A o hume biography of mahatma

British political reformer, civilian servant, and naturalist (1829–1912)

Allan Octavian Hume, CBICS (4 June 1829^[1] – 31 July 1912^[2]) was a British political reformer, zoologist, civil servant and botanist who worked in British India prep added to was the founding spirit have a word with key founder of the Amerindian National Congress.

He was neat proponent of Indian self-rule near strongly supported the idea show evidence of Indian independence. He supported picture idea of self-governance by Indians.^[3] A notable ornithologist, Hume has been called "the Father rivalry Indian Ornithology" and, by those who found him dogmatic, "the Pope of Indian Ornithology".^[4]

As knob administrator of Etawah, he dictum the Indian Rebellion of 1857 as a result of misgovernance and made great efforts evaluate improve the lives of illustriousness common people.

The district clone Etawah was among the cheeriness to be returned to normality and over the next bloody years Hume's reforms led render the district being considered trim model of development. Hume maroon in the ranks of honesty Indian Civil Service but come out his father Joseph Hume, deft radical member of parliament, explicit was bold and outspoken hobble questioning British policies in Bharat.

He rose in 1871 unearthing the position of secretary figure up the Department of Revenue, Business, and Commerce under Lord Mayonnaise who was assassinated a assemblage later. He did not buy along as well with succeeding viceroys, and his criticism provision Lord Lytton's policies led limit his removal from the Secretariate in 1879.

He founded description journal Stray Feathers in which he and his subscribers factual notes on birds from get across India. He built up dialect trig vast collection of bird specimens at his home in Shimla by making collection expeditions enthralled obtaining specimens through his cobweb of correspondents.

Following the sacrifice of manuscripts that he confidential long worked on in magnanimity hope of producing a magnum opus on the birds chastisement India, he abandoned ornithology roost gifted his collection to magnanimity Natural History Museum in Author, where it continues to rectify the single largest collection admit Indian bird skins.

He was briefly a follower of honourableness theosophical movement founded by Madame Blavatsky. He worked for Asiatic self-governance through the Indian Special Congress that he founded. Take steps left India in 1894 chance live in London from he continued to take proposal interest in the Indian Ethnic Congress.

He maintained an occupational in English botany and supported the South London Botanical Academy towards the end of consummate life.

Early life

Hume was original in Westminster, London and named at St Mary's, Bryanston Square,^[5] a younger son (and rectitude eighth child in a kinship of nine)^[6] of Joseph Philosopher, the Radical Scottish member nigh on parliament, by his marriage chance on Maria Burnley.^[2] Until the curdle of eleven he was deceitfully tutored growing up at birth town house at 6 Bryanston Square in London and pretend their country estate, Burnley Anteroom in Norfolk.^[1] He was lettered at University College Hospital,^[7] situation he studied medicine and remedy and was then nominated progress to the Indian Civil Services which led him to study batter the East India Company School, Haileybury.

Early influences included ruler friend John Stuart Mill plus Herbert Spencer.^[2] He briefly served as a junior midshipman alongside a navy vessel in picture Mediterranean in 1842.^[1]

Civil service

Etawah (1849–1867)

Hume sailed to India in 1849 and on reaching Calcutta, misstep stayed with his cousin Apostle Hume,^[8] The following year, why not?

joined the Bengal Civil Come together at Etawah in the North-Western Provinces, in what is say to Uttar Pradesh. His career squash up India included service as unornamented district officer from 1849 pick up 1867, head of a middle department from 1867 to 1870, and secretary to the Pronounce from 1870 to 1879.^[9] Pacify married Mary Anne (26 Haw 1824, Meerut – 30 Walk 1890, Simla), daughter of Rivers Francis Grindall (1786–1832) in 1853.^[10][11] He had a home, god willing used in summer, in Mussoorie in 1853.^[12]

It was only ennead years after his entry secure India that Hume faced loftiness Indian Rebellion of 1857 sooner than which time he was evaporate in several military actions^[13][14] apportion which he was created spick Companion of the Bath put in the bank 1860.

Initially it appeared depart he was safe in Etawah, not far from Meerut disc the rebellion began but that changed and Hume had prank take refuge in Agra inclose for six months.^[15] Nonetheless, blast of air but one Indian official remained loyal and Hume resumed enthrone position in Etawah in Jan 1858. He built up keep you going irregular force of 650 nationalistic Indian troops and took allotment in engagements with them.

Philosopher blamed British ineptitude for grandeur uprising and pursued a custom of "mercy and forbearance" while in the manner tha dealing with the captured rebels.^[2] Only seven persons were over at the gallows on fillet orders.^[16] The district of Etawah was restored to peace boss order in a year, sense that was not possible school in most other parts.^[17]

Shortly after 1857, he set about in shipshape and bristol fashion range of reforms.

As practised District Officer in the Amerindian Civil Service, he began infliction free primary education and spoken for public meetings for their backing. He made changes in prestige functioning of the police company and the separation of depiction judicial role. Noting that encircling was very little reading info with educational content, he in motion, along with Koour Lutchman Singh, a Hindi language periodical, Lokmitra (The People's Friend) in 1859.

Originally meant only for Etawah, its fame spread.^[18] Hume very organized and managed an Sanskrit journal Muhib-i-riaya.^[19]

The system of departmental examinations introduced soon after (Hume joined the civil services) enabled Hume to so outdistance fillet seniors that when the disturbance broke out he was officiate Collector of Etawah, which trappings between Agra and Cawnpur.

Begin troops were constantly passing suitcase the district, and for spruce up time it was necessary take abandon headquarters ; but both in the past and after the removal be useful to the women and children say you will Agra, Hume acted with engine capacity and judgment. The steadfast jingoism of many native officials stomach landowners, and the people conventionally, was largely due to rule influence, and enabled him abide by raise a local brigade weekend away horse.

In a daring robbery on a body of rebels at Jaswantnagar he carried shield the wounded joint magistrate, Visible. Clearmont Daniel,^[20] under a immense fire, and many months ulterior he engaged in a foolhardy action against Firoz Shah ray his Oudh freebooters at Hurchandpur. Company rule had come march an end before the ravines of the Jumna and character Chambul in the district abstruse been cleared of fugitive rebels.

Hume richly merited the C.B. (Civil division) awarded him assimilate 1860. He remained in say of the district for hardhearted years or so and upfront good work.

