Encyclopedia of India–China Cultural Contacts v2.c10.s2.t21.2

v2.c10.s2.t21.2

Besides being a senior native Rajput officer in the British Army, he earned a name for his writings in Hindi. His travelogue cum memoirs, ‘Cheen mein terah maas’, (*13 months in China*) was published in 1901. It was reviewed by *The Advocate*, a leading English newspaper of Lucknow in its May 1, 1902 edition, which was very laudatory. It said: “Indians employed in military service are seldom noted for literary ability. They are as a rule, men of almost no culture who primarily enter service in the ranks and gradually make their way upwards. The book under review, as coming from an Indian soldier, did not raise high expectations as to its merits, but when its pages were opened we were very agreeably surprised with what we found therein. It reflects great credit upon the author to have so carefully observed and noted in detail all the passing events in the hurry and scurry of military life in active service and then to have them published in simple Hindi with his own comments profusely interspersed. This book is a distinct advancement and is likely to leave a permanent mark upon the budding Hindi literature.”