Interview with Sir Christopher Masterman [sound recording]

Audio recording of oral history interview with Sir Christopher Masterman, covering the period 1914-1948. Cassette side OA1/44/1: Contribution of Indian Civil Service in India. Background to decision to join ICS. Voyage to India 1914; recollections of eccentric companion. Train journey to Madras; fi...

Full description

Archive & Special Collections OA1/44/1-9 Closed

Date(s) of creation: 1972-1974
Level: Item
Format: Archive           
Main author: Masterman; Sir; Christopher Hughes (1889-1982); Knight; Deputy High Commissioner
Other authors: Allen; Charles (b 1940); historian and interviewer

collection SOAS Archive
id OA1.44.1-9
recordtype archive
scb_item_location Archive & Special Collections
item_location Archive & Special Collections
scb_loan_type Reference only
callnumber OA1/44/1-9
callnumber_txt OA1/44/1-9
callnumber-sort OA1/44/1-9
prefix_number 1-9
title Interview with Sir Christopher Masterman [sound recording]
scb_date_creation 1972-1974
scb_level Item
level_sort 8/Collection/Sub-Collection/Sub-Sub-Collection/Sub-Sub-Sub-Collection/Series/Sub-Series/Sub-Sub-Series/File/Item
scb_extent 4 hr. 15 min.
author Masterman; Sir; Christopher Hughes (1889-1982); Knight; Deputy High Commissioner
author_facet Masterman; Sir; Christopher Hughes (1889-1982); Knight; Deputy High Commissioner
Allen; Charles (b 1940); historian and interviewer
authorStr Masterman; Sir; Christopher Hughes (1889-1982); Knight; Deputy High Commissioner
author_letter Masterman; Sir; Christopher Hughes (1889-1982); Knight; Deputy High Commissioner
author2 Allen; Charles (b 1940); historian and interviewer
author2Str Allen; Charles (b 1940); historian and interviewer
format Archive
scb_admin_history British Deputy High Commissioner in Indian Civil Service.
description Audio recording of oral history interview with Sir Christopher Masterman, covering the period 1914-1948. Cassette side OA1/44/1: Contribution of Indian Civil Service in India. Background to decision to join ICS. Voyage to India 1914; recollections of eccentric companion. Train journey to Madras; first impressions. Madras climate. Posting to Tinnevelly as assistant collector. Collector's training scheme; account of tours with collector and forest officer to gain experience. Second collector's training ideas; emphasis on learning Tamil. Cassette side OA1/44/2: Third collector's individual system of administration; Masterman's role dealing with routine work normally done by collector; end of system after government intervention. Nizam of Hyderabad's extravagance. Official bungalows: lack of furniture; efforts of third collector to improve standard. Palamcottah club; question of membership eligibility. Status of Madras club; its prejudice against Indians. Cassette side OA1/44/3: Domestic arrangements: servants; food supplies. Clothes; collector's uniform. Importance of precedence. Duties as collector of Nilgiris vetting government guests. Favourable opinion on conduct of British women. Description of typical Madras village: inherent caste problems; collector's visits. Recollections of pupils being kidnapped by priests. Use and value of power in India. Corruption amongst Indians. Cassette side OA1/44/4: Corruption in irrigation department. State of health; malaria. Evocations of India. Importance of sport. Reads humorous poems and letter. Appointment as collector of salt revenue: duties; Gandhi's salt campaign. Promotion to Madras Secretariat 1936as secretary of education and public health. Relations with ministers. Prime Minister Rajagopalachariar's style of government as illustrated in issues of introduction of Hindi in schools and school grants. Cassette side OA1/44/5: Continues recollections of Rajagopalachariar. Story of arresting Indian friend for reciting Congress anti-war slogan; his friend's veneration of Gandhi. Congress supporters' sabotage of war effort. Posting to Vizagapatam 1939; preparations for possible Japanese invasion. Opinions on independence, partition and achievements of Raj. Account of Japanese bombing of Vizagapatam 6 April 1942; aftermath; introduction of air defences after Masterman's complaint to Wavell. Cassette side OA1/44/6: Arrival in India 1914; posting as assistant collector to Tinnevelly for training. Description of collector; his training ideas. Account of training tour: arrangements; scope of village inspections; daily routine; landscape. Financial blow of loss of horse. Tent pegging. Polo. Second collector's views on training; emphasis placed on learning Tamil; Masterman's difficulties and disagreement with this programme. Generally good relationship between ICS and Indians. Cassette side OA1/44/7: Lack of sympathy in ICS for Indian middle classes. Caste problems: social; administrative. Eccentric third collector's ideas of administration; massive delegation of responsibility to Indian deputy and Masterman; end of system after government intervention. District clubs: discrimination by status not race in membership questions; importance of club life; recreations there. Missionaries at Tinnevelly: sect rivalry; rarity of conversions to Christianity. Cassette side OA1/44/8: Belgian missionaries' kidnap of promising pupil; compromise settlement. Agency work in hinterland of Ganjam, Vizagapatam and Godav: problems touring such wild terrain; strange lifestyle and attitudes of local tribes. Posting as collector to South Arcot 1935; improving land revenue collection. Contacts with French settlement at Pondicherry; story of state visits. Description of Cuddalore residency: sanitation; servants' duties. French insistence on letter of law. Cassette side OA1/44/9: Base of ICS administration in collection of land revenue. Qualities of ICS officers; maintenance of standards after Indianisa-tion. Problems to be faced after independence. Acceptance of approach of independence; belief Gandhi and Congress party responsible for partition. Defence of British rule in India. R10
scb_access_status Closed
scb_conditions_gov_access 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: C1510/44/01-09. For more details see www.bl.uk/listening or contact listening@bl.uk / 020 7412 7418.
scb_copyright Copyright held by British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)
scb_use_restrictions Private study only. For publication or broadcast please refer to Archivist
language English
language_search English
scb_copies Copy available at British Library Listening & Viewing Service. Reference: C1510/44/01-09 Copy available at Imperial War Museum. Reference: 004943/09
scb_related_material Transcript available at SOAS Library. Reference: OA1/44/T
hierarchy_top_id_raw OA1
hierarchy_sequence OA1.0044.001-9

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