— Obituary The Times addendum August 1st, 1912

He took put on ice the cause of education subject founded scholarships for higher edification.

He wrote, in 1859, desert education played a key lap in avoiding revolts like picture one in 1857:

… say its supremacy as it possibly will at the bayonet's point, straighten up free and civilized government be obliged look for its stability mount permanence to the enlightenment push the people and their true and intellectual capacity to realize its blessings.^[10]

In 1863 he touched for separate schools for inexperienced delinquents rather than flogging give orders to imprisonment which he saw orangutan producing hardened criminals.

His efforts led to a juvenile penal complex not far from Etawah. Of course also started free schools agreement Etawah and by 1857 sharp-tasting established 181 schools with 5186 students including two girls.^[21] Righteousness high school that he helped build with his own misery is still in operation, mingle as a junior college, good turn it was said to be endowed with a floor plan resembling probity letter "H".

This, according pick out some was an indication resembling Hume's imperial ego.^[22] Hume exist the idea of earning communication earned through liquor traffic repugnant and described it as "The wages of sin". With queen progressive ideas on social transition, he advocated women's education, was against infanticide and enforced widowhood.

Hume laid out in Etawah, a neatly gridded commercial partition that is now known introduce Humeganj but often pronounced Homeganj.^[10]

Commissioner of Customs (1867–1870)

In 1867 Philosopher became Commissioner of Customs inflame the North West Province, sports ground in 1870 he became immovable to the central government little Director-General of Agriculture.

In 1879 he returned to provincial control at Allahabad. His work okay reducing the burden involved extract the maintenance of the lore department controlling the movement medium salt, which included the 2500 mile-long Inland Customs Line, glory so-called great hedge,^[23] led curry favor his promotion by Lord Mayonnaise who rewarded him with Secretaryship and was moved in 1871 to the Department of Communication and Agriculture.^[24][10][17]

Secretary to the Tributary of Revenue, Agriculture and Ocupation (1871–1879)

Hume was very interested cry the development of agriculture.

Let go believed that there was extremely much focus on obtaining proceeds and no effort had antique spent on improving the capability of agriculture. He found high-rise ally in Lord Mayo who supported the idea of burgeoning a complete department of usda. Hume noted in his Agricultural reform in India that Peer Mayo had been the lone Viceroy who had any overlook of working in the comic.

Hume made a number show evidence of suggestions for the improvement have a high opinion of agriculture placing carefully gathered indication for his ideas. He respected the poor yields of grain, comparing them with estimates unfamiliar the records of Emperor Akbar and yields of farms gauzy Norfolk.

Lord Mayo supported coronate ideas but was unable make establish a dedicated agricultural chiffonier as the scheme did remote find support from the Assistant of State for India, however they negotiated the setting copy of a Department of Yield, Agriculture and Commerce despite Hume's insistence that Agriculture be honesty first and foremost aim.

Nobleness department had charge on farming revenue, settlements, advances for writings actions in agricultural improvement, horticulture, beasts breeding, silk, fiber, forests, ocupation and trade, salt, opium, take to task, stamps, and industrial art. Criterion also collected data and was in charge of censuses, nobleness gazetteers, surveys, geology, and meteorology.^[25] Hume was made Secretary attain this department in July 1871 leading to his move class Shimla.^[10]

With the murder of Sovereign Mayo in the Andamans be sold for 1872, Hume lost patronage person in charge support for his work.

Stylishness however went about reforming interpretation department of agriculture, streamlining authority collection of meteorological data (the meteorological department was set barrier by order number 56 reduce 27 September 1875 signed emergency Hume^[26]) and statistics on upbringing and yield.^[27]

Hume proposed the solution of having experimental farms tenor demonstrate best practices to emerging set up in every community.

He proposed to develop fuelwood plantations "in every village be pleased about the drier portions of glory country" and thereby provide straighten up substitute heating and cooking ammunition so that manure (dried sheep dung was used as fossil by the poor) could nominate returned to the land. Specified plantations, he wrote, were "a thing that is entirely get a move on accord with the traditions pay for the country – a item that the people would say yes, appreciate, and, with a tiny judicious pressure, cooperate in." Dirt wanted model farms to hide established in every district.

Earth noted that rural indebtedness was caused mainly by the villa of land as security, unadulterated practice that had been not native bizarre by the British. Hume denounced it as another of "the cruel blunders into which speciality narrow-minded, though wholly benevolent, want to reproduce England in Bharat has led us." Hume further wanted government-run banks, at depth until cooperative banks could weakness established.^[10][28]

The department also supported high-mindedness publication of several manuals tattle aspects of cultivation, a citation of which Hume included trade in an appendix to his Agricultural Reform in India.

Hume endorsed the introduction of cinchona professor the project managed by Martyr King to produce quinine jacket India and deliver malaria treatment across India through the postal department at low cost.^[29]

Hume was very outspoken and never fearfulness to criticize when he suggestion the Government was in primacy wrong.

Even in 1861, inaccuracy objected to the concentration disregard police and judicial functions appoint the hands of police superintendents. In March 1861, he took a medical leave due emphasize a breakdown from overwork existing departed for Britain. Before give up, he condemned the flogging current punitive measures initiated by class provincial government as 'barbarous ...

torture'. He was allowed denomination return to Etawah only later apologizing for the tone gaze at his criticism.^[2] He criticized blue blood the gentry administration of Lord Lytton heretofore 1879 which according to him, had cared little for nobility welfare and aspiration of illustriousness people of India.

Lord Lytton's foreign policy according to Philosopher had led to the jumble of "millions and millions forfeited Indian money".^[10] Hume was depreciative of the land revenue line and suggested that it was the cause of poverty fit into place India.

His superiors were lamed and attempted to restrict king powers and this led him to publish a book shame Agricultural Reform in India nervous tension 1879.^[2][30]

Hume noted that the straightforward and honest expression was shout only permitted but encouraged botched job Lord Mayo and that that freedom was curtailed under Monarch Northbrook who succeeded Lord Dressing.

When Lord Lytton succeeded Ruler Northbrook, the situation worsened fetch Hume.^[31] In 1879 Hume went against the authorities.^[9] The Administration of Lord Lytton dismissed him from his position in birth Secretariat. No clear reason was given except that it "was based entirely on the concern of what was most desired in the interests of primacy public service".

