Salman Rashid

Travel writer, Fellow of Royal Geographical Society

John Jacob's Clock


Muhammad Zaman Narejo, Additional Commissioner I, Larkana is the bringer of good news regarding John Jacob's clock in the DC's residence at Jacobabad. Having read this blog and the sad footnote, young Zaman betook himself from his work at Larkana to Jacobabad to check out the clock. He called to tell me that the clock was, after all, not destroyed by the protestors. The clock is still there and working as these images show. Thank you Zaman Narejo, you have done very well.
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posted by Salman Rashid @ 17:02, ,

The Clock that John Jacob built

Fateh Abid Lashari, friend and fellow writer from Jacobabad says John Jacob was the most outstanding administrator that the land of Sindh ever knew. And I know at least two modern Deputy Commissioners who agree. Having read H. T. Lambrick’s John Jacob of Jacobabad it is difficult not to acquiesce; for not only did Jacob possess remarkable ability as a frontiersman, but was an administrator of outstanding ability besides being an engineer and mechanic as well. But who was John Jacob?
 
 
Born on January 11, 1812, John was one of ten children (eight sons, two daughters) of Stephen Jacob, the vicar of Woolavington (Somerset) and his wife. In 1826 when he took the entrance test for the army, his examiner, probably taking Jacob’s very bad stammer as a sign of nervousness, made it a point to inquire after it saying it would be necessary make a report of it. Jacob’s peers of course told him he would never make it, for not only did he have the speech impairment, he was also rather short-statured. But make it he did, and with distinction too.
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posted by Salman Rashid @ 00:00, ,




My Books

Deosai: Land of the Gaint - New

The Apricot Road to Yarkand


Jhelum: City of the Vitasta

Sea Monsters and the Sun God: Travels in Pakistan

Salt Range and Potohar Plateau

Prisoner on a Bus: Travel Through Pakistan

Between Two Burrs on the Map: Travels in Northern Pakistan

Gujranwala: The Glory That Was

Riders on the Wind

Books at Sang-e-Meel

Books of Days