Edgar Thurston

Edgar Thurston was a British scholar and colonial administrator born in 1855 in London. He served as the Superintendent at the Madras Government Museum from 1885 to 1908. During his tenure, Thurston made significant contributions to the fields of zoology, ethnology, and botany in India. His extensive research focused on the study of the diverse communities in Southern India, particularly the castes and tribes of the Madras Presidency. He played a crucial role in documenting the cultural...See more

Edgar Thurston was a British scholar and colonial administrator born in 1855 in London. He served as the Superintendent at the Madras Government Museum from 1885 to 1908. During his tenure, Thurston made significant contributions to the fields of zoology, ethnology, and botany in India. His extensive research focused on the study of the diverse communities in Southern India, particularly the castes and tribes of the Madras Presidency. He played a crucial role in documenting the cultural practices, social structures, and physical traits of over 300 different communities, providing invaluable ethnographic data. His research was conducted at the Madras Government Museum, where he also published many of his findings. Thurston's works were instrumental in preserving the rich cultural heritage of India, especially at a time when modernization threatened to alter traditional lifestyles. After his retirement, he continued his research and writing, leaving behind a legacy of academic contributions that provided a comprehensive understanding of Indian society during the British colonial period. He passed away in 1935 at the age of 80 in Penzance, United Kingdom. His studies remain an important reference for those interested in Indian anthropology and ethnography. See less