| Summary: |
Audio recording of oral history interview with F.C. Hart, covering the period 1904-1948.
Cassette side OA1/35/1: Family connections with India. Childhood recollections: rabies attack; brother's death from Asiatic cholera; education at Bishop Cotton School in India. Father's memories and opinions of Amritsar incident. Story of father's close escape from mob. Recollections of ayah. Feeling of closeness to India. Father's lifestyle and occupation. Hierarchy of society. Background of Indian police officers.
Cassette side OA1/35/2: Recruitment of Indians for Indian Police. Early work in Criminal Investigation Department. Activities directed against political offenders: collection of information; role of informers; accuracy of information; payment of agents. Recollections of Patna: social life; contacts with Indians; Indian weddings. Position of Anglo-Indians. Descriptions of civil lines and bungalows. Servants' uniforms. Relationship with servants.
Cassette side OA1/35/3: Description of meals. Description of drinking habits: tea; spirits; milk. Itinerant traders; explanation of term 'box wallah'. Planning arrangements to suit climate. Recollections of leave; hunting experiences. Effects of heat during summer in plains. Description of Calcutta bazaars. Story of visiting 'monkey temple' near Simla.
Cassette side OA1/35/4: Recollections of families traditionally connected with India. Outstanding Indian temples; story of haunted temple. Stories illustrating powers of holy men. Necessity of learning languages. Traffic on Grand Trunk Road. Low profile British military presence. Story of father teaching American to barter. Story of being lost in jungle. Evocative sights and sounds of India. Account of Bihar earthquake 1934.
Cassette side OA1/35/5: Effects of Bihar earthquake. Railway station sounds. Evocative smells of India. Account of investigation into murder of two police officers in Lucknow. Account of murder of political officer in Orissa. Organisation of CID. Activities against political agitators: arrest of Prasad 1932; seizing copies of 'Searchlight'; dispersing women demonstrators. Non-violent nature of Congress supporters. Story of congressman's insult to police officer during meeting.
Cassette side OA1/35/6: Story of police officer's revenge. Quality of police: loyalty; levels of corruption. Continuity of Indian Police after independence. Opinions on independence; partition; achievements of Raj. Seeing England as home. Christmas celebrations.
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| Main author: |
Hart; F C (fl 1904-1972); policeman |
| Other authors: |
Allen; Charles (b 1940); historian and interviewer |
| Extent: |
2 hr. 47 min (sound cassette: analog)
|
| Admin history: |
British officer in Criminal Investigation Department, Indian Police. |
| 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: C1510/35/01-06. 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: C1510/35/01-06
Copy available at Imperial War Museum. Reference: 004934/06 |
| Related material: |
Transcript available at SOAS Library. Reference: OA1/35/T |
| Format: |
Archive
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