SHAH-E-HAMDAN ‘S MANUSCRIPTS IN EUROPE
“Shah-e-Hamdan and Europe’’ deals with the manuscripts of Mir Sayyid Ali Hamdani located in various European libraries especially in British Museum London ,India office Library , Bodlein Oxford Library, Asiatique institute Paris and Veina University Oriental Institute.
Before discussing the actual manuscripts, we mention briefly that how these manuscripts reached Europe .In this connection few scholars like M.A.Stein, Prof. Buhler, Dr. G. W.Leitner, Moorcroft and Sir Henry Yule are worth mentioning. Sir Henry Yule took most of of the manuscripts of Sayyid Ali Hamdani for British Museum. Henry Yule was born in 1820A.D. at inversek, Near Edinburg Scotland. His father Maj. William Yule was in the employment of the East India Company. He has a good commanded of eastern languages. Henry Yule studied at the University of Edinburgh and Cambridge. He was appointed as an engineer in NWFP in 1849. In 1855A.D. he was appointed under secretary at the Architecture Dept. by Lord Dalhousie. He usually travel to Kashmir and collected the manuscripts which were latter stored at the British Museum.
DE. G. W. LEINTER, the founder of Panjab University and latter Asian Institute working, where he also built the first Mosque in United Kingdom Called “Shahjan Mosque” . He also took some manuscripts when he returned from Hunza on his way to British India.
Two other scholars Sir Aurel Stein and Prof. Buhler also took few manuscripts which were latter preserved in British Museum. These manuscripts are available under different catalogues and catalogue nos. The manuscripts of Shah-e-Hamdan can be found in British Museum, Oriental Section store st. the manuscripts of Sayyid Ali Hamdani are available through Dr. Reiu’s Persian catalogue Vol, 2 no. 7618, 16779, 7763 and index vol.3 page 1143.
The most famous and important book ZAKHIRAT UL MULUK which deals with ethics and Principles of government is also available in a hard back, red cover consisting of 500 pages and 10 chapter. Two more copies of the manuscripts of ZAKHIRAT UL MULUK can be found at bodlein Library, Oxford ethics catalogue No 1451 page 890.the manuscripts is not dated . Cambridge University Library has also one copy of the manuscripts of ZAKHIRAT UL MULUK
ZAKHIRAT UL MULUK ‘S French translation by C. solvent in 1829 can be found at the Asiatic Institute, Paris and Latin translation by Ernest Fredrick Carl Rosenmueller in 1825 at Oriental Institute Viena University .
The other manuscripts except poetry of Shah-e-Hamdan are catalogued under Dr. Reiu vol.2No 16840. All the manuscripts are binded together 1016 pages in total in a red cover of 107 and actual writing is on 6 4. There are about 10 lines on each page. These are also available in British Museum.
The details of the other manuscripts are as follow:
RASALAH DAUDIA
RASALAH DAH QAIDHA
Zakhirat Ul Muluk
RASALAH KASHF UL HAQAIQ
RASALAH MASHARB AL AZWAQ
RASALAH AETQAT-E-AMIRYA
RASALAH DARESHIA
RASALAH FATIHA
KITAB-E-MANAMIA
SHARAH MUSHKAL HALL
RASALAH MASHIA AMIRYA
RASALAH ISTAHLAT-E-SOFIA
RASALAH MAQAMAT-E-SOFIA
SIFAT UL ADAAB
ASNAD HULIA HAZRAT RASALAT
RASALAH KHUTBAT E AMIRYA
RASALAH KHAWATERIA
RASALAH SADAT NAMA
RASALAH –E-MOADAT
RASALAH SABAIN AL MANAQIB
ARABIA AMIRIA QUDS
ROZAT UL FARDOS
RASALAH MANAZIL SALEKEEN
RASALAH WARADAT
RASALAH SER UL TALEBEEN
RASALAH MAKARAM UL AKHLAQ
HAL FASUS
RASALAH DEH QUAIDA
CHEHL ASRAR
FL-ILM UL QIYAFAH
RASALAH FATUWATTIA
Sayyid Ali Hamdani’s more works in Arabic can be found in British Museum, Arabic catalogue, vol.2 Prof. Browne’s catalogue of Cambridge manuscripts and Ethe’s Bodlein catalogue have many enteron Sayyid Ali Hamdani . In European language, Blochet catalogue Paris, berlin catalogue by W. Pertsch, Veina catalogue by G. Flugel may also be very useful for further research.
There are some more manuscripts in the British Museum, which need clear and complete study to determine the headingand contents of the manuscripts.
Some more work is needed to know the exact number of the manuscripts and their location. It is not an easy job but impossible either. In the end I suggest few proposals for consideration as follow:
A Shah-e-Hamdan CHAIR should be established at the University of Azad Kashmir to further the research on Sayyid Ali Hamdani and related fields.
An authentic and complete bibliography with description should be compiled.
All the manuscripts of Sayyid Ali Hamdani should be acquired and preserved on scientific basis at the University of Azad Kashmir.
The proper arrangement should be made to translate these manuscripts in to Urdu and English and publish them.
Arrangement s should also be made to have a memorial lecture on Shah-e-Hamdan every year on 19th January by scholar of international repute.
A one a year International should be created, so that further research on Shah-e-Hamdan and related topic can be made.
A chapter on Sayyid Ali Hamdani should be introduced in the text books o0f primary and secondary school in Azad Kashmir.
It is my understanding that there are few manuscripts available at different places in the village in Indian Occupied Kashmir. Contacts should be developed through different sources to acquire those manuscripts.
An essay competition on Sayyid Ali Hamdani and related fields should be established amoung the college and university student.
A further positive contact should be established with the cultural Academy and Shah-e-Hamdan Trust, Srinagar.
A private fund should be set up for the people who would like to contribute towards the research and mission of Sayyid Ali Hamdani.
