.).
It contains a portrait of the author "Engraved by Ridley from an original picture painted by Russel," for the European Magazine. The present manuscript was copied for the owner, James Anderson, by George Swinton.
شرح ديوان خاقانی Sharḥ-i Dīwān-i Khāqānī, 1045 A.H., 1635 C.E.
A commentary on the difficult verses in the Qaṣīdahs of Imām Afz̤al al-Dīn Badil Ibrāhīm b. 'Alī Najjār "Khāqānī" of Shirvān who died at Tabriz, between 582 and 595 A.H. /1186 and 1199 C.E., by Muḥammad bin Dāūd (here Dād) ‘Alawī Shādiyābādī. Copied in the village of Tamwarlī in Tilingānah, India.
قران السعدین Qirān al-Sa'dayn, undated copy (original text composed 13th cent. C.E.)
مثنوی معنوی Masnavī-yi ma‘navī, 892 A.H., 1486 C.E.
The well-known spiritual poem composed by Mawlānā Jalāl al- Dīn Rūmī b. Muḥammad Bahāʼ al- Dīn b. al- Ḥusayn al - Khaṭībī, better known as Rūmī (d. 672 A.H.,1274 C.E.).
Copied at Sar.
مثنوی معنوی Masnavī-yi ma‘navī, undated (extant by 17th cent. C.E.)
The well-known spiritual poem composed by Mawlānā Jalāl al- Dīn Rūmī b. Muḥammad Bahāʼ al- Dīn b. al- Ḥusayn al- Khaṭībī, better known as Rūmī (d. 672 A.H.,1274 C.E.).
Illuminated frontispiece to each of the six Daftars.