| Summary: |
Audio recording of oral history interview with Joan Allen, covering the period 1913-1940.
Cassette side OA1/2/1: Family connections with India. Father's work as indigo planter. Stories about planters. Childhood recreations. Children's nannies. Names of hill tribespeople. Voyage to India. Train journeys. Improvement in servants' quarters. Recollections of father's bearer. Prejudice against Indian produce. Description of food; scale of charges. Chit system. Ignorance of child care; receiving help. Fear of snakes. Deaths from rabies. Importance of protocol. Concern over correct behaviour. Deaths from drinking.
Cassette side OA1/2/2: Father's work as magistrate; settling conflicts between Hindus and Muslims. Recollections of Maharajah of Darbhanga. Description of Maharajah's organised events and palaces. Sharing mutton. Trader's visits. Recreational and sporting activities. Concern over correct appearance. Recollections of Bihar earthquake; effects on buildings; story of escaping woman. Description of Quetta earthquake.
Cassette side OA1/2/3: Description of Assam earthquake. Earthquake stories. Story of indigo planter's ruse to escape blame for ill treating labourers. Story of servant dying from 'ghost' snake bite. Atmosphere of living in India. Train journeys. Keeping pet mongoose. Childhood recollections. Becoming aware of caste system. Recollections of bearer, nurse and governess. Attending Anglo-Indian dances. Childhood recreations. Opinion of Anglo-Indians. Popularity of pig shooting; story of Mrs Allen's accidental involvement. Attitude to hunting.
Cassette side OA1/2/4: Descriptions of Christmas camps. Methods of keeping cool. Attending camps in Bihar. River fishing in Assam.
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| Main author: |
Allen; Joan (fl 1913-1972); daughter of indigo planter |
| Other authors: |
Allen; Charles (b 1940); historian and interviewer |
| Extent: |
1 hr. 43 min.
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| Admin history: |
British daughter of indigo planter in India. |
| Access status: |
Closed
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| Access conditions: |
Access to sound recording of this interview is currently unavailable at SOAS Library. The transcript can be consulted. Researchers can access a copy of this sound recording at the British Library Listening & Viewing Service. Reference: C1510/02/01-04. For more details see www.bl.uk/listening or contact listening@bl.uk / 020 7412 7418.
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| Copyright: |
Copyright held by British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) |
| User restrictions: |
Private study only. For publication or broadcast please refer to Archivist |
| Language: |
English
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| Copies: |
Copy available at British Library Listening & Viewing Service. Reference: C1510/02/01-04
Copy available at Imperial War Museum. Reference: 004901/04 |
| Related material: |
Transcript available at SOAS Library. Reference: OA1/2/T |
| Format: |
Archive
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