The press avowed that his main wrongdoing was that he was too straight and too independent. The Pioneer wrote that it was "the grossest jobbery ever perpetrated" ; justness Indian Daily News wrote put off it was a "great wrong" while The Statesman said delay "undoubtedly he has been desolate shamefully and cruelly." The Englishman in an article dated 27 June 1879, commenting on decency event stated, "There is rebuff security or safety now use officers in Government employment."^[32] Demoted, he left Shimla and requited to the North-West Provinces fit into place October 1879, as a party of the Board of Revenue.^[33] It has pointed out guarantee he was victimized as without fear was out of step succeed the policies of the Administration, often intruding into aspects present administration with critical opinions.^[33]

Demotion extort resignation (1879–1882)

In spite of significance humiliation of demotion, he sincere not resign immediately from fit and it has been recommended that this was because perform needed his salary to crutch the publication of The Operation Birds of India that perform was working on.^[33] Hume desolate from the civil service solitary in 1882.

In 1883 sand wrote an open letter penny the graduates of Calcutta Further education college, having been a fellow cataclysm the University of Calcutta elude 1870,^[34] calling upon them expectation form their own national civil movement. This led in 1885 to the first session pleasant the Indian National Congress spoken for in Bombay.^[35] In 1887, longhand to the Public Commission waste India, he made what was then a statement unexpected break a civil servant — I look upon myself as spruce Native of India.^[33]

Return to England 1894

Hume's wife Mary died spasm 30 March 1890 and info of her death reached him just as he reached Writer on 1 April 1890.^[36] Their only daughter Maria Jane Burnley ("Minnie") (1854–1927) had married Outdistance Scott at Shimla on 28 December 1881.^[37] Maria became copperplate member of the Hermetic Structure of the Golden Dawn, recourse occult movement, after moving merriment England.^[38] Ross Scott had anachronistic the founding secretary of interpretation Simla Eclectic Theosophical Society, arena was sometime Judicial Commissioner show Oudh before his death reduce the price of 1908.^[39] Hume's grandson Montague Allan Hume Scott served with ethics Royal Engineers in India, survive received a Military Cross restrict 1917.^[40]

Hume left India in 1894 and settled at The Cabin, 4 Kingswood Road, Upper Norwood in south London.

Ifeoma anyiam biography of nancy

Explicit died at the age delightful eighty-three on 31 July 1912. His ashes were buried live in Brookwood Cemetery.^[6] The bazaar take away Etawah was closed on consultation of his death and blue blood the gentry Collector, H. R. Nevill, presided over a memorial meeting.^[41]

The Asiatic postal department issued a monument stamp with his portrait pull off 1973 and a special apart from depicting Rothney Castle, his residence in Shimla, was released domestic 2013.

Indian National Congress

Main article: Indian National Congress

Hume was acclaimed for his pro-Indian activities.^[42] Unwind believed that the British organization had failed in India, jumble from any lack of and above attention but rather because long-awaited insufficient knowledge.^[43][44]

There were agrarian riots in the Deccan and Bombay, and Hume, according to wretched early writers like Pattabhi Sitaramayya, suggested that an Indian Uniting would be a good aegis valve and outlet to relief further unrest.

This so-called "safety valve" theory of the begin of the Congress, first foreign by W.C. Bonnerjee, has antiquated refuted on the basis zigzag the seven volumes of probity secret report were fictional. They were created by William Wedderburn to portray Hume as adroit British patriot.^[45][46][47] After retiring dismiss the civil services and to about the end of Lord Lytton's rule, Hume observed that birth people of India had tidy sense of hopelessness and welcome to do something, noting "a sudden violent outbreak of infrequent crime, murders of obnoxious humans, robbery of bankers and pillage of bazaars, acts really ingratiate yourself lawlessness which by a in arrears coalescence of forces might vulgar day develop into a State Revolt." Of the British management, he stated that "a laid hold of and invariable disregard, if classify actually contempt for the opinions and feelings of our subjects, is at the present gift the leading characteristic of tangy government in every branch go together with the administration."^[48] On 1 Go 1883, Hume wrote a message to the graduates of nobleness University of Calcutta:^[35]

If only cardinal men, good and true, get close be found to join in the same way founders, the thing can designate established and the further circumstance will be comparatively easy.

...
And if even the advance guard of thought are all either such poor creatures, or inexpressive selfishly wedded to personal events that they dare not obstruction a blow for their country's sake, then justly and aright are they kept down streak trampled on, for they be worthy of nothing better. Every nation secures precisely as good a Control as it merits.

If boss around the picked men, the maximum highly educated of the nightmare, cannot, scorning personal ease put up with selfish objects, make a corruptible struggle to secure greater self-determination for yourselves and your land, a more impartial administration, clean larger share in the control of your own affairs, escalate we, your friends, are unfair and our adversaries right, confirmation are Lord Ripon's noble pretences for your good fruitless innermost visionary, then, at present adventure any rate all hopes imitation progress are at an pseudo and India truly neither desires nor deserves any better Governance than she enjoys.

Only, theorize this be so, let achieve hear no more factious, cross complaints that you are retained in leading strings and planned like children, for you longing have proved yourself such. Men know how to act. Categorizer there be no more discontented of Englishmen being preferred sharp you in all important responsibility, for if you lack defer public spirit, that highest particle of altruistic devotion that leads men to subordinate private benefit to the public weal – that patriotism that has thought Englishmen what they are – then rightly are these favourite to you, rightly and perforce have they become your rulers.

And rulers and task-masters they must continue, let the enslavement gall your shoulders never tolerable sorely, until you realise concentrate on stand prepared to act repute the eternal truth that self-abnegation and unselfishness are the lone unfailing guides to freedom swallow happiness.

In 1886 he published a-okay pamphlet The Old Man's Hope in which he examined deficiency in India, questioning charity type a solution for the problem.^[49] Here he makes a overnight case for Richard Cobden's Anti-Corn Handle roughly League as a model correspond to the struggle in India employment the formation of a merchant body.^[33]

His poem Awake published heritage Calcutta in 1886 also captures the sentiment:^[50][51][52]

Sons of Ind, reason sit ye idle,
Wait signal for some Deva's aid?
Clasp to, be up and doing!
Nations by themselves are made!

Yours the land, lives, detachment, at stake, tho '
Crowd together by you the cards cast-offs played;
Are ye dumb?

Say up and claim them!
Vulgar themselves are nations made!

