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The Rise and Fall of Sandford Arnot: A Journey Through Journalism and Controversy in Calcutta
In the bustling streets of Calcutta, during the early 19th century, Sandford Arnot lived a life full of twists and turns. He held many roles: he was a trader, journalist, pamphleteer, teacher, translator, and even served as the secretary to one of India’s most respected reformers, Ram Mohan Roy. His time was defined by ambition, debates, and the strict control of the East India Company over commerce and communication, making his story quite remarkable yet tragic.
Arnot began his career in journalism with the Calcutta Journal from 1819 to 1823, which was known for speaking out against the East India Company. Under the dynamic leadership of editor James Silk Buckingham, Arnot made a name for himself by exposing the Company’s various wrongdoings. However, things took a turn when he later changed his stance and started writing in support of the Company. While in Calcutta, he also taught English and built friendships in reformist circles, helping him navigate the diverse linguistic environment of the time. This background later served him well as a translator and teacher of Hindustani.
Unfortunately, the East India Company was not tolerant of critics. When Buckingham was expelled for condemning the appointment of a church official to manage official stationery supplies, the Company tightened its grip on the press. They used the Press Ordinance to control newspapers, and the Calcutta Journal lost its license, leaving Arnot in a precarious position since he had no formal permission to stay in India. Protesting against the Company’s actions, he tried to escape to Serampore, a French enclave near Calcutta. However, he was apprehended and deported back to England on a ship.
The journey that was supposed to be straightforward turned chaotic. In 1824, while traveling on the ship Fame from Sumatra to the Cape of Good Hope, disaster struck when a candle ignited a cask of brandy on board. In his petition to the East India Company seeking compensation, Arnot vividly described the fire that erupted, forcing everyone to abandon ship. The incident was devastating, not just for Arnot but also for other passengers, including Sir Stamford Raffles, who lost valuable personal items and collections. In total, the Company incurred a massive loss estimated at £200,000.
Though Arnot managed to survive, he found himself stranded in Bencoolen with a bleak future ahead. It was here that Raffles petitioned on his behalf, but upon returning to Calcutta, Arnot discovered that his association with the Calcutta Journal had tainted his reputation. Fortunately, he found refuge among reformers like Ram Mohan Roy, who was dedicated to modern education. Teaching at Roy’s school for a brief time, Arnot formed close ties with Roy and his nephew Gurudas Mookerji, who compassionately appealed to the East India Company for Arnot to be permitted to stay in India. Unfortunately, their appeals were rejected.
By September 1824, Arnot found himself back in London, where he reconnected with Buckingham, now running a new publication called The Oriental Herald and Journal of General Intelligence. Arnot took this opportunity to publish a detailed account of his struggles with the East India Company, seeking compensation for his past troubles. However, the relationship between him and Buckingham soured, leading to public accusations of fraud from both sides. Eventually, in 1829, after receiving £1,400 in compensation, Arnot published a fierce critique of Buckingham, a work that could be seen more as an attack on Buckingham’s character than a historical account of the Indian press.
Despite these feuds, Arnot’s career as a translator and language educator blossomed. He taught Hindustani at the London Oriental Institution and collaborated on grammars for Persian and Hindustani. Among his notable translations was an early cookbook, Indian Cookery as Practiced and Described by the Natives of the East, aimed at helping English women unfamiliar with Indian cuisine.
By 1833, when Ram Mohan Roy visited England, Arnot became his private secretary. However, this role led to whispers of shady dealings, as he was often accused of acting as a “literary blackmailer.” Tragically, Arnot passed away in 1834 after a short illness, just months after Roy’s death, leaving behind a sour legacy. His loyalty to Roy and his controversial past garnered suspicion from reformers and supporters of Roy, but his writings were later included in a centenary volume honoring Roy.
Sandford Arnot’s story serves as a reminder of how ambition and controversy can shape a life filled with promise but ultimately lead to disgrace.
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