Thomas Walker Arnold facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Thomas Walker Arnold
|
|
|---|---|
Sir Thomas Arnold
|
|
| Born | 19 April 1864 Devonport, Devon, England
|
| Died | 9 June 1930 (aged 66) London, England
|
| Scientific career | |
| Influenced | Muhammad Iqbal, Syed Ahmad Khan |
Sir Thomas Walker Arnold (born April 19, 1864 – died June 9, 1930) was a British expert on the Middle East and a historian of Islamic art. He taught at important colleges in India, like the Muhammadan Anglo-Oriental College. This college later became Aligarh Muslim University. He also taught at Government College University, Lahore.
Arnold was a good friend of Sir Syed Ahmed Khan. Sir Syed encouraged him to write his famous book, The Preaching of Islam. He was also friends with Shibli Nomani, and they taught together at Aligarh. Arnold taught important thinkers like Syed Sulaiman Nadvi and the poet Muhammad Iqbal. He was also the first English editor for the very first edition of The Encyclopaedia of Islam.
Contents
Who Was Sir Thomas Arnold?
Early Life and Education
Thomas Walker Arnold was born in Devonport, Plymouth, England. This happened on April 19, 1864. He went to school at the City of London School. After finishing his studies, he started his career as a teacher.
Teaching Career in India
In 1888, Arnold began teaching at the Muhammadan Anglo-Oriental College in Aligarh, India. This college was very important for education in India. In 1892, he married Celia Mary Hickson.
Later, in 1898, he moved to Lahore. There, he became a Professor of Philosophy at the Government College, Lahore. He also became the Dean of the Oriental Faculty at Punjab University. This meant he was in charge of studies about Eastern cultures.
Working for the Indian Government
From 1904 to 1909, Arnold worked as an Assistant Librarian. This job was at the India Office in London. The India Office was a British government department. It managed affairs in British India.
In 1909, he got a new role. He became an Educational Adviser for Indian students in Britain. His job was to help these students. From 1917 to 1920, he advised the Secretary of State for India. This person was a high-ranking British official.
Professor in London
From 1921 to 1930, Arnold was a professor in London. He taught Arabic and Islamic Studies. This was at the School of Oriental and African Studies. It is part of the University of London.
Honors and Later Life
In 1912, he was honored as a Companion of the Order of the Indian Empire. This was a special award. In 1921, he was made a knight. This is why he is called "Sir" Thomas Arnold. He passed away on June 9, 1930.
Sir Thomas Arnold's Books
Sir Thomas Arnold wrote many important books. These books helped people learn about Islamic art and history. Here are some of his well-known works:
- The little flowers of Saint Francis (1898) – He translated and edited this book.
- The Court Painters of the Grand Moghuls (1921) – This book was about artists in the Mughal Empire.
- The Caliphate (1924) – This book discussed the history of Islamic leaders.
- Painting in Islam, A Study of the Place of Pictorial Art in Muslim Culture (1928) – This book explored art in Islamic culture.
- Bihzad and his Paintings in the Zafar-namah ms (1930) – This book focused on a famous painter named Bihzad.
- The Legacy of Islam (1931) – He wrote this book with Alfred Guillaume.
- The Old and New Testaments in Muslim Religious Art (1928) – This book looked at religious art.