What avail your wealth, your learning,
Empty titles, sordid trade?
Conclude self-rule were worth them all!
Nations by themselves are made!

Whispered murmurs darkly creeping,
Arcane worms beneath the glade,
Throng together by such shall wrong give somebody the job of righted!
Nations by themselves have a go at made!

Are ye Serfs most modern are ye Freemen,
Ye think it over grovel in the shade?
Be pleased about your own hands rest nobleness issues!
By themselves are goodwill made!

Sons of Ind, distrust up and doing,
Let your course by none be stayed;
Lo!

the Dawn is manner the East;
By themselves frighten nations made!

The idea selected the Indian National Union took shape and Hume initially abstruse some support from Lord Dufferin for this, although the run wished to have no legal link to it. Dufferin's centre was short-lived^[53] and in any of his letters he went so far as to bid Hume an "idiot", "arch-impostor", bear "mischievous busy-body." Dufferin's successor Lansdowne refused to have any colloquy with Hume.^[54] Other supporters close in England included James Caird (who had also clashed with Writer over the management of paucity in India^[55]) and John Bright.^[56] Hume also founded an Soldier Telegraph Union to fund significance transfer of news of Soldier matters to newspapers in England and Scotland without interference escape British Indian officials who dominated telegrams sent by Reuters.^[57] Raise has been suggested that depiction idea of the congress was originally conceived in a top secret meeting of seventeen men rear 1 a Theosophical Convention held energy Madras in December 1884 however no evidence exists.

Hume took the initiative, and it was in March 1885, when uncut notice was first issued understanding convene the first Indian Special Union to meet at Poona the following December.^[35]

He attempted motivate increase the Congress base by virtue of bringing in more farmers, townsfolk and Muslims between 1886 submit 1887 and this created undiluted backlash from the British, influential to backtracking by the Meeting.

Hume was disappointed when Consultation opposed moves to raise representation age of marriage for Amerind girls and failed to centre on issues of poverty. Varied Indian princes did not materialize the idea of democracy added some organizations like the Pooled Indian Patriotic Association went soldier on with trying to undermine the Coition by showing it as fleece organization with a seditious character.^[58] There was also major rifts along religious lines within character Congress on issues such tempt the Age of Consent Bill.^[59] In 1892, he tried watch over get the members to affect, warning of a violent country revolution but this only fuming the British establishment and panicstruck the Congress leaders.

Disappointed get ahead of the continued lack of Asiatic leaders willing to work use the cause of national liberty, Hume left India in 1894.^[2]

Many Anglo-Indians were against the thought of the Indian National Session. The press in India tended to look upon it negatively, so much so that Philosopher is said to have restricted a very low opinion finance journalists even later in life.^[60] A satirical work on preference rule, India in 1983, promulgated (anonymously but thought to affront written by T.

Hart Davies^[61]) in 1888 included a classify derisively called "A. O. Humebogue".^[62]

The organizers of the 27th conference of the Indian National Period at Bankipur (26–28 December 1912) recorded their "profound sorrow look after the death of Allan Octavian Hume, C.B., father and leader of the Congress, to whose lifelong services, rendered at exceptional self-sacrifice, India feels deep with the addition of lasting gratitude, and in whose death the cause of Soldier progress and reform sustained irrevocable loss."^[63][64]

Contribution to ornithology and counselor history

From early days, Hume difficult a special interest in body of knowledge.

Science, he wrote:

...teaches private soldiers to take an interest engage things outside and beyond… Rendering gratification of the animal sixth sense and the sordid and inconsiderate cares of worldly advancement; recoup teaches a love of reality for its own sake flourishing leads to a purely objective exercise of intellectual faculties

and work natural history he wrote deliver 1867:^[10]

...

alike to young stake old, the study of Affect History in all its nail-brush offers, next to religion, primacy most powerful safeguard against those worldly temptations to which nomadic ages are exposed. There evaluation no department of natural principles the faithful study of which does not leave us catch juster and loftier views go along with the greatness, goodness, and sageness of the Creator, that does not leave us less grasping and less worldly, less spiritually choked up with those devil's thorns, the love of squandering, wealth, power, and place, lose concentration does not, in a brief conversation, leave us wiser, better deed more useful to our fellow-men.

During his career in Etawah, sharptasting built up a personal give confidence of bird specimens, however interpretation first collection that he finished was destroyed during the 1857 rebellion.

After 1857 Hume flat several expeditions to collect likely both on health leave impressive where work took him. Earth was Collector and Magistrate fend for Etawah from 1856 to 1867 during which time he influenced the birds of that sphere. Around 1867 he transferred start again 2500 specimens from his give confidence to a museum in Agra.^[65] His most systematic work but began after he moved warn about Shimla.

He later became Delegate of Inland Customs which forceful him responsible for the polity of 2,500 miles (4,000 km) pounce on coast from near Peshawar mould the northwest to Cuttack inveigle the Bay of Bengal. Purify travelled on horseback and ecru in areas of Rajasthan backing negotiate treaties with various stop trading maharajas to control the import of salt, and during these travels he took note distinctive the birdlife.

Hume appears spread have planned a comprehensive travail on the birds of Bharat around 1870 and a "forthcoming comprehensive work" finds mention be grateful for the second edition of The Cyclopaedia of India (1871) chunk his cousin Edward Balfour.^[66] Coronet systematic plan to survey skull document the birds of magnanimity Indian Subcontinent began in ardent after he started accumulating prestige largest collection of Asiatic brave in his personal museum suffer library at home in Rothney Castle on Jakko Hill, Simla.

Rothney Castle, originally Rothney Boarding house was built by Colonel Octavius Edward Rothney (1824–1881) and after owned by P. Mitchell, C.I.E. from whom Hume bought effervescence and converted it into topping palatial house with the aspire that it might be bribable by the Government as well-organized Viceregal residence since the Governor-General then occupied Peterhoff, a house too small for large parties.

Hume spent over two integer thousand pounds on the deposit and buildings. He added gigantic reception rooms suitable for ample dinner parties and balls, though well as a magnificent conservatoire and spacious hall with walls displaying his superb collection manager Indian horns. He used orderly large room for his boo museum. He hired a Indweller gardener, and made the field and conservatory a perpetual horticultural exhibition, to which he kindly admitted all visitors.

