Hunt for the missing manuscript on Nizams

Hyderabad’s history remains synonymous with the glorious lives of the Nizams that lasted 150 years. Eccentricities of the royals, astonishing wealth and stunning princesses are what capture one’s imagination and interest.

Often lost in the royal sheen are the heroes of yesterday, people behind the scenes who deserve an equal place in Hyderabad’s rich history. And with them lies a manuscript — nobody knows who has it or how it looks. But somewhere in Hyderabad lies the copy more than 60 years old, about the lives of Nizams through the eyes of a man whom they considered a close aide and a confidante.

Marmaduke Pickthall was the author of 25 books in English, editor of Bombay Chronicle when he came to India in 1920 and principal of Chaderghat High School for Boys, Hyderabad. He directed the school for Hyderabadi civil servants and undertook special tasks for the Nizams.

But he is best-known for the English translation of Quran titled The Meaning of the Glorious Koran, which he wrote during his service to Nizams. The book was first printed in the US in 1930 and since then has been reprinted in United Kingdom, United Arab Emirates, Libya and India.

The Meaning of the Glorious Koran is also considered the last work of Pickthall, who after spending 10 years in India, died in 1936 and is buried in the Muslim cemetery at Brookwood in Surrey, England, where Princess Durru Shehvar was later buried.

And it was only a coincidence that Dr Peter Clark OBE, former British diplomat, journalist and an author, stumbled upon a mystery concerning Pickthall that he knew he had to see till the end.

“Marmaduke Pickthall was a practising Christian for 20 years, until he converted to Islam in 1917. Apart from being considered an expert on the affairs of Middle East, he was a man of integrity and honesty. I admire him because he adopted views that were sometimes considered unpopular and unfashionable,” says Dr Clark, 76, who confesses being obsessed with Pickthall, a subject he researched for three years and later wrote a book on — Marmaduke Pickthall British Muslim (1986). 

“Why did I choose to write about my fellow countryman, both distinguished and noted for his profession and life? It’s often said that you don’t chose a subject, the subject chooses you.”

After his book, Dr Clark assumed he was done with the subject. “The life and work of Pickthall was the subject of a biography written by Anne Fremantle, Loyal Enemy (1938). During my correspondence with her, I was made aware of documents that she sent to Hyderabad, a manuscript written by Pickthall on the Mughal emperor,” says Dr Clark, who had written, 30 years ago, to the state archival department, AP and Osmania University, about the same; but without any success.

And years later, Pickthall proved to be a reason for his research once again. Dr Clark has been in Hyderabad since Wednesday on an invitation he intends to make best use of.

“Dr Mohammed Jafer Qureshi (Trustee at Muslim Aid, UK) and I met in Bradford Literature Festival at Yorkshire, England, in May 2015. After learning about the manuscript, Dr Qureshi invited me to visit Hyderabad where he is from, an invitation I accepted enthusiastically,” he says.

Since his arrival, he has been to the Salar Jung museum, offices of the regional newspaper, has met Princess Esra Birgin, author Narendra Luther and has looked through the archives at Chowmahalla Palace.

“Pickthall, though a prominent figure during the time of Nizams, is completely forgotten among present generation. But over the last few years, ever since the discourse on Muslim identity has emerged, the story of Pickthall serves as an inspiration,” says Dr Qureshi, adding, “For Muslims abroad’ he is a role model, a person who placed utmost importance to his religion but without offending or hurting anyone else’s sentiments.

There was an incident where the Nizam of Hyderabad was handing out degrees to the students and Pickthall was present in the crowd. When his time came to be on the stage, nobody could find him as he had vanished; only to find him praying.”

Dr Clark shares another incident, “While serving as a principal at Chaderghat School, Pickthall once spotted a boy drinking water from the school’s fountain during the month of Ramzan.

He didn’t yell at him or reprimand him, but only said, ‘I know you must be thirsty, it’s all right. But now ensure you observe fast for the rest of the duration’. He was forming but gentle, never enforcing his views on others.”

Dr Clark admits that Pickthall’s story is one that every generation can relate to, one that needs to be remembered. His book, Marmaduke Pickthall British Muslim is scheduled for a reprint this March.

“I believe there needs to be a book on Pickthall once every generation. Fremantle wrote one in 1938, I did in 1986, and I hope there is a young scholar who takes up this responsibility to educate the present generation,” says Dr Clark, adding, “I haven’t found the manuscript, but I have managed to create an interest among people in the city and I would like to come back to India, attend literary festivals so that I can tell more people about Pickthall.

I don’t want to own any manuscript but to ascertain that the manuscript of his unpublished novel exists. I would like to obtain a copy and arrange for it to be published. There is a rising interest in this man, an unsung hero, forgotten in time.”