Richard Olaf Winstedt
Encyclopedia
Sir Richard Olaf Winstedt (2 August 1878 - 2 June 1966), or more commonly R.O. Winstedt, was an English Orientalist
and colonial administrator with expertise in British Malaya
.
, from which he received an MA. In 1902 he became a cadet in the Federated Malay States Civil Service, and was posted to Perak
where he studied Malay language and culture. In 1913 he was appointed District Officer in Kuala Pilah
, and in 1916 appointed to the education department. In 1920 Winstedt received his DLitt from Oxford.
His brother was Eric Otto Winstedt
, a Latinist and gypsologist.
, 1928-1931. During his presidency, he also served as acting Secretary to the High Commissioner, 1923; Director of Education, Straits Settlements
and Federated Malay States
(FMS), and member of Legislative Council, Straits Settlements, 1924–1931; member of the FMS Federal Council, 1927-1931.
After a term as General Adviser to Johore, 1931–1935, Winstedt retired from the Malayan Civil Service and was appointed lecturer, then reader, and ultimately Honorary Fellow, in Malay at the School of Oriental Studies
, where he also served as a member of the Governing Body, 1939-1959. During World War II
, he broadcast in Malay to Japanese-occupied Malaya. He retired from active teaching in 1946.
Winstedt served on numerous boards and advisory groups, most notably the Royal Asiatic Society
of which he was repeatedly the president and a Gold Medallist in 1947; the Association of British Malaya, of which he was president in 1938; the Colonial Office Advisory Committee on Education, 1936–1939; and the Royal India Society
. He was a Fellow of the British Academy
, and an Honorary Member of Southeast Asia Institute
, Royal Batavian Society, and Kon Instituut voor TaalLanden Volkenkunde.
He also played an important role in Malayan and Singaporean education system. Specifically, he was interested in educating the Malays. Upon his suggestion, Sultan Idris Training College was established in 1922 with the purpose of producing Malay teachers. In 1997, the Malaysian government upgraded the institution into a university. Winstedt was awarded the Order of the British Empire
, Order of St. Michael and St. George for his contributions by the British sovereign.
He was made Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1935, and received an Honorary LLD (Malaya) in 1951.
Winstedt's papers are archived at the School of Oriental and African Studies
.
Oriental studies
Oriental studies is the academic field of study that embraces Near Eastern and Far Eastern societies and cultures, languages, peoples, history and archaeology; in recent years the subject has often been turned into the newer terms of Asian studies and Middle Eastern studies...
and colonial administrator with expertise in British Malaya
British Malaya
British Malaya loosely described a set of states on the Malay Peninsula and the Island of Singapore that were brought under British control between the 18th and the 20th centuries...
.
Early life and education
Winstedt was born in Oxford, educated at Magdalen College School and New College, OxfordNew College, Oxford
New College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom.- Overview :The College's official name, College of St Mary, is the same as that of the older Oriel College; hence, it has been referred to as the "New College of St Mary", and is now almost always...
, from which he received an MA. In 1902 he became a cadet in the Federated Malay States Civil Service, and was posted to Perak
Perak
Perak , one of the 13 states of Malaysia, is the second largest state in the Peninsular Malaysia bordering Kedah and Yala Province of Thailand to the north, Penang to the northwest, Kelantan and Pahang to the east, Selangor the Strait of Malacca to the south and west.Perak means silver in Malay...
where he studied Malay language and culture. In 1913 he was appointed District Officer in Kuala Pilah
Kuala Pilah
Kuala Pilah is a town and district in Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia. Commonly called Pilah by the mainly Malay Minangkabau inhabitants, it is also the name of a district. It is an old valley town with many of the pre-war Chinese shophouses still fronting the main streets surrounded by traditional style...
, and in 1916 appointed to the education department. In 1920 Winstedt received his DLitt from Oxford.
His brother was Eric Otto Winstedt
Eric Otto Winstedt
Eric Otto Winstedt was a Latinist and gypsologist. He translated Latin works to English, e. g. Marcus Tullius Cicero's letters to Atticus and compiled a 'register of Gypsy names' in the 1920s. Early in his career he published several article on Coptic texts as well as a book with text editions....
, a Latinist and gypsologist.
Later career
He served as first President of Raffles College, SingaporeSingapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
, 1928-1931. During his presidency, he also served as acting Secretary to the High Commissioner, 1923; Director of Education, Straits Settlements
Straits Settlements
The Straits Settlements were a group of British territories located in Southeast Asia.Originally established in 1826 as part of the territories controlled by the British East India Company, the Straits Settlements came under direct British control as a crown colony on 1 April 1867...
and Federated Malay States
Federated Malay States
The Federated Malay States was a federation of four protected states in the Malay Peninsula—Selangor, Perak, Negeri Sembilan and Pahang—established by the British government in 1895, which lasted until 1946, when they, together with the Straits Settlements and the Unfederated Malay...
(FMS), and member of Legislative Council, Straits Settlements, 1924–1931; member of the FMS Federal Council, 1927-1931.
