Max Arthur Macauliffe
Renowned Scholar
of Sikh Lore
1841 - 1913
Michael MacAuliffe, also known as Max Arthur Macauliffe, was a senior British administrator in India, a scholar and author, renowned for his translation of Sikh scripture and history into English.
Born Michael MacAuliffe at Newcastle West, County Limerick on 10 September 1841, he was educated at Newcastle School, Limerick, and Springfield College. He attended Queen's College Galway between 1857 and 1863, being awarded junior scholarships in the Literary Division of the Arts Faculty for 1857-8, 1858-9, and 1859-60. He was awarded a B.A. degree with first class honours in Modern Languages in 1860. He obtained a senior scholarship in Ancient Classics for 1860-1, and a senior scholarship in Modern Languages and History for 1861-2. He also served as Secretary of the college's Literary and Debating Society for the 1860-1861 session.
Max Arthur Macauliffe entered the Indian Civil Service in 1862, and arrived in the Punjab in February 1864. He was appointed Deputy Commissioner of the Punjab in 1882,and a Divisional Judge in 1884. He retired from the Indian Civil Service in 1893.
Max Arthur Macauliffe wrote the definitive English translation of the Sacred Book of the Sikh religion, the Guru Granth Sahib. He also wrote The Sikh Religion: its Gurus, Sacred Writings and Authors (six volumes, Oxford University Press, 1909). He was assisted in his works by Pratap Singh Giani, a Sikh scholar.
It is widely believed that Max Arthur converted to Sikhism before his death. He is held in high esteem among the Sikh communion, in particular the intelligentsia, for his monumental translation into English of the Sikh Scriptures, the Guru Granth Sahib. He was awarded the degree of M.A. (honoris causa) by his alma mater in 1882. Max Arthur Macauliffe died at his home in London on 15 March 1913.
Cover of book "The Sikh Religion" by Max Arthur Macauliffe
Portrait of Max Arthur
Macauliffe.
Links to Other Sites Featuring Max Arthur Macauliffe
Profile on the Sikh Encyclopaedia, SikhiWiki
Another profile at Sikh-Heritage
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Max Arthur Macauliffe
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