Thomas Walker Arnold
Encyclopedia
Sir Thomas Walker Arnold (1864, Devonport, Devon
- 1930) was an eminent British
orientalist
and historian of Islamic art
who taught at MAO College
, Aligarh Muslim University
, then Aligarh College, and Government College University
, Lahore
. He was a friend of Sir Syed Ahmed Khan, and wrote his famous book "The preaching of Islam" at the insistence of Sir Syed. He was also the teacher of famous poet-philosopher Muhammad Iqbal
, Syed Sulaiman Nadvi
and a very close friend of Shibli Nomani
who was also a teacher at Aligarh.
. He entered Magdalene College
, Cambridge University in 1883.
From 1888 he worked as a teacher at the MAO College
, Aligarh. In 1898, he accepted a post as Professor of Philosophy at the Government College
, Lahore and later became Dean of the Oriental Faculty at Punjab University
. From 1904 to 1909 he was on the staff of the India Office as Assistant Librarian. In 1909 he was appointed Educational Adviser to Indian students in Britain. From 1917 to 1920 he acted as Adviser to the Secretary of State for India. He was Professor of Arabic and Islamic Studies at the School of Oriental Studies
, University of London
, from 1921 to 1930. Arnold became the first English editor for the first edition of The Encyclopaedia of Islam.
Arnold exposed Indian Muslim poet Muhammad Iqbal
to Western culture and ideas, serving as a bridge for Iqbal between Eastern and Western thought.
He was made Companion of the Order of the Indian Empire in 1912, and in 1921 was given a Knighthood by the Crown. He married Celia Mary Hickson in 1892. He died on 9 June 1930.
Devonport, Devon
Devonport, formerly named Plymouth Dock or just Dock, is a district of Plymouth in the English county of Devon, although it was, at one time, the more important settlement. It became a county borough in 1889...
- 1930) was an eminent British
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland was the formal name of the United Kingdom during the period when what is now the Republic of Ireland formed a part of it....
orientalist
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 historian of Islamic art
Islamic art
Islamic art encompasses the visual arts produced from the 7th century onwards by people who lived within the territory that was inhabited by or ruled by culturally Islamic populations...
who taught at MAO College
MAO College
MAO College was founded by Sir Syed Ahmed Khan, the leader of Muslim renaissance in Indian subcontinent, in 1875 at Aligarh. This later became Aligarh Muslim University in 1920....
, Aligarh Muslim University
Aligarh Muslim University
Aligarh Muslim University ,is a residential academic university, established in 1875 by Sir Syed Ahmed Khan as Mohammedan Angelo-Oriental College and later granted the status of Central University by an Act of the Indian Parliament in 1920...
, then Aligarh College, and Government College University
Government College University
Government College University, Lahore is a co-educational public university located on The Mall in Lahore, Pakistan...
, Lahore
Lahore
Lahore is the capital of the Pakistani province of Punjab and the second largest city in the country. With a rich and fabulous history dating back to over a thousand years ago, Lahore is no doubt Pakistan's cultural capital. One of the most densely populated cities in the world, Lahore remains a...
. He was a friend of Sir Syed Ahmed Khan, and wrote his famous book "The preaching of Islam" at the insistence of Sir Syed. He was also the teacher of famous poet-philosopher Muhammad Iqbal
Muhammad Iqbal
Sir Muhammad Iqbal , commonly referred to as Allama Iqbal , was a poet and philosopher born in Sialkot, then in the Punjab Province of British India, now in Pakistan...
, Syed Sulaiman Nadvi
Syed Sulaiman Nadvi
Allama Sayyed Sulaiman Nadvi was an eminent Indian and Pakistani historian, biographer, littérateur and scholar of Islam...
and a very close friend of Shibli Nomani
Shibli Nomani
Allamah Shibli Nomani was a respected scholar of Islam from Indian subcontinent during British Raj. He was born at Bindwal in Azamgarh district of present-day Uttar Pradesh. He is known for the founding the Shibli National College in 1883 and the Darul Mussanifin in Azamgarh...
who was also a teacher at Aligarh.