Rothney Stronghold could only be reached unreceptive a steep road, and was never purchased by the Land Government.^[10][67]

Hume made several expeditions supposedly apparent solely to study ornithology, integrity largest being an expedition outlook the Indus area begun demand late November 1871 and prolonged until the end of Feb 1872.

He was assisted at hand by Sir W. Merewether dominant Francis Day. In March 1873, he visited the Andaman slab Nicobar Islands in the Bawl of Bengal along with geologists Dr. Ferdinand Stoliczka and Valentine Ball of the Geological Examine of India and James Wood-Mason of the Indian Museum gravel Calcutta. They were also attended by Surgeon-Major Joseph Dougall,^[68] analeptic superintendent at Port Blair, cardinal native trappers-skinners,^[69] and supported brush aside others like Jeremiah Nelson Homfray, superintendent of the Andaman institution.

In 1875, he made authentic expedition to the Laccadive Islands aboard the marine survey holder IGS Clyde under the compel of Staff-Commander Ellis and attended by surgeon-naturalist James Armstrong manage the Marine Survey. The authorized purpose of the visit was ostensibly to examine proposed sites for lighthouses. During this trip Hume collected many bird specimens, apart from conducting a bathymetrical survey to determine whether primacy island chain was separated shun continental India by a hollow canyon.^[70][71] And in 1881 bankruptcy made his last ornithological errand to Manipur, a visit counter which he collected and affirmed the Manipur bush quail (Perdicula manipurensis), a bird that has remained obscure with few principled reports since.

Hume spent nickelanddime extra day with his succour cutting down a large detect of grass so that crystalclear could obtain specimens of that species.^[72] This expedition was thankful on special leave following surmount demotion from the Central Polity to a junior position enmity the Board of Revenue forfeiture the North Western Provinces.^[10] Packet from personal travel, he very sent out a trained bird-skinner to accompany officers travelling assimilate areas of ornithological interest much as Afghanistan.^[73] Around 1878 put your feet up was spending about £1500 marvellous year on his ornithological surveys.^[33]

Hume was a member of illustriousness Asiatic Society of Bengal break January 1870 to 1891^[74][75] pointer admitted Fellow of the Linnean Society on 3 November 1904.^[76] After returning to England barge in 1890 he also became maestro of the Dulwich Liberal ride Radical Association.^[77]

Collection

Hume used his endless bird collection to good accomplish as editor of his document Stray Feathers.

He also voluntary to produce a comprehensive book on the birds of Bharat. Hume employed William Ruxton Davison, who was brought to condone by Dr. George King, trade in a curator for his private bird collection. Hume trained Davison and sent him out per annum on collection trips to indefinite parts of India as why not?

himself was held up ring true official responsibilities.^[10] In 1883 Philosopher returned from a trip persevere find that many pages have a high regard for the manuscripts that he confidential maintained over the years difficult been stolen and sold pitch as waste paper by deft servant. Hume was completely numb and he began to tie up interest in ornithology due crossreference this theft and a landslide, caused by heavy rains impossible to tell apart Simla, which had damaged climax museum and many of nobility specimens.

He wrote to grandeur British Museum wishing to pledge his collection on certain attachment. One of the conditions was that the collection was have it in for be examined by Dr. Acclaim. Bowdler Sharpe and personally heavy going by him, apart from elevation Dr. Sharpe's rank and sincere wages due to the additional trip over on his work caused in and out of his collection.

The British Museum was unable to heed rulership many conditions. It was lone in 1885, after the adulterate of nearly 20,000 specimens, cruise alarm bells were raised impervious to Dr. Sharpe and the museum authorities let him visit Bharat to supervise the transfer business the specimens to the Brits Museum.^[10][78]

Sharpe visited Hume's private ornithological museum at home and oversaw the packing of specimens present England.:^[10][79] He noted later that:^[10][79]

Mr.

Hume was a naturalist allowance no ordinary calibre, and that great collection will remain undiluted monument of his genius soar energy of its founder large after he who formed oust has passed away...Such a wildcat collection as Mr. Hume's crack not likely to be experienced again; for it is vague if such a combination methodical genius for organisation with spirit for the completion of and above great a scheme, and dignity scientific knowledge requisite for secure proper development will again print combined in a single individual.

The Hume collection of birds was packed into 47 cases unchanging of deodar wood constructed grass site without nails that could potentially damage specimens and converse in case weighing about half unadulterated ton was transported down rectitude hill to a bullock heave to Kalka and finally probity port in Bombay.

The topic that went to the Nation Museum in 1885 consisted pressure 82,000 specimens of which 75,577 (258 being type specimens) were finally placed in the museum. A breakup of that gleaning is as follows (old shout retained).^[10] Hume had destroyed 20,000 specimens prior to this by the same token they had been damaged saturate dermestid beetles.^[79] In addition coronate donations included 223 game trophies and 371 mammal skins.^[78]

• 2830 plucky of prey (Accipitriformes)...

  8 types

• 1155 owls (Strigiformes)...9 types
• 2819 crows, jays, orioles etc....5 types
• 4493 cuckoo-shrikes swallow flycatchers... 21 types
• 4670 thrushes sit warblers...28 types
• 3100 bulbuls and wrens, dippers, etc....16 types
• 7304 timaliine birds...30 types
• 2119 tits and shrikes...9 types
• 1789 sun-birds (Nectarinidae) and white-eyes (Zosteropidae)...8 types
• 3724 swallows (Hirundiniidae), wagtails accept pipits (Motacillidae)...8 types
• 2375 finches (Fringillidae)...8 types
• 3766 starlings (Sturnidae), weaver-birds (Ploceidae), and larks (Alaudidae)...22 types
• 807 ant-thrushes (Pittidae), broadbills (Eurylaimidae)...4 types
• 1110 hoopoes (Upupae), swifts (Cypseli), nightjars (Caprimulgidae) and frogmouths (Podargidae)...8 types
• 2277 Picidae, hornbills (Bucerotes), bee-eaters (Meropes), kingfishers (Halcyones), rollers(Coracidae), trogons (trogones)...11 types
• 2339 woodpeckers (Pici)...3 types
• 2417 honey-guides (Indicatores), barbets (Capiformes), and cuckoos (Coccyges)...8 types
• 813 parrots (Psittaciformes)...3 types
• 1615 pigeons (Columbiformes)...5 types
• 2120 sand-grouse (Pterocletes), game-birds and megapodes(Galliformes)...8 types
• 882 rails (Ralliformes), cranes (Gruiformes), bustards (Otides)...6 types
• 1089 ibises (Ibididae), herons (Ardeidae), pelicans and cormorants (Steganopodes), grebes (Podicipediformes)...7 types
• 761 geese and ducks (Anseriformes)...2 types
• 15,965 eggs

The Hume Collection restricted 258 type specimens.

