PLATTS, John Thompson. Calcutta 1.8.1830 — London 21.9.1904. British Indologist (Hindī Scholar) in India. Son of Robert Platts and Elizabeth Kennaway (1802–1862). Lost early his father and grew in modest circumstances (but both geni.com and ancestry.com give his father the years 1795–1855), educated at Bedford School in London. Returned to India as a youth. In 1858-59 taught mathematics at Benares College, 1859-61 Principal of Saugor School, 1861-64 Professor of Mathematics and Head Master of Benares College. In 1964-68 Assistant Inspector of Schools, Second Circle, North-West Provinces, 1868-72 officiating Inspector of Schools, Northern Circle, NW Prov. In 1872 retired because of an illness and returned to England, where he lived in Ealing teaching Urdū and Persian. From 1880 teacher of Persian at Oxford University, in 1881 matriculated from Balliol College as Hon. M.A., 1901 M.A. by degree. He was twice married, 1856 Alice Jane Kenyon (1833–1874, three sons, four daughters) and 1876 Mary Elizabeth Hayes (née Dunn, 1837–1921, one son).
The grammars and dictionaries of Persian and Urdu compiled by Platts were much advanced to their precedessors and quickly superseded them. Especially the Urdu & Hindi -dictionary remained long in use.
Publications: A Grammar of the Hindustānī Language. 15+399 p. L. 1874.
– A Hindustānī–English Dictionary. 1881.
– A Dictionary of Urdu, Classical Hindī and English. 1259 p. 1884 & many editions.
– Translated. from Urdu: The Baitāl Pachīsī, or Twenty-five Tales of a Sprite. 8+181 p. L. 1871; Iḵẖwānu-ṣ-Ṣafā of Maulavi Ikrām Alī. 12+234 p. L. 1869.
– A Grammar of the Persian Language. Part 1. Accidence. 7+343 p. L. 1894, part 2 and rev. ed. of 1 by G. S. A. Ranking. Oxford 1911.
– Edited: Gulistan of Sa‘dī. L. 1872; transl. the same. L. 1876, 3rd ed 356 p. L. 1904; The Bústán of Sa‘dī, Shaikh Muslihuddīn Shīrāzī. 24+275 p. L. 1891 (facsimile ed. of a manuscript).
Sources: Briefly in Buckland, Dictionary; Parvin Loloi, Encyclop. Iranica 2014; G.S.A.R[anking], D.N.B. 2nd Suppl. 3, 1912, 119f., rev. version in *Oxford D.N.B.; wikitree.com; Wikipedia.
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