409:
persona. He is fascinated by western engineering, factories, bridges and shipyards, and understands the link between Europe's prosperity and its industrial revolution. He praises the industry and efficiency of
English people, and their honour and relative learning. Equally, he critiques the English lack of faith and a range of deplorable characteristics, such as their pride, insolence, and excessive fondness for luxury. Sen asserts that it is possible to read Abu Taleb's book as a series of comparisons praising the virtues of the east above the west: "the Muslims of Cape Town are kind and superior; the savages of Andaman are preferable to his European shipmates; Oxford is almost like the ancient Indian temples; the Quazis are superior to the English jury system – which is frightening and often prone to mistakes ... Abu Taleb praises the English 'equality of all' before the law and yet proceeds to suggest that this 'equality is more in appearance than in reality'. He attacks the British legal system as corrupt and convoluted."
164:
255:'s English language translation of Abu Taleb's Persian language travel memoir, which sees Richardson offering to pay Abu Taleb's expenses. That translation is disputed by Gita Hashemi, who translates the key passage in the book as Abu Taleb agreeing to Richardson's suggestion, but booking and paying for his own passage. Equally, it is clear that Abu Taleb was involved in the political intrigues of Oudh, and both were regarded whilst en route as having confidential motives for their travel; and the unprecedented nature of the trip is itself grounds for reasonable suspicion in the context of the company's anticipation of annexation of Oudh State.
91:
203:, instructed Middleton to send for Abu Taleb as a person who might be able to bring Singh under control. After briefly playing hard-to-get, Mizra agreed to assist and from circa 1782-1784 Abu Taleb campaigned against, defeated and killed Singh. Middleton had been withdrawn from Lucknow, and Hastings resigned in 1784, leaving Abu Taleb somewhat exposed, but surviving on an allowance from the Nawab of 6,000 rupees per annum; his bête noire Hyder Beg Khan was still in place and appeared to have the confidence of the new Governor General,
251:, an East India Company officer returning to London for health reasons. Richardson suggested that Abu Taleb accompany him and undertake a grand-tour of Europe; Abu Taleb promptly accepted. It is unclear whether Richardson's offer arose from personal friendship, or if the hand of the East India Company was involved. Tim Willasey-Wilsey suggests that the company was making an investment in Abu Taleb with a view to his potential later utility in Oudh. This reading of the situation may rest in some small part on
20:
413:
and published it in 1810. A second
English edition was published in 1814, and its preface recounts - in part by way of seeking to assure readers of the authenticity of the book - that the Bengal Government had caused the Persian language original to be published, 'convinced of the policy of disseminating such a work amongst the Natives of the British Dominions of the East'. Abu Taleb's son, Mirza Hussein Ali, who entered into the company's service at
405:
chronicles his travels, but also provides discrete chapters on subject-matter of interest to him, including "the arts and sciences, mechanical inventions, the lifestyles of the different classes, the system of government, the East India
Company, the judiciary, the financial system, the defects of character and the virtues of the English ..on Europe England's conflict with France, and ... on England's overseas conquests."
151:
injunctions to let me have the very best education." They moved to
Murshidabad in 1766, but in 1768, within about 18 months of their arrival, Hajy Mohammed Beg Khan died. Abu Taleb had been married into the family of 'Muzaffer Jung - Nabob of Bengal' and spent some time in that prince's service, remaining away from Oudh until, in 1775, after the death of Shuja-ud-Daula and the accession of his son
389:
275:
in
Ireland, the pair travelled overland to Dublin, where Abu Taleb visited and presumably made representations to Cornwallis. It is clear that work in the early 1770s with Nathaniel Middleton had damaged Abu Taleb's standing in Oudh, where he was depicted by rivals as supporting British interests at
512:
is, or is derived from, a title for an honoured person, albeit one increasingly incorporated as a family name. It is probable, per his formal name, that our subject's given names are Abú Muhammad, family name Tabrízí or Taleb of the Isfahání region, identified as a Mirza and a Khan. Hajy as part of
412:
Despite such a reading, Abu Taleb's book was noticed by and promulgated by India's
English colonisers: Sen notes this as "a fascinating insight into the operation of the colonial machinery" A copy of Abu Taleb's Persian language text found its way to Charles Stewart, who translated it into English
400:
The
Persian title of the book is a play on words, employing talib - one who wishes - to contrast with Taleb and connote "Taleb/Talib’s trajectory", or "the path of wishfulness" or "the path of aspiration", and which encompasses the book's dual functions as travel guide and as a discussion of the
467:
of
Muhammad Riza, '"himself indulged in versification, especially on the subject of the females of England, who aspire to equality with the Angels of Paradise, and he was always expatiating on the heart-ravishing strains of the women of that country, who used to sing at the public assemblies"'.
