| Summary: |
Audio recording of oral history interview with Justice S.K. Das, covering the period 1898-1947.
Cassette side OA1/22/1: Education in India and England; joining Indian Civil Service. Training as assistant magistrate in Bihar. Work as assistant settlement officer; story of land dispute. Review of Das's career. First contacts with British; recollections of college and teachers. Educative influence of British constitution, history and administration. System of entry to ICS; exam experiences; checks made on suitability of Indian candidates.
Cassette side OA1/22/2: Voyage to India; relationship with British on board. Social life of subdivisional officer; position of Indian ICS officers. Clubs in Patna. Description of bungalow: supply of ice; decorations. Domestic arrangements of British; nature of relationship with servants. Examples of British eccentricity. Opinions on British judical system; illustrations.
Cassette side OA1/22/3: Drinking habits of British. Description of formal dinners. Description of clothing; wearing topee on tour. Shopping habits of British women. Description of work in courts; stories illustrating attitudes; unconscious bias of British and Indians. Social segregation of British and Indians. Holidays; Christmas and Indian festivals. Circuit work as high court judge.
Cassette side OA1/22/4: Typical day as high court judge on circuit. Role of administrative judge. Description of typical circuit court. Reading habits. Necessity of learning languages. Calling card system. Cases involving British. Story of murder case. Opinions of British eccentricity. British recreations and sports; bridge. Description of Sonpur cattle fair.
Cassette side OA1/22/5: ICS horse allowance; learning to ride. British attitude to Indian culture. Contrasts in Indian attitudes to British ICS officers; their elitist position; differing social situation of Indian ICS officers. Impact of British education and health systems. Lack of British effort to tackle major Indian problems. Recollections of British characters. Disapproval of planters. Relationship between British and Indian women. Reflections on Indian judicial system; its integrity; delays; decentralisation. Advantages and disadvantages of judicial life. Relationship with British colleagues.
Cassette side OA1/22/6: Earlier prejudice against Indians in ICS. British morality; rules of conduct. Bad features of British character shown up during 1942 disturbances. Observance of British formal manners. British suicides and misfits. Instances of British cruelty; inexperience of perpetrators. Ambivalent feelings towards British. Opinions on role of Raj.
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| Main author: |
Das; S K (fl 1898-1972); judge |
| Other authors: |
Allen; Charles (b 1940); historian and interviewer |
| Extent: |
2 hr. 52 min.
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| Admin history: |
British Chief Justice in Indian Civil Service. |
| Access status: |
Closed
|
| 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: C1510/22/01-06. 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
|
| Copies: |
Copy available at British Library Listening & Viewing Service. Reference: C1510/22/01-06
Copy available at Imperial War Museum. Reference: 004921/06 |
| Related material: |
Transcript available at SOAS Library. Reference: OA1/22/T |
| Format: |
Archive
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