James Tod (1782–1835) was an English officer of the British East India Company and an Oriental scholar. He combined his official role and his amateur interests to create a series of works about the history and geography of India, particularly the area then known as Rajputana (present-day Rajasthan). He travelled to India in 1799 as a cadet in the Bengal Army and rose quickly in rank. After the Third Anglo-Maratha War, during which Tod was involved in the intelligence department, he was appointed Political Agent for some areas of Rajputana. His task was to help unify the region under the control of the East India Company. While Tod was initially successful, his methods were questioned. Over time, his work was restricted and his areas of oversight were significantly curtailed. In 1823, due to declining health and reputation, Tod resigned and returned to England. He then published a number of academic works about India, based on materials collected during his travels. His major works have been criticised as inaccurate and biased. However, he is highly regarded in some areas of India and his accounts of India in general and the Rajputs in particular had a significant impact on British views for many years.

Read more: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Tod

_______________________________ Today's selected anniversaries:

1154:

Henry II was crowned King of England in London's Westminster Abbey. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_II_of_England

1828:

Nullification Crisis: Vice President of the United States John C. Calhoun wrote the South Carolina Exposition and Protest to protest the Tariff of 1828. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Carolina_Exposition_and_Protest

1843:

A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens, a novella about the miser Ebenezer Scrooge and his conversion after being visited by three Christmas ghosts, was first published. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Christmas_Carol

1932:

The BBC's World Service was launched as BBC Empire Service. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BBC_World_Service

1964:

The Army of the Republic of Vietnam, the ruling junta of South Vietnam led by Nguyen Khanh, initiated a coup, dissolving and arresting members of the High National Council, a civilian advisory body. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/December_1964_South_Vietnamese_coup

1997:

SilkAir Flight 185 crashed into the Musi River in Indonesia in what was determined to be a murder-suicide by the captain. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SilkAir_Flight_185

_____________________________ Wiktionary's word of the day:

doomsayer: One who makes dire predictions about the future; one fond of predicting disaster. https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/doomsayer

___________________________ Wikiquote quote of the day:

I have endeavoured in this Ghostly little book, to raise the Ghost of an Idea, which shall not put my readers out of humour with themselves, with each other, with the season, or with me. in --A Christmas Carol https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/A_Christmas_Carol