| The Cambridge orientalist who studied and wrote about the Bábí and Bahá'í Faiths and who met Bahá'u'lláh in 1890 at Bahjí. Browne
wrote: 'The face of him on whom I gazed I can never forget, though I cannot describe
it. Those piercing eyes seemed to read one's very soul; power and authority sat on
that ample brow; while the deep lines on the forehead and face implied an age which
the jet-black hair and beard flowing down in indistinguishable luxuriance almost to
the waist seemed to belie. No need to ask in whose presence I stood, as I bowed myself
before one who is the object of a devotion and love which kings might envy and emperors
sigh for in vain!' |
| Disappointed that the Bahá'ís refused to become involved in Iranian politics, Browne transferred his interest to
the Azalís. Browne recognized
he had a unique opportunity to study and record at first hand the birth of a faith
which 'whatever its actual destiny may be, is of that stuff whereof world-religions
are made',22 although some of his colleagues belittled his interest in the subject.
One judged Browne's translation of A Traveller's Narrative 'quite unworthy of
the learning and labour which the author has brought to bear upon it . . .' and concluded:
'There are no signs that Mirzá
'Alí Muḥammad will leave any permanent mark on religious or political history
. . . Time may vindicate the author: but for the present we can only record our belief
that the prominence given to the "Báb"
in this book is an absurd violation of historical perspective; and the translation
of the Traveller's Narrative a waste of the powers and opportunities of a Persian scholar.'23 |
| [BD 47] |
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| See also: |
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| Edward Granville Browne |
[  ] [ Wikipedia - Edward Granville Browne ] |
|
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| Edward Granville Browne |
| [ ] [ Wikipedia - Edward Granville Browne ] |
|
