Page:Dictionary of Indian Biography.djvu/322

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MULJI, DAMODAR THACKERSI (1847–1893)

A member of the Bhatia caste : born at Verawal in Kattiawar. His father migrated to Bombay. At the age of 14 he joined his father in business and, in 1864, was placed in sole charge during his father's absence from Bombay. He studied English in his leisure hours, and went on an extensive tour through India. He built a piece-goods market and several cotton mills in Bombay, representing a capital of £400,000 and giving employment to 5,000 hands. He agitated effectively for the passing of the Merchandise Marks Act. He was a zealous Member of the Municipal Corporation from 1884 to the time of his death, a steady supporter of the Indian National Congress, and played a conspicuous part in all public movements. He gave away large sums to charities. He died in Oct. 1893.

MULJI, KURSENDAS (1832–1875)

Born July 25, 1832 : member of the Bhatia caste of traders : educated at the Elphinstone Institution, but offended his aunt, with whom he lived, by writing an essay in favour of the re-marriage of Hindu widows, and was turned out of the house when 21 years of age : became Headmaster of the Gokuldas Tejpal Seminary : started a weekly paper called the Satya Prakash : wrote against the high priests of the Vallabhacharya, and exposed the immoralities of the Maharajas, or priests, of the Bhatias and Banias : he was sued, in 1862, for libel, but the verdict was in his favour. At the time of the cotton mania, Kursendas joined a commercial firm and visited England to do business, but returned in 1874, having been unsuccessful : published a volume of his travels. He was appointed Administrator of a Native State, but only lived there for a year : died in Aug. 1875.

MULL, MATHIAS ( ? –1886)

Printer : went out to Bombay about 1850–5, to take charge as manager of the Bombay Education Society's (official) Press : became manager (with his relative, Craig) of the local Standard and Telegraph newspaper, and afterwards of the Bombay Gazette; subsequently of the Times of India, as part proprietor with the late Robert Knight, holding this position until 1873 : returned home 1879 : after his retirement. Mull, who was a thoroughly skilled typographer and a Milton enthusiast, pubUshed a revised edition of Paradise Lost, correcting, according to his view, the punctuation throughout, also some few readings of the existing text : he afterwards essayed the more formidable task of revising the punctuation, besides criticizing and readjusting the many doubtful passages, in Macbeth and some other Shakespearian dramas : he had a good knowledge of musical science and the construction of organs : he died at home in or about 1886.

MULLER, FRIEDRICH MAX (1823–1900)

Son of Wilhelm Muller : born Dec. 6, 1823, at Dessau : educated at Leipzig from 1841 : Ph.D., 1843 : translated the Hitopadesa, 1843 : studied under Bopp and Schelling at Berlin, and under Burnouf at Paris : came to England, 1846 : commissioned by the Directors of the E. I. Co. to edit the Sanskrit classic, the Rigveda, with Sayana's commentary : lived at Oxford from 1848 : Deputy, and, in 1854, substantive Taylorian Professor of European Languages : Curator of the Bodleian, 1856 : Fellow of All Souls', 1858 : wrote History of Ancient Sanskrit Literature, 1859 : failed to obtain the Sanskrit Professorship at Oxford, 1860 : wrote The Science of Languages and other works on languages : first Professor of Comparative Philology from 1868 : made researches in comparative mythology and the comparative study of religions : wrote on the Science of Religion : his Hibbert lectures on The Origin and Growth of Religion, 1878 : edited, from 1875, the series of "Sacred Books of the East," 51 volumes of translations of Oriental religious works : wrote India, what can it teach us ? 1883 : brought out Sanskrit works and lectures, and helped Sanskrit scholars : literary adviser to Oxford University on Indian subjects, 1877–98 : wrote Chips from a German Workshop and Auld Lang Syne : also on philosophy : Privy Councillor, and received many honours from Governments, Universities; and learned bodies : a leading member in Oriental congresses, and President of the International Congress of Orientalists, 1892 : distinguished also for his great literary and social qualities : his works have been classified under several heads of the languages, and