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File 1290/1905 'Mesopotamia: Oudh Bequest' [61r] (126/260)
The record is made up of 1 volume (126 folios). It was created in 1904-1914. It was written in English and Arabic. The original is part of the British Library: India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. Records and Private Papers Documents collected in a private capacity. .
Transcription
This transcription is created automatically. It may contain errors.
No. 153, dated Baghdad, the 13th February 1909 w (Confidential).
From— Lieutenant-Colonel J. Ramsay, C.I.E.,
Political Resident
A senior ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul General) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Residency.
in Turkish
Arabia and His Britannic Majesty’s Consul-General, Baghdad,
To—The Secretary to the Government of India in the Foreign Department.
I have the honour to enclose a copy of a letter dated the 28th December
from Syed Ahmad, whose views on the Oudh Bequest were explained in
my letter No. 844, dated the 30th September 1907.
2. The possibility of improving the system, of distributing the Oudh
Bequest money has been discussed with a very large number of people during
the last three years, but I have met no one who defended the present system,
or who could suggest any practical improvement. Everyone tells me that the
money ought to be spent on charitable objects, and I believe that the really
leading Mujtahids might be willing to support Syed Ahmad’s efforts as soon
as they saw them bear some fruit. Unfortunately the Mujtahids are men of
no experience : they have never seen what we should consider to be a decently
managed charitable fund, and consequently they are unable to understand
appeals in favour of a reasonable expenditure of the Oudh Bequest money.
If there is to be improvement it must come from some place other than Nedjef
or Karbala, and seeing that the money comes from Oudh I do not think any
more suitable agent could be used than a leading Priest of Lucknow.
3. For these reasons I have written a reply to Syed Ahmad encouraging
him in his efforts. A copy of this reply, as well as the original, is herewith
enclosed for the information of the Government of India. Should it be consi
dered free from objection I shall be obliged if it can be forwarded to Syed
Ahmad as early as is convenient.
4. I earnestly hope that the Government of India will forward the letter.
Should Syed Ahmad fail in the task that he proposes to take upon himself no
harm will be done: but if experience proves him to be an honest and capable
man he may be able to introduce a system which will be a blessing to thousands
of poor and suffering people, and which will bring credit to the British
Government.
Dated the 28tk December 1908.
From —Syed Ahmad Moin-ul-Olama Allamah-i-Hindi,
Shamsul Olama Syed Muhammad Ibrahim,
Deurhi Agha Meer, Lucknow,
To—His Excellency the British Consul-General of Baghdad.
Mujtahid,
Chief High
son of
Priest,
Most respectfully I beg to lay the following lines for your kind and
favourable consideration.
1. When I paid my respects to you in the Baghdad Consul House last
time, on the last day of September 1907, I had a talk with you about the
Wasika of
Nawab
An honorific title; an official acting as a provincial deputy ruler in South Asia; or a significant Muslim landowner in nineteenth century India.
Mobarak Mahal, in which I expressed my opinion that it
was not fairly distributed. I then introduced Your Excellency with a pro
posal for the establishment of a hospital for the poor which was approved by
Your Excellency. Unfortunately I, as desired by Your Excellency, could not
stay there on account of some domestic affairs which urgently demanded my
presence at Lucknow. Ever since that time I was thinking that Your Excel
lency will kindly inform me about it through the Commissioner of Lucknow or
perhaps consult me about the matter.
I still firmly hold the opinion mentioned above, for my experience during
my stay at Karbala urges me on to state plainly that there is an urgent need
of a hospital for the poor British subjects.
It will be far better to spend it for the Indians living there than to spend
it for the foreigners according to the Will of the donor. It is possible that
according to the donor’s Will the money may be handed over to the Mojawir
Mujtahid to establish a regular hospital for the good of the Government
subjects, I
431 Fin. D,
About this item
- Content
The volume contains correspondence relating to the distribution of the Oudh Bequest in Kerbala [Karbala] and Nejef [Najaf]. The correspondence is principally between the Government of India (Foreign and Political Departments), the India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. , and the Foreign Office. There are many enclosures that include correspondence from the following:
- the Political Resident A senior ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul General) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Residency. in Turkish Arabia A term used by the British officials to describe the territory roughly corresponding to, but not coextensive with, modern-day Iraq under the control of the Ottoman Empire. (who also acts as the British Consul-General in Baghdad);
- Mirza Muhammad Hassan Mohsin, British Vice-Consul at Kerbala;
- several mujtahids (a person accepted as an authority on Islamic law) from Kerbala and Nejaf;
- J W Hose, Chief Secretary to the Government of the United Provinces.
The Oudh Bequest was an annual payment made by the Government of India to the mujtahids of the holy shrine cities of Karbala and Najaf. This payment was the interest on a loan given to the East India Company in 1825 by the King of Awadh, who instructed that it be used to improve religious learning and help the poor of Shia communities in Iraq.
The papers within the volume cover the discussion over how the bequest was to be distributed. This system of distribution underwent several changes over the years, owing to complaints of unfairness by potential recipients and corruption as perceived by the British. Included within the volume are several petitions from mujtahids and representatives of the Indian residents of Kerbala and Nejef for a fairer distribution of the funds.
The volume includes extracts from the summaries of events in Turkish Arabia A term used by the British officials to describe the territory roughly corresponding to, but not coextensive with, modern-day Iraq under the control of the Ottoman Empire. that were produced on a monthly basis by the Political Resident A senior ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul General) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Residency. in Baghdad.
- Extent and format
- 1 volume (126 folios)
- Arrangement
The papers are arranged in approximate chronological order from the rear to the front of the volume.
- Physical characteristics
Foliation: the main foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the front cover with 1 and terminates at the inside back cover with 128; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. side of each folio.
A previous foliation sequence, which is also circled, has been superseded and therefore crossed out.
- Written in
- English and Arabic in Latin and Arabic script View the complete information for this record
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File 1290/1905 'Mesopotamia: Oudh Bequest' [61r] (126/260), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/10/77, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100026539865.0x00007f> [accessed 27 April 2024]
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Copyright: How to use this content
- Reference
- IOR/L/PS/10/77
- Title
- File 1290/1905 'Mesopotamia: Oudh Bequest'
- Pages
- 32r:32v, 38v:39v, 61r:61v, 67v:68v
- Author
- Syed Ahmad Moin-ul-Olama Allamah-i-Hindi
- Usage terms
- The copyright status is unknown. Please contact copyright@bl.uk with any information you have regarding this item.