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↑ Up one levelCorrespondence Concerning Hindi Dictionary
Identity area
Reference code
GB 891 JDB-JDB/1-JDB/1/1-JDB/1/1/3
Publication status
Published
Level of description
File
Extent and medium
1 folder
Date(s)
- 1922-1930 (Creation)
Context area
Name of creator
(1836-1923)
Biographical history
John Drew Bate was born in Plymouth in 1836. He trained at Regent’s Park College, London and then in 1865, sailed to India to work for the Baptist Missionary Society, the same year that he married, Beatrice Tagg. After a period in East Bengal (now Bangladesh) he was posted to Allahabad in 1868 where he stayed until his retirement in 1897. He became a member of the Asiatic Society of Bengal in 1873 and the Royal Asiatic Society in 1881.
He authored the Hindi Dictionary published in 1875 , adding 25,000 new words and forms of words. At his death this work was still considered the standard text and by order of the Education Department of the Government of India, copies were placed in all schools and colleges in India where Hindi was spoken. Bate contributed articles to the Missionary Herald, Baptist Magazine and Asiatic Quarterly Review. He also published An Examination of the Claims of Ishmael as viewed by Muhammadans.
He returned to England on his retirement. He had one son who lived to adulthood but was killed in the WWI and was outlived by his wife and their daughters. He died on 26th January, 1923.
Repository
Royal Asiatic Society Archives
Content and structure area
Scope and content
This file consists of correspondence to Miss Bate concerning her father's MS of the Hind Dictionary and possible republication. The letters include:
* Postcard from Luzac & Co, Foreign and Oriental Booksellers, to Miss E E Bate, dated 9th August, 1922 to inform that they can provide a copy of the 2nd edition of the Dictionary
* Letter from The Indian Press Ltd, Calcutta to Miss E E Bate, dated 15th May, 1929, suggesting that she sends her father's MS for their perusal for possible new edition of the book in 1932.
* Letter from J.W. Thomas to E.E. Bate, dated 16th October, 1929, to give Miss Bate advice about gaining Government approval for her father's dictionary.
* Letter from Atkinson and Stainer, Solicitors, to Miss E E Bate, dated 28th October, 1929, regarding the Assignment of copyright for the Dictionary.
* Further letter from Atkinson and Stainer, Solicitors, to Miss E E Bate, dated 30th October, 1929, to enclose a copy of the draft Assignment of copyright.
* Letter from the North India Christian Tract and Book Society to Miss E E Bate, dated 4th November, 1929, regarding reviewing the MS for potential publication.
* Letter from Civil Service Commission to Miss E E Bate, dated 14th November, 1929, regarding the mention of the Dictionary on the Indian Civil Service Examination Paper with attached paper.
* Letter from The Incorporated Society of Authors, Playwrights & Composers to Miss E E Bate, dated 24th December, 1929, to give advice regarding the possibility of buying back the rights to the Dictionary.
* Specimen Pages of the Suggested Enlargement of Bate's Hindi Dictionary from Miss E E Bate to The Indian Press, Allahabad, India, dated 31st December 1929.
* Letter from Luzac & Co, Foreign and Oriental Booksellers, to Miss E E Bate, dated 30th January, 1930, to say they would be unable to supply a copy of the Dictionary.
* Letter from The Indian Press Limited to Miss E E Bate, dated 21st January, 1930, to inform that they do not wish to purchase the rights to a revised issue.
* Letter from The Indian Press Limited to Miss E E Bate, dated 11th March, 1930, confirming they will not undertake to print an enlarged version.
Conditions of access and use area
Language of material
- English
- Hindi
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