THE SËIR-MUTAQHERIN, a Review of Modern Times (or, more correctly, The Manners of the Moderns) is the chronicle of the decay of the Moghul Empire and Mahomedan domination of India during the reigns of the seven last Emperors of Hindustan. It was written in Persian in 1780 A.D. (1194 A.H.) by Syed Gholam Hossein Khan, a Moslem Nobleman, who used, with his father, to reside at the Court of the Nawabs of Bengal, Behar and Orissa.
As will be seen from the opinions quoted on another page, the work has been spoken of in the highest terms by Lord Macaulay, James Mill, H. H. Wilson, Sir H. M. Elliot, Major Charles Stewart, H. G. Keene, Rai Bankim Chandra Chatterjee and other leading Indian historians and authors. It is written in the most charming style; and, embracing, as it does, the century immediately preceding the final occupation of India by the British, it should be of great interest to all Englishmen.
On its first appearance it attracted the notice of no less a person than WARREN HASTINGS himself who was anxious to have it translated into English. But in the absence of Persian scholars among his own countrymen, or their want of leisure to perform such a task, the work was undertaken by M. Raymond, a French Creole who had assumed the Mahomedan name of Hajee Mustapha. In the year 1789 he published the result of his labours in three large volumes, under the pseudonym of Nota Manus, dedicating the work to Hastings. The edition was despatched to England, but the vessel in which it was consigned was unfortunately lost, and with it was lost to the world the whole edition of the work, with the exception of the few copies that had been circulated in Calcutta. In view of these circumstances, a subsequent edition was undertaken some years later by the Oriental Translation Committee, and entrusted to Colonel John Briggs of the Madras Army. In 1832 John Murray of London issued the first volume, which, however, was never followed by a second. The work is also said to have been translated by Dr. F. C. Balfour, but of the latter’s translation, strange to say, nothing whatever is known.
The loss, therefore, of one English edition of the Sëir-Mutaqherin; the incomplete state of another, and the entire absence of a third, have rendered this important book exceedingly expensive and scarce. The price of the complete work, should a copy now and then come to light, would be about Rs. 500, more or less. Hence it is not a day too soon that we now issue this cheap and popular reprint of the former translation.
The work was originally printed on Patna paper of quarto size. Royal octavo has now been selected as being the more convenient size, and the paper used has been supplied by Messrs. John Dickinson & Co. of London.
As regards the present edition it may also be explained that, owing to the period of one-hundred-and-twelve years having elapsed since the former edition was published, several alterations have been rendered necessary; and, in order to suit modern requirements, these changes have been made. For instance, the foot-notes are now preceded by consecutive numerals corresponding with those in the text, which have been employed to replace the asterisks, daggers, etc., used in the earlier edition. The spelling of certain words has been modernized; the use of capital letters has, where unnecessary, been discontinued; the obsolete form of the small “s” has been done away with; and, in a few instances, the punctuation has been altered to suit the sense.
In conclusion, the Publishers desire to express their grateful acknowledgments to H. E. the Viceroy and Governor-General, H. E. the Governor of Bombay, H. H. the Lieutenant-Governor of Bengal, H. H. the Maharaja Sir Jotendro Mohan Tagore, H. H. the Maharaja Bahadur of Tippera, H. H. the Maharaja Bahadur of Mymensing, the Hon’ble Mr. Justice Ameer Ali, the Hon’ble Dr. Asutosh Mookerji, Dr. G. A. Grierson, and many other kind patrons who subscribed towards the work before it was issued from the Press.
| Calcutta, |
| The 1st March, 1902. |