After a term as General Adviser to Johore, 1931–1935, Winstedt retired from the Malayan Civil Service and was appointed lecturer, then reader, and ultimately Honorary Fellow, in Malay at the School of Oriental Studies
School of Oriental and African Studies
The School of Oriental and African Studies is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and a constituent college of the University of London...
, where he also served as a member of the Governing Body, 1939-1959. During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, he broadcast in Malay to Japanese-occupied Malaya. He retired from active teaching in 1946.
Winstedt served on numerous boards and advisory groups, most notably the Royal Asiatic Society
Royal Asiatic Society
The Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland was established, according to its Royal Charter of 11 August 1824, to further "the investigation of subjects connected with and for the encouragement of science, literature and the arts in relation to Asia." From its incorporation the Society...
of which he was repeatedly the president and a Gold Medallist in 1947; the Association of British Malaya, of which he was president in 1938; the Colonial Office Advisory Committee on Education, 1936–1939; and the Royal India Society
Royal India Society
The Royal India Society was a 20th-century British learned society concerned with India.The society was founded in 1910 by Ananda Coomaraswamy, and others, as the India Society. Sedgwick reports Coomaraswamy's stimulus as follows:...
. He was a Fellow of the British Academy
British Academy
The British Academy is the United Kingdom's national body for the humanities and the social sciences. Its purpose is to inspire, recognise and support excellence in the humanities and social sciences, throughout the UK and internationally, and to champion their role and value.It receives an annual...
, and an Honorary Member of Southeast Asia Institute
Southeast Asia Institute
The Southeast Asia Institute was an early academic institute devoted to Southeast Asian studies. It is said to be the first United States institution employing the term "Southeast Asia"....
, Royal Batavian Society, and Kon Instituut voor TaalLanden Volkenkunde.
Accomplishments
He was fundamental in preserving several works of Malay literature including The Malay Annals as well as producing crucial works regarding the Malays and their language such as A History of Malaya and A Dictionary of Malay Language. According to Australian Journal of Politics and History, "Winstedt was the first British scholar to make a systematic survey of Malay material for historical purposes, and laid the true foundation of a scientific approach to the writing of Malayan history."He also played an important role in Malayan and Singaporean education system. Specifically, he was interested in educating the Malays. Upon his suggestion, Sultan Idris Training College was established in 1922 with the purpose of producing Malay teachers. In 1997, the Malaysian government upgraded the institution into a university. Winstedt was awarded the Order of the British Empire
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
, Order of St. Michael and St. George for his contributions by the British sovereign.
He was made Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1935, and received an Honorary LLD (Malaya) in 1951.
Winstedt's papers are archived at the School of Oriental and African Studies
School of Oriental and African Studies
The School of Oriental and African Studies is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and a constituent college of the University of London...
.
Selected works
- Cherita jenaka : ya-itu Pa Kadok, Pa Pandir, Lebai Malang, Pa Belalang, Si Lunchai, Singapore : Methodist Publishing House, 1908.
- The Circumstances of Malay Life. The kampong. The house. Furniture. Dress. Food, 1909.
- Fishing, Hunting and Trapping, 1911.
- Hikayat Anggun Che Tunggal, Singapore : Methodist Publishing House, 1914.
- An English-Malay Dictionary, Kelly & WalshKelly & WalshKelly & Walsh was a notable Shanghai-based publisher of English language books, founded in 1876, which currently exists as a small chain of shops in Hong Kong specializing in art books....
: Singapore, 1914-17. - Malayan memories, Singapore : Kelly & WalshKelly & WalshKelly & Walsh was a notable Shanghai-based publisher of English language books, founded in 1876, which currently exists as a small chain of shops in Hong Kong specializing in art books....
, 1916. - A Malay Reader, Clarendon Press: Oxford, 1917.
- Misa Melayu, Singapore : Methodist Publishing House, 1919.
- Dictionary of Colloquial Malay. Malay-English & English-Malay, Singapore : Kelly & WalshKelly & WalshKelly & Walsh was a notable Shanghai-based publisher of English language books, founded in 1876, which currently exists as a small chain of shops in Hong Kong specializing in art books....
, 1920. - Malaya : the Straits Settlements and the Federated and Unfederated Malay States, London : Constable, 1923.
- Shaman, Saiva and Sufi. A study of the evolution of Malay magic, London : Constable, 1925.
- A Malay History of Riau and Johore, etc. (Malay text of the Tuḣfat al-nafīs), Singapore, 1932.
- A History of Johore, Singapore, 1932.
- Right Thinking and Right Living. A primer on moral & social topics, etc., Singapore : Malaya Publishing House, 1933.
- A History of Perak, Singapore, 1934.
- A History of Malaya, Singapore, 1935.
- A Simple Malay Reader, London : Kegan Paul & Co., 1944.
- Britain and Malaya, 1786-1941, London, 1944.
- The Malays: a cultural history, Singapore : Kelly & WalshKelly & WalshKelly & Walsh was a notable Shanghai-based publisher of English language books, founded in 1876, which currently exists as a small chain of shops in Hong Kong specializing in art books....
, 1947.