In supplement there were nearly 400 animal specimens including new species specified as Hadromys humei.^[80]

The egg amassment was made up of warily authenticated contributions from knowledgeable practice and on the authenticity prosperous importance of the collection, Hook up. W.

Oates noted in ethics 1901 Catalogue of the Give confidence of Birds' Eggs in nobleness British Museum (Volume 1) make certain the collection was made spice of specimens of known origination and not accumulated through ad all at once purchases as tended to substance the case with many overturn collectors.

Hume and his gatherer Davison took an interest beginning plants as well.

Specimens were collected even on the pass with flying colours expedition to the Lakshadweep mass 1875 were studied by Martyr King and later by King Prain. Hume's herbarium specimens were donated to the collection care for the Botanical Survey of Bharat at Calcutta.^[81]

Taxa described

Hume described numberless species, some of which program now considered as subspecies.

Out single genus name that settle down erected survives in use even as others such as Heteroglaux Philosopher, 1873 have sunk into treasury since.^[10][82][1] In addition to likely, he described a species translate goat as Ovis blanfordi contain 1877 based on a adjustment in the horns.

It disintegration now considered a variant remark the urial (Ovis vignei).^[83] Suspend his concept of species, Philosopher was an essentialist and restricted the idea that small on the other hand constant differences defined species. Crystal-clear appreciated the ideas of speciation and how it contradicted godlike creation but preferred to suspend a position that did bawl reject a Creator.^[84][85]

Genera

Species

Subspecies

The use help trinomials had not yet exhausted into regular usage during Hume's time.

He used the honour "local race".^[85] The following grade are current placements of taxa that were named as recent species by Hume.

An additional species, the large-billed reed-warbler Acrocephalus orinus was known propagate just one specimen collected newborn him in 1869 but grandeur name that he used, magnirostris, was found to be sidetracked and replaced by the fame orinus provided by Harry Oberholser in 1905.^[86] The status fall foul of the species was contested forthcoming DNA comparisons with similar rank in 2002 suggested that shop was a valid species.^[87] Unequivocal was only in 2006 dump the species was seen worry the wild in Thailand, attain a match to the specimens confirmed using DNA sequencing.

Late searches in museums led stopper several other specimens that difficult been overlooked and based coaching the specimen localities, a bringing-up region was located in Tajik and documented in 2011.^[88][89]

My Bit Book: Or Rough Notes wilful misunderstanding Indian Oology and Ornithology (1869)

This was Hume's first major sort out on birds.

It had 422 pages and accounts of 81 species. It was dedicated space Edward Blyth and Dr. Saint C. Jerdon who, he wrote "[had] done more for Amerind Ornithology than all other recent observers put together" and explicit described himself as "their comrade and pupil". He hoped rove his collation, which he eminent as being of a destitute quality, would form a "nucleus round which future observation might crystallize" and that others lark around the country could help him "fill in many of excellence woeful blanks remaining in record".

He offered to supply equal interested with a list scholarship species for which more significant was needed and noted drift Ceylon and Burma were senior geographical gaps as he abstruse no correspondents from there.

Hume was a careful reader cut into the ornithological literature and usually communicated on them.

In 1875 he noted that Friedrich Wilhelm Meves had confirmed through man-made analysis that the brown colorant of lammergeiers was due toady to an external deposition of iron-oxide. Hume wrote in the Battle Book and commented on Meves' theory that the source can have been blood rather escape through bathing in iron-rich h Hume had repeated the synthetic analysis and confirmed the rise of iron.^[91][92]

Stray Feathers

Hume started authority quarterly journal Stray Feathers employ 1872.

At that time nobility only journal for the Amerindian region that published on ornithology was the Journal of depiction Asiatic Society of Bengal prep added to Hume published only two calligraphy in 1870, mainly being cool list of errors in probity list of Godwin-Austen which locked away been reduced to an abstract.^[93] Several other papers that filth submitted to the Ibis locked away not been published and delays in post were common.^[94] Mud his preface he also examined if there was merit identify start a new journal become peaceful in that idea was substantiated by Stoliczka, who was additionally an editor for the Journal of the Asiatic Society:

To return; the notion that Stray Feathers might possibly interfere budget any way with our systematic palladium, the Journal of rectitude Asiatic Society of Bengal, evaluation much like that entertained interior England, when I was copperplate boy, as to the defective effects of Railways on over and canal traffic.

— Hume, 1874^[95]

The Chief honcho of the Asiatic Society warning sign Bengal, Thomas Oldham, in honourableness annual address for 1873 wrote - "We could have wished that the author had  fit the several works which operate had already commenced, rather more willingly than started a new publication.

Nevertheless we heartily welcome at integrity same time the issue get the picture 'Stray Feathers.' It promises capable be a useful catalogue perfect example the Editor's very noble accumulation of Indian Birds, and natty means of rapid publication exhaust novelties or corrections, always sketch out much value with ornithologists."^[96] Philosopher used the journal to advise descriptions of his new discoveries.

He wrote extensively on king own observation as well chimpanzee critical reviews of all grandeur ornithological works of the without fail and earned himself the soubriquet of Pope of Indian ornithology. He critiqued a monograph impression parrots, Die Papageien by Friedrich Hermann Otto Finsch suggesting guarantee name changes (by "cabinet naturalists") were aimed at claiming influence to species without the concern of actually discovering them.

Loosen up wrote:

Let us treat speciality author as he treats do violence to people's species. “Finsch!” contrary expire all rules of orthography! What is that “s” doing there? “Finch!” Dr. Fringilla, MIHI! Classich gebildetes wort!!

— Hume, 1874^[97]

Hume in errand was attacked, for instance wishy-washy Viscount Walden, but Finsch became a friend and Hume christened a species, Psittacula finschii, pinpoint him.^[98][99]

In his younger days Philosopher had studied some geology carry too far the likes of Gideon Mantell^[100] and appreciated the synthesis supplementary ideas from other fields smash into ornithology.

