Explore the life of Dean Mahomed, an Indian man who traveled to the UK in the late 18th century. Delve into his relationships, his book 'Travels of Dean Mahomed', the decline of the Mughal Empire, and the accuracy of his descriptions. Learn about his journey from Cork to Brighton, facing racial discrimination and his descendants' achievements. Includes ads for Metro by T-Mobile, Weston Hotel, and a mention of Bank of America.
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Quick takeaways
Dean Mahomed's book, 'The Travels of Dean Muhammad,' was the first English-language book written by an Indian traveler, offering a unique and sympathetic perspective on India and its people.
As an entrepreneur, Dean Mahomed established steam bathhouses in Brighton, combining Indian massage techniques and steam baths to provide wellness treatments, paving the way for future Indian wellness spas in England.
Deep dives
Dean Muhammad's Journey from India to Cork
Dean Muhammad was born in Patna in 1759 and served in the British East India Company's Bengal army. He traveled with his patron to Cork, Ireland in 1784, where he faced challenges as an Indian immigrant. Muhammad's social rank and connections distinguished him from other Indian residents in Cork. He learned English during his time in the army and later worked as a valet and butler. Muhammad then eloped with Jane Daly, a member of the Protestant gentry. He published his book, 'The Travels of Dean Muhammad,' in 1794, providing a unique perspective on India and its cultures for English-speaking audiences.
Muhammad's Contributions to Indian-English Literature
Muhammad's book, 'The Travels of Dean Muhammad,' stands as the first English-language book written by an Indian traveler. Although influenced by European writing, he presented a more sympathetic and less sensationalized view of India and its people. Muhammad included descriptions of Indian cities, landscapes, flora, fauna, and cultures, catering to individuals interested in visiting or working in India. He skillfully incorporated literary styles, conventions, and foreign terms, demonstrating his command of the English language.
Muhammad's Entrepreneurial Endeavors in Brighton
After experiencing financial difficulties in Ireland and London, Muhammad opened the Hindustani Coffee House in London and later established steam bathhouses in Brighton. As a shampooing surgeon, he combined Indian therapeutic massage techniques with steam baths, treating various ailments and drawing patrons seeking wellness treatments. Muhammad's bathhouses gained popularity, earning him recognition as the royal shampooing surgeon. However, by the late 1830s, his business declined due to changing trends and competition. Muhammad passed away in 1851, leaving a legacy as one of the pioneers of Indian cuisine and wellness practices in England.
Impact and Legacy of Dean Muhammad
Despite fading into obscurity after his death, Dean Muhammad's contributions and accomplishments deserve recognition. His writings provide valuable insights into India and its cultures during the 18th century. Muhammad's entrepreneurial ventures in Brighton paved the way for future Indian restaurants and wellness spas in England. His legacy lives on through the achievements of his descendants, such as Frederick Henry Horatio Muhammad, a physician renowned for his contributions to hypertension research. Dean Muhammad's story sheds light on the experiences of an Indian immigrant in a complex and evolving colonial era.
After Dean Mahomed sailed to Cork in January of 1784, he continued to work for Godfrey Evan Baker. But after Baker's death, Mahomed became an entrepreneur.
Research:
Bartlett, James. “Dean Mahomet: travel writer, curry entrepreneur and shampooer to the king.” History Ireland. Issue 5. September/October 2007. https://www.historyireland.com/dean-mahomet-travel-writer-curry-entrepreneur-and-shampooer-to-the-king/
Carpenter, Gerald. “The Travels of Dean Mahomet, The Travels of Dean Mahomet, a Native of Patna in Bengal, through Several Parts of India, while in the Service of the Honourable The East India Company. Written by Himself, in a Series of Letters to a Friend.” The Literature of Autobiographical Vol. 2. Diaries and Letters.
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Fisher, Michael H. "Mahomed, Deen [formerly Deen Mahomet] (1759–1851), shampooing surgeon and restaurateur." Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. September 01, 2017. Oxford University Press. Date of access 22 Aug. 2023, https://www.oxforddnb.com/view/10.1093/ref:odnb/9780198614128.001.0001/odnb-9780198614128-e-53351
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Mahomet, Dean. “The Travels of Dean Mahomet: An Eighteenth-Century Journey through India.” Edited with an introduction and biographical essay by Michael H. Fisher. Berkeley: University of California Press, http://ark.cdlib.org/ark:/13030/ft4h4nb20n/
Mahomet, Sake Deen. “Shampooing, or, Benefits resulting from the use of the Indian medicated vapour bath, as introduced into this country, by S.D. Mahomed, (a native of India) : containing a brief but comprehensive view of the effects produced by the use of the warm bath, in comparison with steam or vapour bathing : also a detailed account of the various cases to which this healing remedy may be applied, its general efficacy in peculiar diseases, and its success in innumerable instances, when all other remedies had been ineffectual : to which is subjoined an alphabetical list of names (many of the very first consequence,) subscribed in testimony of the important use & general approval of the Indian method of shampooing.” Brighton, Casey & Baker. 1826. https://archive.org/details/b22374632/
Mixed Museum. “Sake Dean Mahomed and Jane Daly.” https://mixedmuseum.org.uk/amri-exhibition/sake-dean-mahomed-and-jane-daly/
Narain, Mona. “Dean Mahomet’s Travels , Border Crossings, and the Narrative of Alterity.” SEL Studies in English Literature 1500-1900, Volume 49, Number 3, Summer 2009. https://doi.org/10.1353/sel.0.0070
O’Connell, Ronan. “Sake Dean Mahomed: the Muslim trailblazer who opened London's first curry house.” National News. 2/6/2022. https://www.thenationalnews.com/travel/destinations/2022/02/06/sake-dean-mahomet-the-muslim-trailblazer-who-opened-londons-first-curry-house/
Panigrahi, Tanutrushna. “Revisiting the Narrative Powers of the Global South through The Travels of Dean Mahomet.” Rupkatha Journal on Interdisciplinary Studies in Humanities. https://dx.doi.org/10.21659/rupkatha.v12n3.25
Satapathy, Amrita. “The Idea of England in Eighteenth-Century Indian Travel Writing.” CLCWeb: Comparative Literature and Culture. Purdue University. Vol. 14, Issue 2, June 2012.
Singh, Amardeep. “A Closer Look at Dean Mahomet (1759-1850).” Lehigh University. 9/6/2006. https://www.lehigh.edu/~amsp/2006/09/closer-look-at-dean-mahomet-1759-1850.html