Life
Arnold was born on 19 April 1864, and educated at the City of London SchoolCity of London School
The City of London School is a boys' independent day school on the banks of the River Thames in the City of London, England. It is the brother school of the City of London School for Girls and the co-educational City of London Freemen's School...
. He entered Magdalene College
Magdalene College, Cambridge
Magdalene College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge, England.The college was founded in 1428 as a Benedictine hostel, in time coming to be known as Buckingham College, before being refounded in 1542 as the College of St Mary Magdalene...
, Cambridge University in 1883.
From 1888 he worked as a teacher at the MAO College
MAO College
MAO College was founded by Sir Syed Ahmed Khan, the leader of Muslim renaissance in Indian subcontinent, in 1875 at Aligarh. This later became Aligarh Muslim University in 1920....
, Aligarh. In 1898, he accepted a post as Professor of Philosophy at the Government College
Government College
Government College refers to various colleges.* Government College University, Lahore, is probably the most frequent college referred to by this name. It may also refer to:* Government College of Technology, Coimbatore, India* Darjeeling Government College...
, Lahore and later became Dean of the Oriental Faculty at Punjab University
University of the Punjab
University of the Punjab , colloquially known as Punjab University, is located in Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan. The University of the Punjab is the oldest and biggest University of Pakistan. The University of the Punjab was formally established with the convening of the first meeting of its...
. From 1904 to 1909 he was on the staff of the India Office as Assistant Librarian. In 1909 he was appointed Educational Adviser to Indian students in Britain. From 1917 to 1920 he acted as Adviser to the Secretary of State for India. He was Professor of Arabic and Islamic Studies 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...
, University of London
University of London
-20th century:Shortly after 6 Burlington Gardens was vacated, the University went through a period of rapid expansion. Bedford College, Royal Holloway and the London School of Economics all joined in 1900, Regent's Park College, which had affiliated in 1841 became an official divinity school of the...
, from 1921 to 1930. Arnold became the first English editor for the first edition of The Encyclopaedia of Islam.
Arnold exposed Indian Muslim poet Muhammad Iqbal
Muhammad Iqbal
Sir Muhammad Iqbal , commonly referred to as Allama Iqbal , was a poet and philosopher born in Sialkot, then in the Punjab Province of British India, now in Pakistan...
to Western culture and ideas, serving as a bridge for Iqbal between Eastern and Western thought.
He was made Companion of the Order of the Indian Empire in 1912, and in 1921 was given a Knighthood by the Crown. He married Celia Mary Hickson in 1892. He died on 9 June 1930.
Works
(Original from the University of California)- The Old and New Testaments in Muslim Religious Art (Schweich Lectures for 1928)
- Painting in Islam, A Study of the Place of Pictorial Art in Muslim Culture (1928, reprint ed. 1965).
See also
- Sir Syed Ahmed Khan
- IqbalMuhammad IqbalSir Muhammad Iqbal , commonly referred to as Allama Iqbal , was a poet and philosopher born in Sialkot, then in the Punjab Province of British India, now in Pakistan...
- Syed Sulaiman NadviSyed Sulaiman NadviAllama Sayyed Sulaiman Nadvi was an eminent Indian and Pakistani historian, biographer, littérateur and scholar of Islam...
- Shibli NomaniShibli NomaniAllamah Shibli Nomani was a respected scholar of Islam from Indian subcontinent during British Raj. He was born at Bindwal in Azamgarh district of present-day Uttar Pradesh. He is known for the founding the Shibli National College in 1883 and the Darul Mussanifin in Azamgarh...
External links
- Arnold, Sir Thomas Walker, School of Oriental and African Studies: home page
- Sir Thomas Walker entry in Encyclopaedia Iranica