| Summary: |
Audio recording of oral history interview with Edith Dixon, covering the period 1898-1914.
Cassette side OA1/26/1: Tragic family background in India. Father's work for Indian State Railways. Childhood recollections of accompanying father on tour: description of inspection train; near-accident; station atmosphere. Recollections of ayah; father's bearer; other servants. Indian reaction to birth of her brother. Caste system amongst servants. Class system amongst British; inferiority of commercial 'box wallahs'; gradings in society. Description of bungalow.
Cassette side OA1/26/2: Musical evenings. Description of furnishings and clothes. Mother's social life. Attending fancy dress party at Viceregal Lodge. Recollections of voyages to and from India. Life in Rawalpindi; attending church and gymkhanas. Riding experiences. Description of clothes. Combatting effects of heat. Stories illustrating appalling state of medical facilities.
Cassette side OA1/26/3: Continuation of story illustrating state of medical facilities. Snake charmer; fear of snakes and insects. Bathroom facilities. Father's transfer to Saharanpur; recollections of spending hot season at hill station. Description of food. Child's view of British society. Outbreak of plague in Saharanpur; staying with friends. Account of being bitten by rabid dog; course of treatment. Love of flowers. Father's posting to Secretariat in Simla. Recollections of life in Simla.
Cassette side OA1/26/4: View from Simla. Leaving India for school in England 1908; unfashionable nature of Indian clothes on arrival. Recollections of life in Calcutta during cold weather season: drive in motor car; local eccentric couple. Opinions on childhood in India. Role of Raj.
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| Main author: |
Dixon; Edith (fl 1898-1972); daughter of Indian state railways traffic manager |
| Other authors: |
Allen; Charles (b 1940); historian and interviewer |
| Extent: |
1 hr. 52 min.
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| Admin history: |
British daughter of traffic manager on Indian State Railways. |
| 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: C1510/26/01-04. 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: C1510/26/01-04
Copy available at Imperial War Museum. Reference: 004925/04 |
| Related material: |
Transcript available at SOAS Library. Reference: OA1/26/T |
| Format: |
Archive
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