Denys Bray
Encyclopedia
Sir Denys de Saumarez Bray, KCSI
, KCIE
, CBE
(29 November 1875 – 19 November 1951) was an etymologist and Secretary of the Foreign Department of the Government of India.
Bray's publications evidence his deep understanding of the Brahui language and his later work on Shakespeare re-arranged the much disputed argument on the basis of the discovery of a hitherto unexpected rhyme-link or word-link, joining sonnet to sonnet to form an orderly and smoothly flowing whole.
and educated at the Realgymnasium, Stuttgart, Blundell's School
in Tiverton and at Balliol College, Oxford
(where he was Taylorian Scholar).
, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Baluchistan
.
After serving as Deputy Secretary of the Foreign Department at New Delhi
for four years. Bray was appointed Secretary in 1920, and filled the position with distinction for nearly a decade. He had a large share in shaping the treaty with Afghanistan
negotiated at Kabul
by Sir Henry Dobbs
in 1921 (which amended the Treaty of Rawalpindi
, agreed originally in August 1919, and reaffirmed Britain's recognition of Afghanistan's complete independence, and restored to the Afghans the privilege of importing munitions through India).
King Aminullah’s impatient forcing of western ways on his people after visiting Europe in 1928 led to a revolt, and grave danger to the inmates of the British Legation at Kabul. Early in 1929 Bray was responsible for the plans for the evacuation by air (a novel method at that time) of the women and children, and then of the Minister, Sir Francis Humphreys
, and his staff as part of the Kabul Airlift
.
On leaving India in 1930 Bray was appointed a member of the Council of the Secretary of State for the India Office
, which was transformed before the completion of his seven years into a body of advisers. Throughout the time he was on the Indian delegation to the annual Assembly of the League of Nations
. Bray also represented India at the international broadcasting conference in 1936; at the diplomatic conference on terrorism in 1937 and in the mission to Spain on refugee relief in 1938.
Order of the Star of India
The Most Exalted Order of the Star of India is an order of chivalry founded by Queen Victoria in 1861. The Order includes members of three classes:# Knight Grand Commander # Knight Commander # Companion...
, KCIE
Order of the Indian Empire
The Most Eminent Order of the Indian Empire is an order of chivalry founded by Queen Victoria in 1878. The Order includes members of three classes:#Knight Grand Commander #Knight Commander #Companion...
, CBE
CBE
CBE and C.B.E. are abbreviations for "Commander of the Order of the British Empire", a grade in the Order of the British Empire.Other uses include:* Chemical and Biochemical Engineering...
(29 November 1875 – 19 November 1951) was an etymologist and Secretary of the Foreign Department of the Government of India.
Bray's publications evidence his deep understanding of the Brahui language and his later work on Shakespeare re-arranged the much disputed argument on the basis of the discovery of a hitherto unexpected rhyme-link or word-link, joining sonnet to sonnet to form an orderly and smoothly flowing whole.
Early life
Bray was born in AberdeenAberdeen
Aberdeen is Scotland's third most populous city, one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas and the United Kingdom's 25th most populous city, with an official population estimate of ....
and educated at the Realgymnasium, Stuttgart, Blundell's School
Blundell's School
Blundell's School is a co-educational day and boarding independent school located in the town of Tiverton in the county of Devon, England. The school was founded in 1604 by the will of Peter Blundell, one of the richest men in England at the time, and relocated to its present location on the...
in Tiverton and at Balliol College, Oxford
Balliol College, Oxford
Balliol College , founded in 1263, is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England but founded by a family with strong Scottish connections....
(where he was Taylorian Scholar).
Diplomatic career
Bray passed the Indian Civil Service examination of 1898, and served in the PunjabPunjab (British India)
Punjab was a province of British India, it was one of the last areas of the Indian subcontinent to fall under British rule. With the end of British rule in 1947 the province was split between West Punjab, which went to Pakistan, and East Punjab, which went to India...
, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Baluchistan
Balochistan (Pakistan)
Balochistan is one of the four provinces or federating units of Pakistan. With an area of 134,051 mi2 or , it is the largest province of Pakistan, constituting approximately 44% of the total land mass of Pakistan. According to the 1998 population census, Balochistan had a population of...
.
After serving as Deputy Secretary of the Foreign Department at New Delhi
New Delhi
New Delhi is the capital city of India. It serves as the centre of the Government of India and the Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi. New Delhi is situated within the metropolis of Delhi. It is one of the nine districts of Delhi Union Territory. The total area of the city is...
for four years. Bray was appointed Secretary in 1920, and filled the position with distinction for nearly a decade. He had a large share in shaping the treaty with Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
negotiated at Kabul
Kabul
Kabul , spelt Caubul in some classic literatures, is the capital and largest city of Afghanistan. It is also the capital of the Kabul Province, located in the eastern section of Afghanistan...
by Sir Henry Dobbs
Henry Dobbs
Sir Henry Robert Conway Dobbs, GBE, KCSI, KCMG, KCIE was an administrator in British India, he served as the Chief Commissioner of Balochistan. He later served as High Commissioner to the Kingdom of Iraq from 1923 to 1929, the longest time this position was held by anyone during the course of the...
in 1921 (which amended the Treaty of Rawalpindi
Treaty of Rawalpindi
The Treaty of Rawalpindi was an armistice made between the United Kingdom and Afghanistan during the Third Anglo-Afghan War...
, agreed originally in August 1919, and reaffirmed Britain's recognition of Afghanistan's complete independence, and restored to the Afghans the privilege of importing munitions through India).
King Aminullah’s impatient forcing of western ways on his people after visiting Europe in 1928 led to a revolt, and grave danger to the inmates of the British Legation at Kabul. Early in 1929 Bray was responsible for the plans for the evacuation by air (a novel method at that time) of the women and children, and then of the Minister, Sir Francis Humphreys
Francis Humphreys
Francis Humphreys was an Irish Fianna Fáil Party politician who served as a TD for a total of 19 years between 1932 and 1961, winning a seat at seven general elections and losing it three times....
, and his staff as part of the Kabul Airlift
Kabul Airlift
The Kabul Airlift was an air evacuation of British and a number of European diplomatic staff and their families conducted by the Royal Air Force from Kabul between December 1928 and February 1929.-Background and the Afghan civil war:...
.
On leaving India in 1930 Bray was appointed a member of the Council of the Secretary of State for the India Office
India Office
The India Office was a British government department created in 1858 to oversee the colonial administration of India, i.e. the modern-day nations of Bangladesh, Burma, India, and Pakistan, as well as territories in South-east and Central Asia, the Middle East, and parts of the east coast of Africa...
, which was transformed before the completion of his seven years into a body of advisers. Throughout the time he was on the Indian delegation to the annual Assembly of the League of Nations
League of Nations
The League of Nations was an intergovernmental organization founded as a result of the Paris Peace Conference that ended the First World War. It was the first permanent international organization whose principal mission was to maintain world peace...
. Bray also represented India at the international broadcasting conference in 1936; at the diplomatic conference on terrorism in 1937 and in the mission to Spain on refugee relief in 1938.
Etymological research and publications
Bray’s publications included:- 1909: The Brahui Language, Part I. Calcutta: Superintendent Government Printing (Reprinted 1977-78, Quetta: Brahui Academy, Bib ID 1174990)
- 1913: Life History of a Brahui. London: Royal Asiatic Society (Reprinted 1977, Karachi: Royal Book Co., Bib ID 2902021)
- 1925: The Original Order of Shakespeare’s Sonnets. London: Methuen, Bib ID 2535453
- 1934: The Brāhūī Language. Part II. The Brāhūī problem. Part III. Etymological vocabulary. Delhi: Manager of Publications
Sources
- Obituary of Sir Denys Bray, The Times, Wednesday, Nov 21, 1951 (pg. 8; Issue 52164; col E)
- The India list and India Office list, 1905