408:
Amrit Sen has discussed issues of autoethnography arising in Khan's work, noting the tension between his admiration for, and criticism of, the west; and his use of the coloniser's language both to identify with
Europeans but also critique them; this leading to ambiguity about Khan's "oriental"
404:
Taleb sets out his purpose in writing the book in its preface: to describe, for the benefit of his countrymen, the 'curiosities and wonders he saw', noting that many of the 'customs, inventions, sciences and ordinances of Europe' might be used to good effect in Asia. To this end, the book both
150:
Abu Taleb and his mother remained in
Lucknow under the protection of the Nawab - "although Nabob Shujaa ad Dowleh was much displeased at my father's conduct, he nevertheless, recollecting the connexion between our families, supplied my mother with money for her expenses and have her strict
227:, the Resident. Abu Taleb's expectation of a resumption of employment was dashed by disagreements between the Nawab and the Resident severe enough to necessitate the withdrawal of the latter from Lucknow; in 1795 Abu Taleb again found it expedient to remove to Calcutta. Although
303:
queen who is said to have commanded him "frequently to court", and became a sought-after social celebrity dubbed 'The Persian Prince', whose movements and meetings were reported by newspapers. He was received by and met with the great and good, such as
183:; this he did for three years until Hanney returned to Europe, whereupon Abu Taleb retired again to a year of unemployment in Lucknow. Relations between the Company and Oudh were in this period strained, including during the 1781–1782 third period of
534:
Two different dates and two different places of death are found in the sources. Willasey-Wilsey specifies 1805. Elliot and Dowson specify 1805 and Lucknow. Both Sen and Haq specify 1806; The New American Cyclopaedia specifies 1806 and Calcutta
195:, notably Balbhadra Singh, were refusing to make any payments (all Hyder Beg Khan's fault, according to Abu Taleb.) A military action by the Nawab and the Company against Singh failed (again, Hyder Beg Khan's fault!) and, Abu Taleb says,
159:
district. The role combined tax-collector, Lord-Lieutenant and local military controller, but ceased within a couple of years upon the death of Abu Taleb's patron Mokhtiar, and the appointment of Hyder Beg Khan as his replacement.
976:
78:; it is one of the earliest by an Indian travel writer about the West, and has been described as 'perhaps the most significant "reverse travelogue" published in Europe during the Romantic era". He wrote all his works in
262:
in South Africa where, in despair about conditions on their ship, they remained for some months awaiting the opportunity of a more congenial conveyance; they were well-received, and came within the social circle of
367:, before returning to Calcutta in August 1803. Willasey-Wilsey suggests that this leg of his journey was designed to burnish his Muslim credentials, as part of the joint Khan and Company plans for his future.
210:
By 1787, Hyder Beg Khan had stopped Abu Taleb's allowance, which precipitated a decision on Abu Taleb's part to leave Lucknow for Calcutta, the seat of East India Company government. Initial overtures to
135:
and was in time appointed assistant to the deputy-governor of Oudh, Safdarjung's nephew Mohammed Culy Khan. His appointment did not survive Safdarjung's death in 1754; the new Nawab, Safdarjung's son
291:
Supplied by Cornwallis with letters of recommendation, Abu Taleb now proceeded to London, arriving on 21 January 1800, where he remained and was to a large degree lionised by London society as
223:, and it was only at the 1792 conclusion of that engagement that Cornwallis responded, sending Abu Taleb back to Lucknow with letters of recommendation to Asaf-ud-Daula and
163:
1054:
1074:
1069:
525:
is used as a shortened name for the subject. More minor variations such as Taleb and Talib reflect different styles of transliteration of Persian into English.
463:
Besides these, Elliot and Dowson assert that he was the author of 'several other treatises, a Biography of the Poets, ancient and modern, and', quoting the
212:
103:
Much of what is known of Abu Taleb's background comes from his memoirs. By his description, his Iranian father Hajji Mohammed Beg (died 1768) was born in
340:
1079:
356:
1084:
1049:
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made encouraging noises, several years of deteriorating Company relations with Oudh, the 1797 death of Asaf-ud-Daula, the brief reign of
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317:
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the cost of those of the Nawab; and it is most likely that Abu Taleb sought recompense from the company. Whilst in Dublin he also met
324:, and directors of the East India Company. As notably, Abu Taleb delighted in meeting with the wives and daughters of his contacts.
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508:
is either an honorific to identify patriarchal lineage to royal aristocracies, or alternatively an honorific denoting a secretary.
893:
300:
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204:
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267:. The pair left Cape Town in late September to arrive in Cork, Ireland in December 1799. Finding that Cornwallis was now
1059:
933:
417:, assisted in the publication of the Persian language version, editions of which were published in 1812, 1827 and 1836.
