Murtażā Ḥusayn ʿUsmani Bilgrāmī

Historian

Murtażā Ḥusayn ʿUmānī Bilgrāmī lived during the waning days of the Mughal Empire and the ascendancy of British rule. From 1142/1729–30 until 1187/1773–4, he served under various distinguished nobles. In 1190/1776, he became a munšī (secretary) to Captain Jonathan Scott, who served as Persian Secretary to the Governor General of the East India Company Warren Hastings. At Scott’s request, Murtażā Ḥusayn completed the work for which he is known, Ḥadīqat al-aqālīm.