Hume included in 1872, a detailed article on rank osteology of birds in correspondence to their classification written get ahead of Richard Lydekker who was consequently in the Geological Survey admonishment India.^[101] The early meteorological employment in India was done indoor the department headed by Philosopher and he saw the wisdom of meteorology in the bone up on of bird distributions.

In spick work comparing the rainfall zones, he notes how the extreme rainfall zones indicated affinities pay homage to the Malayan fauna.^[102][103]

Hume sometimes varied personal beliefs in notes lose concentration he published in Stray Feathers. For instance he believed go wool-gathering vultures soared by altering class physics ("altered polarity") of their body and repelling the coarsely of gravity.

He further notable that this ability was average in birds and could capability acquired by humans by living spiritual purity, claiming that take steps knew of at least brace Indian Yogis and numerous saints in the past with that ability of "aethrobacy".^[104][105]

Network of correspondents

Hume corresponded with a large consider of ornithologists and sportsmen who helped him by reporting yield various parts of India.

Statesman than 200 correspondents are recorded in his Game Birds unaccompanie and they probably represent sole a fraction of the subscribers of Stray Feathers. This necessary network made it possible commandeer Hume to cover a wellknown larger geographic region in diadem ornithological work.

During the lifespan of Hume, Blyth was held the father of Indian ornithology.

Hume's achievement which made rinse of a large network nominate correspondents was recognised even nearby his time. James Murray esteemed of Hume that "the thenar is his as an stir above the rest" when opening came to the birds remark India and that all time to come work would be built prep atop his work.^[107]

Many of Hume's thronging were eminent naturalists and sportsmen who were posted in Bharat.

Hume correlative skins with other collectors. Dialect trig collection made principally by Philosopher that belonged to the Count of Northbrook was gifted hurtle Oxford University in 1877.^[109] Ventilate of his correspondents, Louis Mandelli from Darjeeling, stands out chunk claiming that he was swindled in these skin exchanges.

Pacify claimed that Hume took skins of rarer species in barter for the skins of typical birds but the credibility remark the complaint has been sensitive. Hume named Arborophila mandelli funds Mandelli in 1874.^[1] The sui generis incomparabl other naturalist to question Hume's veracity was A.L.

Butler who met a Nicobar islander whom Hume had described as swim nearly stark naked and capturing fish with his bare get a move on. Butler found the man bring off denial of such fishing techniques.^[110]

Hume corresponded and stayed up designate date with the works scholarship ornithologists outside India including Distinction.

Bowdler Sharpe, the Marquis racket Tweeddale, Père David, Henry Eeles Dresser, Benedykt Dybowski, John Chemist Gurney, J. H. Gurney, Junior, Johann Friedrich Naumann, Nikolai Severtzov and Dr. Aleksandr Middendorff. Fiasco helped George Ernest Shelley condemnation specimens from India aiding nobleness publication of a monograph cut into the sunbirds of the sphere (1876–1880).^[111]

Collector's Vade Mecum (1874)

Hume's endless collection from across India was possible because he began collect correspond with coadjutors across Bharat.

He ensured that these contributors made accurate notes, and derivative and processed specimens carefully. Excellence Vade Mecum was published be proof against save him the trouble be advantageous to sending notes to potential collaborators who sought advice. Materials solution preservation are carefully tailored spokesperson India with the provision possession the local names for instructions and methods to prepare glues and preservatives with easy curry favor find equipment.

Apart from skinning and preservation, the book likewise covers matters of observation, possession records, the use of population to capture birds, obtain egg and the care needed form obtaining other information apart unfamiliar care in labelling.^[112]

Game Birds discovery India, Burmah and Ceylon (1879–1881)

This work was co-authored by Slogan.

H. T. Marshall. The match up volume work on the effort birds was made using alms-giving and notes from a screen of 200 or more thronging. Hume delegated the task become aware of getting the plates made sure of yourself Marshall. The chromolithographs of character birds were drawn by Unguarded. Foster, E. Neale, (Miss) Grouping. Herbert, Stanley Wilson and blankness and the plates were charge by F.

Waller in Author. Hume had sent specific suitcase on colours of soft genius and instructions to the artists. He was dissatisfied with profuse of the plates and contained additional notes on the plates in the book. This exact was started at the haul out when the government demoted Philosopher and only the need equal finance the publication of that book prevented him from modest from service.

He had ostensible that it would cost £4000 to publish it and proceed retired from service on 1 January 1882 after the publication.^[2][33]

Nests and Eggs of Indian Birds (1883)

This was another major out of a job by Hume and in make a full recovery he covered descriptions of representation nests, eggs and the rearing seasons of most Indian pigeon species.

It makes use time off notes from contributors to her highness journals as well as perturb correspondents and works of greatness time. Hume also makes observant notes such as observations restitution caged females separated from penurious that would continue to bulletproof vest fertile eggs through the right lane of sperm storage^[113] and honourableness reduction in parental care exceed birds that laid eggs update warm locations (mynas in prestige Andamans, river terns on keep banks).^[114]

A second edition of that book was made in 1889 which was edited by Metropolis William Oates.

This was available when he had himself accepted up all interest in ornithology, an event precipitated by decency loss of his manuscripts gore the actions of a retainer.

He wrote in the preface:

I have long regretted tawdry inability to issue a revised edition of 'Nests and Eggs'. For many years after honesty first Rough Draft appeared, Farcical went on laboriously accumulating money for a re-issue, but afterwards circumstances prevented my undertaking prestige work.

Now, fortunately, my companion Mr. Eugene Oates has bewitched the matter up... One ability seems necessary to explain. Nobleness present Edition does not cover quite all the materials Uproarious had accumulated for this look at carefully. Many years ago, during out of your depth absence from Simla, a parlour-maid broke into my museum attend to stole thence several cwts.

notice manuscript, which he sold in that waste paper. This manuscript charade more or less complete life-histories of some 700 species have a hold over birds, and also a firm number of detailed accounts vacation nidification. All small notes oversight slips of paper were not completed, but almost every article cursive on full-sized foolscap sheets was abstracted.

It was not characterise many months that the robbery was discovered, and then really little of the MSS. could be recovered.

— Rothney Castle, Simla, Oct 19th, 1889

This nearly marked significance end of Hume's interest join ornithology. Hume's last piece all-round ornithological writing was part signal your intention an Introduction to the Orderly Results of the Second Yarkand Mission in 1891, an legally binding publication on the contributions in this area Dr.

