Islam Akhun and His Relationship With Aurel Stein in the Silk Road Essay

The Silk Road referred to the old trade routes that connected the ancient world trade-wise between 131 BCE-1454 CE. Islam Akhun was an Uyghur swindler and treasure-seeker from Khotan. He was a forger of many manuscripts and documents, which were availed in galleries as ancient Silk Road manuscripts to several European travelers. He constantly supplied Petrovsky and Macartney with manuscripts and printed books between 1895 and 1898.¹ Islam collaborated with Ibrahim Mullah, focusing on the Russian market, Muhammad Tari, and Mulla Muhammad Siddi. Islam’s creativity was clear from the counterfeits and the ornate particulars he provided on the circumstances and provenance. Stein’s descriptions of Islam were conveyed with the scripts and block copies. At that time, Hoernle began to differentiate the original form from the forged Khotanese copies, but he trusted Islam. This paper explores the history of Islam Akhun in the Silk Road and his relationship with Aurel Stein.

Magnus Bäcklund also began to suspect the authenticity of Islam Akhun’s goods. He even then wrote to the Resident in Kashmir to cease purchasing Khotan books. Islam stopped the large-scale trade almost immediately after that revelation and abandoned the traveler to figure his way back. On his return, Akhun extorted money from Badruddin through forging a note in Deasy’s handwriting, the Aqsaqal in Khotan, who was known for providing Stein with numerous manuscripts.² In such consideration, Islam was found guilty of the alleged crime. He suffered a sentence of wearing a big quadrangular board and cangue on his neck for 30 days. In such consideration, Sir Aurel Stein eventually unmasked Islam Akhun in 1901.

The relationship between Islam and Stein began in April 1901 when the renowned Indo-Iranian scholar and archaeologist confronted Akhun over his forgeries. It was a report by Hoernlé’s that Stein reaffirmed his suspicions. When Stein faced Islam, he pleaded not guilty, affirming that he acted on Macartney’s behalf.³ He even claimed that Akhun was a victim of purchasing similar manuscripts from them, knowing the required language. Islam had forgotten the previous supplies he had been initially published. He finally pleaded guilty to the crime of forging the block prints and manuscripts. Stein acquitted Islam and instead captured him in a photograph and later posted the picture in his Ancient Khotan expedition publications. Stein was tasked with informing Hoernle, his mentor, with whom he had succeeded.⁴ In the letter, Stein described Akhun as an intelligent person, whom he entrusted his work. Confronted with all these acquisitions, Islam Akhun pleaded guilty to forging the manuscripts and block prints. Additionally, he clarified the methods they used to set up the factory and attained the manuscripts by dyeing and smoking them to achieve the aged effect.

Overall, Akhun conned many people by selling them forged manuscripts as the ancient Silk Road documents. The relationship between Islam and Stein began in 1901 when he tracked him down and questioned him over his forgeries. Aurel Stein described him as a clever individual, with brains entirely above his collaborators’ level and a great sense of humor. Islam explained to Stein the factory setup and the techniques used in dying the manuscripts, thus creating the aged effect. Aurel Stein made Islam Akhun confess to forging the manuscripts.

Bibliography

Hansen, Valerie. The Silk Road: A New History. New York: Oxford University Press, 2015.

Footnotes

1. Valerie Hansen, The Silk Road: A New History (New York: Oxford University Press, 2015), 6.
2. Hansen, Silk Road, 8-9.
3. Hansen, Silk Road, 10.
4. Hansen, Silk Road, 11.