metadata [IO Islamic 3399] An anonymous autobiography dated 1253/1837.

Anonymous .

This manuscript is now IO Islamic 706 in the India Office collections.

[metadata: Hermann Ethé, Catalogue of Persian Manuscripts in the Library of the India Office, 2 vols. (Oxford: India Office, 1903): volume 1, number 3399 here with notations and hyperlinks].

706

The autobiography of a modern Persian, who occupied various positions, in the reign of Fatḥ ’Ali Shâh (A.H. 1212-1250 = A.D. 1797-1834), but conceals his name with the greatest care. He was born the 16th of Jumâdâ II, A.H. 1197, at Iṣfahân (A.D. 1783, May 19), see fol. 5a, ll. 4 and 3 ab infra, and began to note down the events of his life, at the request of some true friends and companions, in the month Dhû-alḥijjah, A.H. 1239(A.D. 1824, August), see fol. 2b, l. 4 sq. He mentions incidentally his grand-uncle ’Abd-alraḥîmkhân (fol. 41b, l. 6), and three brothers of his, viz. Mirzâ ’Alî Akbar, Mirzâ ’Alî Riḍâ, and Fatḥ-allâhkhân (fol. 42b). If the last-mentioned brother should be identical with Fatḥ-allâhkhân, son of Luṭf ’Alîkhân, the last reigning prince of the Zand dynasty (who was defeated, captured, and murdered in A.H. 1209=A.D. 1795), the anonymous author would of course be a son, and probably the youngest son, of that unfortunate ruler also, but الله اعلم !

The biography itself is divided into four bâbs, with the following headings:

1.در كيفيّت نسب , on fol.3b (the author traces his genealogy back to Ḥâjî Ḳiwâm-aldîn Shîrâzî, a contemporary of Shâh Shujâ’-i-Mużaffarî, A.H.760-786=A.D. 1359-1384).

2.از زمان ولادت الى اوان مغضوب شدن از سلطان جهانيان و قبلۀ عالم و عالميان , on fol. 5a.

3.در انحراف مزاج مبارك سلطانى و اثبات حقّيّت ، احكام قضا نظام بادلّه و براهين عقليّه بتقدير قادر سبحانى on fol. 25a.

4.تفصيل احوال بعد از سياست و ياسا و اعطاف زياده از حدّ و احصى و الطاف شاهنشاه معدلت گستر ذرّه پرور ، , on fol. 38a.

On fol. 53a there is inserted a poetical description of the earthquake of Shîrâz, some years before the composition of this autobiography, by Mirzâ Kûćak, of Shirâz, a famous penman and calligrapher (see Rieu ii. P. 786b), entitled: مرزا كوچك در باب زلزله شيراز .

On ff. 61a-139 a historical treatise by the author himself is added, a concise account of old Persian kings, entitled:

گفتار در ذكر مختصرى از وقائع اوضاع و احوال ملوك پسنديده شيم عجم كبار چهار طبقه

divided into the customary four ṭabaḳât, viz.: 1.Pishdâdians, on fol. 61b; 2.Kayânians, on fol. 80b; 3.Ashkânians, on fol. 93b; and 4. Sâsânians, on fol. 101a.

Beginning of the autobiography, on fol. 1b:

بس بگرديد و بگردد روزگار، دل بدنيا در نبندد هوشيار الخ

Dated the 29th of Ramaḍân, A.H. 1253 (A.D. 1837, Dec. 27), by Abû-alḳâsim bin ’Abd-alriḍâ, of Ḳazwin.

No. 3399, olim 16. J. 13, ff. 139, ll. 9; clear Nasta’lîḳ; size, 6 in. by 4 1/8 in.