Edward Rehatsek
Encyclopedia
Edward Rehatsek was an Orientalist
and translator of several works of Islamic literature
including the Gulistan
or Rose Garden of Saadi
, Ibn Ishaq
’s Sirah Rasul Allah or The Life of Muhammad: Apostle of Allah, and the Rauza-tus-Safa
or The Gardens of Purity. All three translations were originally published by the Kama Shastra Society founded by Sir Richard Burton and Forster Fitzgerald Arbuthnot
at the end of the 19th century.
Hungarian by nationality, Edward Rehatsek was born in the town of Ilok
in 1819 which at that time was within the borders of the Austrian Empire
. The town today lies within Croatia
. Rehatsek attended university in Budapest
and received a master’s degree in civil engineering. Between 1842 and 1847, he visited France, lived four years in the United States, and sailed at last to India, arriving in Bombay (now, Mumbai) where he spent the rest of his life.
In Bombay, Rehatsek studied eastern languages, literatures and customs. He supported himself first by employment in the Public Works Department, later as Professor of Latin and Mathematics at Wilson College
. Rehatsek was a proficient linguist, fluent in twelve languages. He provided private lessons to students in Latin and French, as well as Persian and Arabic, and wrote scholarly articles and translations on Asian, particularly Islamic, history and custom, publishing in the Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society
. After retiring from Wilson College in 1871, Rehatsek continued to work as Examiner at the Bombay University
in Latin, Arabic, Persian, and French until 1881.
Although he was a man of chaste habits, Rehatsek was not squeamish in worldly matters. His association with Sir Richard Burton’s Kama Shastra Society proved he was not prudish. He was in frequent correspondence with Burton, and was a friend of Forster Fitzgerald Arbuthnot, the cofounder with Burton of the Kama Shastra Society, which Rehatsek appreciated would not expurgate his work. Rehatsek was scrupulously devoted to the fidelity of his translations at a time when such fidelity to indelicate tales of eastern literature might lead to western prosecutions for pornography.
Rehatsek died in 1891 of cystitis and was cremated in the Hindu fashion.
Orientalism
Orientalism is a term used for the imitation or depiction of aspects of Eastern cultures in the West by writers, designers and artists, as well as having other meanings...
and translator of several works of Islamic literature
Islamic literature
Islamic literature is literature written with an Islamic perspective, in any language.The most well known fiction from the Islamic world was The Book of One Thousand and One Nights , which was a compilation of many earlier folk tales told by the Persian Queen Scheherazade...
including the Gulistan
Gulistan of Sa'di
The Gulistan is a landmark literary work in Persian literature, perhaps its single most influential work of prose. Written in 1259 CE, it is one of two major works of the Persian poet Sa'di, considered one of the greatest medieval Persian poets. It is also one of his most popular books, and...
or Rose Garden of Saadi
Saadi (poet)
Abū-Muḥammad Muṣliḥ al-Dīn bin Abdallāh Shīrāzī better known by his pen-name as Saʿdī or, simply, Saadi, was one of the major Persian poets of the medieval period. He is not only famous in Persian-speaking countries, but he has also been quoted in western sources...
, Ibn Ishaq
Ibn Ishaq
Muḥammad ibn Isḥaq ibn Yasār ibn Khiyār was an Arab Muslim historian and hagiographer...
’s Sirah Rasul Allah or The Life of Muhammad: Apostle of Allah, and the Rauza-tus-Safa
Rauza-tus-Safa
Rawżat aṣ-ṣafāʾ fī sīrat al-anbiyāʾ w-al-mulūk w-al-khulafāʾ is a Persian history of the origins of Islam, early Islamic civilisation, and Persian history by Mīr-Khvānd, a Fifteenth-Century historian...
or The Gardens of Purity. All three translations were originally published by the Kama Shastra Society founded by Sir Richard Burton and Forster Fitzgerald Arbuthnot
Forster Fitzgerald Arbuthnot
Forster Fitzgerald Arbuthnot was a notable British Orientalist and translator. His early career was spent as a civil servant in India; his last post was as Collector for the Bombay government. He was named after his grandfather, Field Marshal Sir John FitzGerald...
at the end of the 19th century.
Hungarian by nationality, Edward Rehatsek was born in the town of Ilok
Ilok
Ilok is the easternmost town and municipality in Croatia. Located in the Syrmia region, it lies on a hill overlooking the Danube river, which forms the border with the Vojvodina region of Serbia. The population of the town of Ilok is 5,036, while the total municipality population is 6,750...
in 1819 which at that time was within the borders of the Austrian Empire
Austrian Empire
The Austrian Empire was a modern era successor empire, which was centered on what is today's Austria and which officially lasted from 1804 to 1867. It was followed by the Empire of Austria-Hungary, whose proclamation was a diplomatic move that elevated Hungary's status within the Austrian Empire...
. The town today lies within Croatia
Croatia
Croatia , officially the Republic of Croatia , is a unitary democratic parliamentary republic in Europe at the crossroads of the Mitteleuropa, the Balkans, and the Mediterranean. Its capital and largest city is Zagreb. The country is divided into 20 counties and the city of Zagreb. Croatia covers ...
. Rehatsek attended university in Budapest
Budapest
Budapest is the capital of Hungary. As the largest city of Hungary, it is the country's principal political, cultural, commercial, industrial, and transportation centre. In 2011, Budapest had 1,733,685 inhabitants, down from its 1989 peak of 2,113,645 due to suburbanization. The Budapest Commuter...
and received a master’s degree in civil engineering. Between 1842 and 1847, he visited France, lived four years in the United States, and sailed at last to India, arriving in Bombay (now, Mumbai) where he spent the rest of his life.
In Bombay, Rehatsek studied eastern languages, literatures and customs. He supported himself first by employment in the Public Works Department, later as Professor of Latin and Mathematics at Wilson College
Wilson College, Mumbai
The Wilson College, set up in 1832 in Mumbai, is one of India’s oldest colleges, with its foundation preceding that of the University of Mumbai by 25 years...
. Rehatsek was a proficient linguist, fluent in twelve languages. He provided private lessons to students in Latin and French, as well as Persian and Arabic, and wrote scholarly articles and translations on Asian, particularly Islamic, history and custom, publishing in the Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society
Royal Asiatic Society
The Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland was established, according to its Royal Charter of 11 August 1824, to further "the investigation of subjects connected with and for the encouragement of science, literature and the arts in relation to Asia." From its incorporation the Society...
. After retiring from Wilson College in 1871, Rehatsek continued to work as Examiner at the Bombay University
University of Mumbai
The University of Mumbai , is a state university located in Mumbai, Maharashtra, India. It was known as the University of Bombay until 1996 when the city of Bombay was renamed as Mumbai. The affiliated colleges of the university are spread throughout the city of Mumbai and four coastal districts in...
in Latin, Arabic, Persian, and French until 1881.
Although he was a man of chaste habits, Rehatsek was not squeamish in worldly matters. His association with Sir Richard Burton’s Kama Shastra Society proved he was not prudish. He was in frequent correspondence with Burton, and was a friend of Forster Fitzgerald Arbuthnot, the cofounder with Burton of the Kama Shastra Society, which Rehatsek appreciated would not expurgate his work. Rehatsek was scrupulously devoted to the fidelity of his translations at a time when such fidelity to indelicate tales of eastern literature might lead to western prosecutions for pornography.
Rehatsek died in 1891 of cystitis and was cremated in the Hindu fashion.