388:
305:
272:
321:
268:
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200:
90:
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832:
332:
179:- already well involved in Oudh affairs - to assist Colonel Alexander Hanney, the company's tax-collector at
1024:
374:, and devoted his time to writing an account of his travels, which he circulated in very limited numbers as
248:
224:
220:
215:, who succeeded Macpherson as Governor General, were poorly timed; Cornwallis's attention was focussed on
600:
247:
It was at this very low period in Abu Taleb's life that, in 1799, an unexpected offer was made to him by
1019:
424:, and a contemporary edition, designed for the academic market, published in 2008 by Broadview Press.
239:
all served to render Abu Taleb unemployed, separated from his family, increasingly poor and depressed.
601:""The Persian Prince in London": Autoethnography and Positionality in Travels of Mirza Abu Taleb Khan"
155:, he was invited by the prime minister, Mokhtiar-ud-Daula, to take up the position of Aumildar of the
1014:
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236:
184:
673:
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191:, and, according to Abu Taleb, the State's tax-collection system was in sufficient disarray that
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Abu Taleb spent a year in Lucknow, after which he took up a first appointment with the
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1008:
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152:
59:
once back in India 1752–1805/1806) was an Indian tax-collector and administrator of
509:
501:
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309:
804:"Of Intelligence, an Assassination, East Indiamen and the Great Hurricane of 1808"
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and from there overland though Kurdistan and Persia, visiting the Shia shrines of
536:
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371:
216:
144:
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327:
Abu Taleb departed England on 7 June 1802, visiting France, where he met with
258:
Khan and Richardson departed Calcutta on 7 February 1799, making it as far as
128:
124:
120:
63:
stock, notable for a memoir of his travels in Britain, Europe and Asia Minor,
997:
966:
935:
Viaggi del principe persiano Mirza Aboul Taleb Khan in Asia, Africa ed Europa
421:
352:
259:
180:
572:
The History of India: as told by its own historians. The Muhammadan period
370:
Abu Taleb found himself employment upon his return as an administrator in
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192:
360:
116:
156:
316:; and of perhaps more moment met with key political figures such as
139:
had Mohammed Culy Khan executed and Hajy Mohammed Beg Khan fled to
518:
420:
More recent versions include a 1972 reprint by Sona Publications,
387:
364:
162:
147:
within a couple of years of Abu Taleb's birth in Lucknow in 1752.
89:
18:
514:
513:
his father's name indicates that Mohammed Beg Khan has made the
112:
441:
The Essence of Biographies, and the World-Reflecting Mirror
339:, and received invitations, frustrated by illness, to visit
924:
Travels of Mirza Abu Taleb Khan in Asia, Africa and Europe
457:
Travels of Mirza Abu Taleb Khan in Asia, Africa and Europe
76:
Travels of Mirza Abu Taleb Khan in Asia, Africa and Europe
23:
Engraving of Mirza Abu Taleb Khan, based on a portrait by
288:, which perhaps served as a model for Abu Taleb's work.
678:
Banglapedia, the National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh
636:
634:
632:
630:
975:
944:
921:Khan, Mirza Abu Taleb; Stewart, Charles (1814).
127:. There he was 'admitted to the friendship' of
621:
123:, northern India, in fear of the 'tyranny' of
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451:The Travels of Taleb in the Regions of Europe
378:, before his untimely death in 1805 or 1806.
72:The Travels of Taleb in the Regions of Europe
46:
8:
938:(in Italian). Vol. 2. Milano: Sonzogno.
432:Mirza Abu Taleb Khan's known works include:
284:living in Ireland who had in 1794 published
943:Kayvani, Majdoddin; Gholami, Rahim (2008).
880:
868:
856:
776:
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728:
699:
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833:"Mirza Abu Talib Khan: notes and sources"
797:
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791:
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927:. London: Longman, Hirst, Rees and Orme.
557:
555:
553:
1055:18th-century Indian non-fiction writers
826:
824:
549:
493:
67:, written between circa 1799 and 1805.
640:
1075:19th-century Persian-language writers
1070:18th-century Persian-language writers
705:"The Travels of Mirza Abu Taleb Khan"
594:
592:
590:
588:
586:
16:Indian traveller of iranian ethnicity
7:
235:with its delayed culmination in the
575:. London: Trübner and Co. pp.
47:
43:Mirzá Abú Muhammad Tabrízí Isfahání
38:
70:The book's title is translated as
14:
401:spiritual purpose of travelling.
297:Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz
74:and was reprinted in the West as
55:during his stay in London and as
984:; Matringe, Denis; Nawas, John;
94:Portrait of Mirza Abu Taleb Khan
680:. Asiatic Society of Bangladesh
383:Travels of Mirza Abu Taleb Khan
329:Antoine Isaac Silvestre de Sacy
171:'s minister and Abu Taleb's foe
992:(3rd ed.). Brill Online.
