THOMPSON, Edward John. Hazel Grove, Stockport near Manchester 9.4.1886 — Bledlow, Buckinghamshire 28.4.1946. British Wesleyan Missionary and Author in India. Son of John Moses Thompson (1854–1894), a missionary in South India, and his wife Elizabeth, born during the family’s furlough in England. Lost early his father and was educated in Bath, for a while worked in a London bank. Studied at Richmond Theological College (ordained 1910) and London (M.A.). Came to India in 1910, worked as teacher of English, later Vice-Principal at Bankura Wesleyan College in Bengal. In 1916-18 served as army chaplain in Mesopotamia. He became friend of Tagore (later estranged) and, as a critic of the colonial rule, personally knew Gandhi, Nehru and Iqbal. Returned to England in 1923 and resigned from priesthood (but not from religion). University Lecturer in Bengali at Oxford from 1923, 1936-40 also Research Fellow in Indian History at Oriel College. Ph.D. 1926 London. Three visits to India in the 1930s. Married 1919 Theodosia Jessup (1892–1970), two sons.
Tagore himself was not pleased with the 1926 book, but to Thompson it brought the London Ph.D. He has been characterized as “a well meaning but not very successful Anglo-Indian goodwill ambassador [who] was listened to but did not have enough clout to influence policy in London or in New Delhi” (K. Natwar Singh quoted in Wikipedia).
Publications: Translated from Bengali with A. M. Spencer: Bengali Religious Lyrics. Śākta. 103 p. Calcutta & Oxford 1923; also translated several works of Tagore.
– Rabindranath Tagore. His Life and Works. 123 p. Calcutta 1921; Rabindranath Tagore. Poet and dramatist. 12+327 p. L. 1926.
– The Other Side of the Medal. 142 p. 1925 (about 1857 insurrection).
– With Theodosia Thompson: Three eastern plays with a terminal essay on “Suttee”. 128 p. L. 1927.
– A history of India. 76 p. 1927; The Reconstruction of India. 12+404 p. L. 1930; The Rise and Fulfilment of British Rule in India. 12+690 p. L. 1934.
– Suttee. A Historical and Philosophical Enquiry into the Hindu Rite of Widow-Burning. 107 p. L. 1928.
– The Life of Charles, Lord Metcalfe. 15+439 p. L. 1937.
– Ethical Ideals in India Today. L. 1942; The Making of the Indian Princes. 12+304 p. L. 1943.
– A Farewell to India. 292 p. L. 1925, and other novels, plays, five collections of poetry.
– Oma Das Gupta: A Difficult Friendship: Letters of Edward Thompson and Rabindranath Tagore 1913–1940. 8+243 p. N.D. 2003, by her also Alien Homage: E. Th. and Rabindranath Tagore. N.D. 1993 (letters?).
Sources: *M. Lago, India’s Prisoner. A Biography of E.J.T. Columbia & London 2001 & *Oxford D.N.B.; Wikipedia.
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