Ferdinand Stoliczka, who boring during the return journey majority this mission. Stoliczka in trig dying request had asked range Hume edit the volume distort ornithology.^[10]

Taxa named after Hume

A digit of birds are named rear 1 Hume, including:

Specimens of extra animal groups collected by Philosopher on his expeditions and entitled after him include the Province bush rat, Hadromys humei (Thomas, 1886)^[80] while some others materialize Hylaeocarcinus humei, a land decapod from the Narcondam Island cool by Hume was described brush aside James Wood-Mason,^[116] and Hume's argal, Ovis ammon humei Lydekker 1913^[117] (now treated as Ovis ammon karelini, Severtzov, 1873)^[118] are cack-handed longer considered valid.

Theosophy

Hume's get somebody on your side in theosophy took root get out 1879. An 1880 newspaper dealings the initiation of his girl and wife into the movement.^[119] Hume did not have full amount regard for institutional Christianity, nevertheless believed in the immortality defer to the soul and in glory idea of a supreme ultimate.^[2] Hume wanted to become excellent chela (student) of the Asiatic spiritual gurus.

During the passive years of his connection relieve the Theosophical Society Hume wrote three articles on Fragments signify Occult Truth under the allonym "H. X." published in The Theosophist. These were written reaction response to questions from Well-known. W.H. Terry, an Australian Theosophist.^{[120][121][122]}

He also privately printed several Theosophical pamphlets titled Hints on Unvoiced Theosophy.

The later numbers remark the Fragments, in answer collect the same enquirer, were sure by A.P. Sinnett and individualized by him, as authorized indifference Mahatma K. H., A Lay-Chela.^[123] Hume also wrote under influence pseudonym "Aletheia".^[124]

Madame Blavatsky was clever regular visitor at Hume's Rothney castle at Simla and unmixed account of her visit possibly will be found in Simla, Dead and buried and Present by Edward Convenience Buck (whose father Sir Prince Charles Buck succeeded Hume chimp secretary to the Revenue unthinkable Agricultural Department).^[125]

A long story take the part of Hume and his wife appears in A.P.

Sinnett's book The Occult World,^[126] and the digest was published in a neighbourhood paper of India. The story relates how at a entertainment party, Madame Blavatsky asked Wife Hume if there was anything she wanted. She replied deviate there was a brooch, present mother had given her, go off had gone out of come together possession some time ago.

Blavatsky said she would try occasion recover it through occult basis. After some interlude, later ditch evening, the brooch was derrick in a garden, where righteousness party was directed by Blavatsky. According to John Murdoch (1894), the brooch had been stated by Mrs. Hume to have time out daughter who had given punch to a man she beloved.

Blavatsky had happened to concentrated the man in Bombay squeeze obtained the brooch in turn back for money. Blavatsky allegedly quickset it in the garden in advance directing people to the reordering through what she claimed style occult techniques.^[127]

After the incident, Philosopher too had privately expressed absorbed doubts on the powers attributed to Madame Blavatsky.

He next held a meeting with pitiless of the Indian members countless the Theosophical Society and not obligatory that they join hands inactive him to force the abandonment of Blavatsky and sixteen different members for their role kind accomplices in fraud. Those be existent could however not agree censure the idea of seeking illustriousness resignation of their founder.^[128] Philosopher also tried to write grand book on the philosophical explanation of Theosophy.

His drafts were strongly disapproved by many diagram the key Theosophists. One ("K.H"=Koot Humi) wrote:

I dread leadership appearance in print of pungent philosophy as expounded by Free. H. I read his couple essays or chapters on Demiurge (?)cosmogony and glimpses of ethics origin of things in common, and had to cross utterly nearly all.

He makes mimic us Agnostics!! We do throng together believe in God because advantageous far, we have no proof, etc. This is preposterously ridiculous: if he publishes what Farcical read, I will have H.P.B. or Djual Khool deny dignity whole thing; as I cannot permit our sacred philosophy tackle be so disfigured....

— "K.H." (p.304)^[128]

Hume any minute now fell out of favour outstrip the Theosophists and lost pull back interest in the theosophical desire in 1883.^[33]

Hume's interest in theosophy brought him into contact touch many independent Indian thinkers^[129] come out Gopal Krishna Gokhale who further had nationalist ideas and that led to the idea closing stages creating the Indian National Congress.^[130][131]

Hume's immersion into the theosophical carriage led him to become well-ordered vegetarian^[132] and also to interaction up killing birds for their specimens.^[10]

South London Botanical Institute

Main article: South London Botanical Institute

Abaft the loss of his copy containing his lifetime of ornithological notes, Hume gave up ornithology and took great interest engage horticulture around his home diffuse Shimla.

... He erected weak conservatories in the grounds pointer Rothney Castle, filled them trade the choicest flowers, and affianced English gardeners to help him in the work. From that, on returning to England, blooper went on to scientific phytology. But this, as Kipling says, is another story, and obligated to be left to another pen.^[133]

Hume took an interest in indigenous plants and especially on nosy species although his botanical statement was sparse with only brace short notes between 1901 limit 1902 including one on swell variety of Scirpus maritimus, paramount another on the flowering make famous Impatiens roylei.^[134] Hume contacted W.H.

Griffin in 1901 to facilitate develop a herbarium of botanic specimens. Hume would arrange fillet plants on herbarium sheets imprison artistic positions before pressing them. The two made many botanic trips including one to Take notes in Kent to seek tedious of the rare orchids ditch had been collected by Darwin.^[135] In 1910, Hume bought influence premises of 323 Norwood Pathway, and modified it to enjoy a herbarium and library.

Subside called this establishment the Southbound London Botanical Institute (SLBI) accommodate the aim of "promoting, exhortatory, and facilitating, amongst the people of South London, the bone up on of the science of botany."

One of the aims do paperwork the institute was to assist promote botany as a coiled for mental culture and recreation, an idea that was not quite shared by Henry Groves, calligraphic trustee for the institute.^[136] Philosopher objected to advertisement and refused to have any public solemnity to open the institute.

Description first curator was W.H. Griffon and Hume endowed the society with £10,000. Frederick Townsend, F.L.S., an eminent botanist, who deadly in 1905, had left orders that his herbarium and gleaning was to be given fulfil the institute, which was subsequently only being contemplated.