“LOOK NOW WITH THY COMPASSIONATE EYE UPON THE INHABITANTS OF INDIA”: JOSEPH EZEKIEL RAJPURKAR’S THANKSGIVING FOR THE DIAMOND JUBILEE OF THE EMPRESS VICTORIA, PRINTED IN BOMBAY IN ENGLISH, HEBREW AND MARATHI
[RAJPURKAR], Joseph Ezekiel. Thanksgiving to the Almighty for the Diamond Jubilee of Her Majesty the Empress Victoria, Offered at the “Gate of Mercy” Synagogue, Bombay, on Sunday, 20th June 1897. Composed at the Request of the Wardens by Joseph Ezekiel. Bombay: no publisher, 1897. Folio, four pages on two leaves, modern cloth.
Only edition of this Bombay-printed tribute to Queen Victoria on the 60th anniversary of her ascension, printed in Hebrew, English and Marathi set in three parallel columns, written by Joseph Ezekiel Rajpurkar, one of the leading Jewish scholars of 19th-century Bombay.
“On 23 September 1896 the queen [Victoria] achieved the distinction of having reigned longer than any other English sovereign… In 1897 it was resolved to celebrate the completion of her 60th year of rule-her ‘Diamond Jubilee’-with appropriate splendor. She readily accepted the suggestion that the celebration should be so framed as to emphasize the extension of her empire which was now recognized to have been one of the most imposing characteristics of her sovereignty. It was accordingly arranged that prime ministers of all the colonies, delegates from India and the dependencies, and representatives of all the armed forces of the British Empire should take a prominent part in the public ceremonies” (DNB). The present prayer for Queen Victoria, offered at the “Gate of Mercy” Synagogue in Bombay (the first Bene Israel synagogue, established in 1796), was part of the worldwide festivities to mark the occasion.
“Most High King! We approach Thee with thanks and praise along with all the inhabitants of the countries and islands under the British Dominion, for Thy merciful kindness has been great towards us. Though in Thy pleasure didst anoint our beloved and prudent Lady Empress Victoria with the oil of gladness; adorned her with the crown of splendour and grace; and clothed her with the garments of salvation and the robe of righteousness, to rule over us with mercy and kindness and upright judgments… Merciful God! Be gracious to all the inhabitants of the countries of her kingdom and look now with Thy compassionate eye upon the inhabitants of India. Remove pestilence, famine, destruction, plague and every sort of evil disease from them and from Thy special people; and set peace and plenty over all her territories…” Rajpurkar (1834-1905), scholar and leading figure of the Bene Israel community in Bombay, was headmaster of the David Sassoon Benevolent Institution for 40 years. A master of Hebrew as well as of Marathi, the vernacular of Bombay, he translated over 20 works of the Hebrew liturgy and many English works of Jewish interest into Marathi. Yaari Bombay 75.
Lightly stained, a few closed tears, a few marginal repairs slightly affecting a few letters. A very good copy.