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 56 Collections and/or Records:
اخلاق ناصری Akhlāq-i Nāṣirī, undated copy (original text composed 13th cent. C.E.)
A famous treatise on ethics, by Naṣīr al-Dīn Muḥammad b. Muḥammad b. al-Ḥasan al-Ṭūsī, known as Naṣīr-i Ṭūsī, who was born, 597 A.H. (1201 C.E.) and died, 672 A.H. (1274 C.E.).
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.
الجامع الصحيح al-Jāmi‘ al-ṣaḥīḥ, undated copy (original text composed 9th cent. C.E.)
A copy of the famous collection of ḥadīth (reports of the sayings and deeds of Prophet Muḥammad) by Abū ‘Abd-Allāh Muḥammad b. Ismā‘īl al-Bukhārī, (d. 256 A.H., 869 C.E.).
Four frontispieces illuminated with gold.
الهداية في الفروع ‘al-Hidāyah fī al-furū, undated copy (original text composed 12th cent. C.E.)
An incomplete copy of a well-known work on Ḥanafī law by Shaykh Burhān al-Dīn ‘Alī b. Abī Bakr al-Marghīnānī (d. 593 A.H., 1197 C.E.).
بهجته العالم Bahjat al-‘ālam, undated (original text compiled 18th cent. C.E.)
A copy of a work on general geography by Ḥakīm Mahārat-Khān Iṣfahānī, who completed it some time after 1124 A.H. (1712 C.E). The work is principally based upon the geographical and biographical encyclopaedia Haft-Iqlīm by Amīn Aḥmad Rāzī (compiled 16th cent. C.E.).
Frontispieces illuminated with gold.
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.
تاريخ فيروزشاهی Tārīkh-i Fīrūzshāhī, 1074 A.H., 1663 C.E.
A history of the life and reign of Fīrūz-Shāh., Sulṭān of Dehlī (r. 752-790 A.H., 1351-1388 C.E.).
تاریخ عالم آرای عباسی Tarīkh-i ʻālam ārā-yi ʻAbbāsī, 1064 A.H., 1653 C.E.
ترجمهٔ تهذيب الاخلاق Tarjumah-yi Tahz̲īb al-akhlāq, 1081 A.H., 1670 C.E.
A treatise on ethics and practical philosophy.
The author's name is not given, but the title and chapter headings indicate that this is a Persian translation the Arabic work Tahz̲īb al-akhlāq, (also called Ṭahārat al-nafs) by Abū ‘Alī Aḥmad b. Muḥammad Miskawayh (d. 421 A.H., 1030 C.E.), known as Ibn Miskawayh.
تکملهٔ يافعی Takmilah-yi Yāfi‘ī, undated (original text compiled 14th cent. C.E.)
A Persian translation of the original Arabic titled Khulāṣat al-Mafākhir fī Manāqib al-Shaykh ‘Abd al-Qādir by Shaykh ‘Abd-Allāh Yāfi‘ī (d. 768 A.H., 1366 C.E.). It contains two hundred and sixteen stories which are primarily about the celebrated Sufi saint and eponymous founder of the Qādirī Ṭarīqah, Shaykh ‘Abd al-Qādir al-Jīlānī (d. 561 A.H., 1166 C.E.).
Frontispiece illuminated with gold.