Fonds RGC - Papers of Ram Gharib Chaube

Identity area

Reference code

GB 891 RGC

Title

Papers of Ram Gharib Chaube

Date(s)

  • [1892 - 1900] (Creation)

Level of description

Fonds

Extent and medium

1 archival box

Context area

Name of creator

Biographical history

Ram Gharib Chaube was probably born in the late 1850s into the traditional learned Chaube family. He graduated from the Presidency College, Calcutta, and was learned in both Indian tradition and the British colonial system of education, being fluent in dialects of Awadhi and Bhojpuri, as well as Hindi, Persian, Sanskrit and English. He became Mirzapur's distirct collector of revenues and whilst there met William Crooke, who was keen to document Indian folklore. Impressed with Chaube's abilities, Crooke asked that Chaube help in his work. Chaube probably continued to work with Crooke until Crooke's departure for England in 1896. The material in these papers, therefore most likely dates from this time. Crooke continued to correspond with Chaube after his return to England. However he does not seem to have acknowledged Chaube's contribution to his work.

After Crooke's departure Chaube also worked for V.A. Smith, and G.A. Grierson's Linguistic Survey of India. However he constantly struggled to earn enough money and satisfy his academic interests. He died in 1914 in Gopalpur.

The life of Crooke and Rame Gharib Chaube has been well documented in In Quest of Indian Folktales: Pandit Ram Gharib Chaube and William Crooke by Sadhana Naithani (Indian University Press, 2006) from which these biographical details have been obtained.

Name of creator

Archival history

It is assumed that this material was once in the possession of William Crooke. Most of his Papers are in the archive of the Folklore Society, held at University College, London,

Immediate source of acquisition or transfer

It is unknown how these Papers came to be in the possession of the Royal Asiatic Society. Possibly Crooke was seeking publication or had lent the material to George A. Grierson.

Content and structure area

Scope and content

This is a set of Indian Religious Songs collected, transcribed and translated into English by Ram Gharib Chaube, probably for the use of William Crooke.

Appraisal, destruction and scheduling

Accruals

System of arrangement

Four series of material were arranged according to the headings under which the material was found:

  • RGC/1 - Religious Songs in Romanized Hindi
  • RGC/2 - Religious Songs from Northern India
  • RGC/3 - Uncategorised Songs
  • RGC/4 - Original Folder

Conditions of access and use area

Conditions governing access

Open. Please contact the archivist using the email address given here. The archive is open on Tuesdays and Fridays 10-5, and Thursdays 2-5. Access is to any researcher without appointment but it will help if an appointment is made via phone or email. Please bring photo ID.

Conditions governing reproduction

Digital photography (without flash) for research purposes may be permitted upon completion of a copyright declaration form, and with respect to current UK copyright law.

Language of material

  • English
  • Hindi

Script of material

    Language and script notes

    Physical characteristics and technical requirements

    Finding aids

    Allied materials area

    Existence and location of originals

    Existence and location of copies

    Related units of description

    The Library holds a copy of In Quest of Indian Folktales: Pandit Ram Gharib Chaube and William Crooke by Sadhana Naithana. It also holds several of William Crooke's publications. These can be found on our Library catalogue: https://ras.koha-ptfs.co.uk/.

    Related descriptions

    Notes area

    Alternative identifier(s)

    Access points

    Place access points

    Genre access points

    Description control area

    Description identifier

    gb891-rgc

    Institution identifier

    Rules and/or conventions used

    Status

    Level of detail

    Dates of creation revision deletion

    Language(s)

      Script(s)

        Sources

        Archivist's note

        The Catalogue was created by Nancy Charley, RAS Archivist, in 2018.

        Accession area