Colin Campbell Garbett

Garbett in dress uniform, from the cover of his 1956 book "Sun of Tabriz"

Sir Colin Campbell Garbett (22 May 1881 – 10 August 1972) was a British civil servant who worked in the colonial service in India and Iraq. He translated some Persian works including some poems of Jalaluddin Rumi.

Early life

Garbett was born on 22 May 1881 in Dalhousie, India, the second son of Hubert Garbett. He was sent to school at King William's College on the Isle of Man.

Career Garbett joined the Indian Civil Service in 1905 and was initially posted to Mandi State in 1910.

On 9 December 1920 the Bristol Fighter in which he was travelling to Kirkuk overturned on landing at Tauq, killing the pilot. Garbett survived with a broken arm.

In 1943, he wrote a book Friend of Friend based on clashes between Hindus and Muslims in the Punjab. Garbett translated some poems of Rumi as Sun of Tabriz (1956) with illustrations by Sylvia Baxter . He was deeply interested in the spiritual teachings of Baba Sawan Singh and took an interest in Surat Shabd Yoga. He also wrote on the teachings of the sect in The Ringing Radiance (1967).

Honours

Garbett was made a Companion of the Order of the Indian Empire (CIE) in 1918 "in recognition of meritorious services rendered in connection with military operations in Mesopotamia." He was made a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG) in the 1922 Birthday Honours,

In June 1938, for his work during the Quetta Earthquake of 1935, he was appointed an Officer of the Order of St. John (OStJ). He was elevated within the Order of the Indian Empire and made a Knight Commander (KCIE) in the 1941 Birthday Honours. He was also mentioned in dispatches on three occasions. They had at least one child, daughter, Susan. The couple were later estranged.

In 1913, he was listed a member of The Folklore Society. From 1919, he was a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society.

He retired in 1950 and settled in South Africa. A freemason, he was an honorary member of Melrose Lodge in Johannesburg from 1957. He died on 10 August 1972