932:Khan, Mirza Abu Taleb (1820).
1:
959:Encyclopaedia Islamica Online
894:"Asians in Britain: Visitors"
392:Scan of the Persian language
1080:18th-century Iranian writers
837:Passages – Gita Hashemi blog
447:Masir Talib fi Bilad Afranji
394:Masir Talib fi Bilad Afranji
376:Masir Talib fi Bilad Afranji
65:Masir Talib fi Bilad Afranji
48:میرزا ابومحمد تبریزی اصفهانی
1085:19th-century Iranian people
1050:19th-century Indian writers
286:The Travels of Dean Mahomet
1101:
1045:Writers from British India
622:Kayvani & Gholami 2008
437:Lubbu-s Siyar wa Jahánnumá
322:Secretary of State for War
1065:18th-century male writers
1035:People from British India
599:Sen, Amrit (June 2008).
478:Tafazzul Husain Kashmiri
881:Khan & Stewart 1814
869:Khan & Stewart 1814
857:Khan & Stewart 1814
777:Khan & Stewart 1814
765:Khan & Stewart 1814
753:Khan & Stewart 1814
741:Khan & Stewart 1814
729:Khan & Stewart 1814
674:"Khan, Mirza Abu Taleb"
396:by Mirza Abu Taleb Khan
249:David Thomas Richardson
242:
225:George Frederick Cherry
990:Encyclopaedia of Islam
974:Sharma, Sunil (2009).
802:Willasey-Wilsey, Tim.
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295:. He was presented to
221:Third Anglo-Mysore War
213:Sir Charles Cornwallis
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95:
27:
1040:Indian travel writers
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333:Louis-Mathieu Langlès
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133:Subadar Nawab of Oudh
93:
22:
415:Fort William College
31:Mirza Abu Taleb Khan
1060:Indian male writers
977:"Abū Ṭālib Tabrīzī"
883:, pp. viii–xi.
871:, pp. viIi–ix.
563:Elliot, Henry Miers
521:. In this article,
237:Massacre of Benares
205:Sir John Macpherson
185:Nathaniel Middleton
980:. In Fleet, Kate;
398:
347:. He proceeded to
293:The Persian Prince
273:Commander-in-Chief
177:East India Company
173:
96:
53:The Persian Prince
28:
951:Madelung, Wilferd
779:, pp. 23–25.
767:, pp. 19–23.
755:, pp. 15–19.
743:, pp. 12–15.
731:, pp. 11–12.
515:Muslim pilgrimage
465:Zubdatu-l Gharaib
278:Sake Dean Mahomed
265:Lady Anne Barnard
57:Abú Tálib Londoni
39:میرزا ابوطالب خان
1092:
1030:Iranian scholars
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961:. Brill Online.
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946:"Abū Ṭālib Khān"
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167:Hyder Beg Khan,
109:Isfahan Province
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840:. Retrieved
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811:. Retrieved
808:Victoria Web
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682:. Retrieved
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1015:1752 births
641:Sharma 2009
372:Bundelkhand
217:Tipu Sultan
199:, the then
145:West Bengal
141:Murshidabad
51:, known as
1009:Categories
545:References
459:1810, 1814
443:) c.1793-4
341:Talleyrand
229:John Shore
187:office as
129:Safdarjung
125:Nader Shah
121:Oudh State
998:1873-9830
967:1875-9831
903:7 October
842:7 October
813:5 October
714:7 October
684:7 October
523:Abu Taleb
422:New Delhi
353:Selim III
260:Cape Town
193:Zamindars
181:Gorakhpur
105:Abbasabad
86:Biography
988:(eds.).
957:(eds.).
569:(1877).
472:See also
453:) c.1805
345:Napoleon
219:and the
189:Resident
915:Sources
361:Karbala
335:, both
320:, then
282:Bengali
117:Lucknow
107:in the
80:Persian
61:Iranian
35:Persian
996:
965:
357:Sultan
355:, the
157:Etawah
131:, the
113:Persia
949:. In
579:–299.
519:Mecca
506:Mirza
489:Notes
428:Works
365:Najaf
994:ISSN
963:ISSN
905:2016
844:2016
815:2016
716:2016
686:2016
611:(1).
510:Khan
363:and
343:and
331:and
312:and
280:, a
271:and
577:298
517:to
500:In
449:, (
119:in
111:of
1011::
953:;
896:.
835:.
823:^
806:.
784:^
707:.
694:^
676:.
648:^
629:^
607:.
603:.
585:^
565:;
552:^
504:,
308:,
299:,
207:.
143:,
82:.
45:,
37::
1000:.
969:.
907:.
846:.
817:.
718:.
688:.
643:.
624:.
609:2
538:.
439:(
33:(
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