Krishnu Pal, the first Hindoo who was baptized in Bengal, was born about 1764, and baptized at Serampore by the celebrated Baptist missionary, William Carey, on Dec. 28, 1800. He became a useful Christian minister, and wrote several hymns in the Bengali language. One of these was translated into English by Dr. Marshman in 1801 as "O thou, my soul, forget no more" (Christ the Friend). It was included in the 27th ed. of Rippon's Baptist Selection, 1827, No. 170, Pt. 2, in 6 stanzas of 4 lines, in Bickersteth's Christian Psalmody, 1833, in 5 stanzas, and again in later collections, including the Baptist Hymnal, 1879, and others. Krishnu died at Serampore, Aug. 22,1822.
[Rev. W. R. Stevenson, M.A.]
--John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1… Go to person page >
Marshman, Joshua, D.D., was born at Westbury Leigh, Wiltshire, April 20, 1768, and educated for the Baptist ministry at the College at Bristol. In Oct. 1799 he joined Dr. Carey at Serampore, India. In 1826 he visited England, and returned to India in 1829. He died at Serampore, Dec. 5, 1837. His translation of Krishnu Pal's hymn is noted at p, 633, ii. In his Baptist Hymn Writers, Portland, U.S.A., Dr. Burrage attributes the original hymn, “Hail, precious book divine" (Holy Scripture) to him, but leaves its date and place of publication unnoted.
--John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology, Appendix, Part II (1907)… Go to person page >
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