Richard Olaf Winstedt

Sir Richard Olaf Winstedt KBE, CMG, ( born August 2, 1878 in Oxford, † June 2, 1966 in Putney, London), more commonly known under RO Winstedt, was a British Orientalist and colonial administrator with special knowledge of British Malaya.

Early life and education

Richard Olaf Winstedt was born in Oxford and received his education at Magdalen College School and his academic training at New College, Oxford, where he graduated with a Master of Arts (MA). In 1902 he was hired as a cadet in the public administration of the Federated Malay States and transferred to Perak, where he is studying the Malay language and culture. In 1913 he was appointed District Officer in Kuala Pilah in the Malay Negeri Sembilan state part and 1916 added to the school office. In 1920, he awarded the academic degree " DLitt " ( Doctor of Letters ) [ was awarded by the University of Oxford. Note 1]

In 1921 he married the Irish girl Sara O'Flynn. His brother was Eric Otto Winstedt a Latinist and Gypsologist.

Future career

Winstedt was from 1928-1931 the first President of Raffles College in Singapore. During his presidency, he was in 1923 at the same time acting Secretary to the High Commissioner, from 1924 to 1931 Director of Education States for Straits Settlements and Federated Malay (FMS ) and from 1927 to 1931 a member of the Council of the FMS.

After serving as an advisor to the Government of the Sultanate of Johore in the years 1931-1935 to Winstedt withdrew from public administration and was a lecturer, lecturer, and finally an Honorary Fellow of Malay at the School of Oriental Studies, where he also from 1939-1959 sat on the Board. During World War II he was in charge in Japanese occupied Malaya 's for the broadcasting of radio programs in the Malay language. In 1946 he retired from active teaching.

Winstedt worked on numerous committees and advisory bodies, most notably the Royal Asiatic Society, in which he repeated the presidency had and from 1947 he received the gold medal. In addition, the Association of British Malaya, which he chaired in 1938 as President, from 1936 to 1939 the Colonial Office Advisory Committee on Education and the Royal India Society. He was a Fellow of the British Academy and an honorary member of the Southeast Asia Institute, the Royal Batavian Society and the Group Instituut voor TaalLanden folklore.

Winstedt died on June 2, 1966 in Putney, London. The kondolierenden personalities included the Prime Minister of Malaysia, Tunku Abdul Rahman. He wrote of the deceased 's widow:

" My friend, Sir Richard, has done so much Throughout his lifetime for the Malays, splat He Has always loved. May his soul rest in peace. "

Achievements

The preservation of some works of Malay literature, including The Malay Annals is due Winstedt. He created important works on the Malay people and their language, such as the books A History of Malaya and A Dictionary of Malay Language. The Australian Journal of Politics and History, writes of him: " Winstedt was the first British scholar, who carried out a systematic study of existing Malay documents for historical purposes, and in doing so laid the very foundation for a scientific approach to the writing of the history of Malaya. "

Winstedt also played a major role in the development of the educational system of Malaya and Singapore. In particular, he was interested in the education of the Malays. Because of his proposal was founded in 1922, the Sultan Idris Training College, whose purpose was the training of Malay teachers. In 1997, the Malaysian government raised the institution to university. For his achievements he was awarded the OBE Awards and was inducted into the Order of Saint Michael and George 1926.

In 1935 he became Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire and was allowed henceforth the " Sir " in front of his name. In 1951 he received an honorary doctorate from the Malay LLD.

His estate is archived at the School of Oriental and African Studies.

Selected Works

History and Society

  • Arts and Crafts ( Papers on Malay Subjects, Malay industries, pt 1), Kuala Lumpur: FMS Government Press, 1909.
  • Britain and Malaya, 1786-1941, London, 1944.
  • The Circumstances of Malay Life: The kampong. The house. Furniture. Dress. Food ( Papers on Malay Subjects, no 2), Kuala Lumpur: FMS Government Press, 1909.
  • Fishing, Hunting and Trapping ( Papers on Malay Subjects, Malay industries, pt 2), Kuala Lumpur: FMS Government Press, 1911.
  • A History of Perak, Singapore, 1934.
  • A History of Malaya, Singapore, 1935.
  • A History of Malay Riau and Johore, etc. ( Malay text of the Tuhfat al - Nafis ), Singapore, 1932.
  • Malaya: the Straits Settlements and the Federated Malay States and Unfederated, London: Constable, 1923.
  • Malayan Memories, Singapore: Kelly & Walsh, 1916.
  • The Malays: a cultural history, Singapore: Kelly & Walsh, 1947.
  • Shaman, Saiva and Sufi: a study of the evolution of Malay magic, London: Constable, 1925.
  • A History of Johore, Singapore, 1932.
  • Right Thinking and Right Living: a primer on moral & social topics, etc., Singapore: Malaya Publishing House, 1933.

Language and textbooks

  • Malay Grammar, Oxford, The Clarendon Press, 1913
  • Cherita jenaka: ya- itu Kadok Pa, Pa Pandir, Lebai Malang, Bela Pa Lang Si Lunchai, Singapore: Methodist Publishing House, 1908 ( folktales, written down by Raja Haji Yahya, joint editor with AJ Sturrock ). . - do - New ed Kuala Lumpur: Oxford University Press, 1963
SOAS, University of London Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland Education in Malaysia Integrated Authority File
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