| Summary: |
Audio recording of oral history interview with General D.K. Palit, covering the period 1919-1947.
Cassette side OA1/51/1: Brief biographical review. First contacts with British as son of Indian Medical Service officer; father's status. Schooling at St Paul's, Darjeeling. Continued education in England until joined Indian Army. Voyage to England. Description of army examinations; interviewers' interest in political views. Attitudes at Indian Military Academy, Dehra Dun. Joining Indianised 5/10th Baluch Regiment. Cantonment bungalows. Artificial nature of British officers' life.
Cassette side OA1/51/2: Regimental mess life. British attitude to servants. Drinking habits. Compulsory use of regimental tailors. Mess servants. Lack of contact with British regiments. Amazement at custom of sending wives to hill stations. Methods of spending leave; joint trips with British officers. Holiday celebrations and parades. Indian attitudes to Indian Army. Service on North West Frontier on outbreak of Second World War: leave allowance; life under canvas. Hobbies of British officers.
Cassette side OA1/51/3: Troop trains. Close relations of Indian Army officers and men. Army wives. Use of bazaars. British eccentricities. Importance of sport. Hunts; hunt balls. Popularity of shooting: camps; guns. Pig sticking. Posting as instructor to Poona tactical school; later move to staff college. Publication of book with Auchlinleck's encouragement. Interaction of British and Indian Army. Dislike of compromises forced by anti-Indian superior.
Cassette side OA1/51/4: Nature of relationship between British and Indians. Position of Anglo-Indians in army. Protocol of calling. Story of officer's breakdown when unsuitable marriage prevented. Lack of British cooperation when Palit took over command of 9th Gurkha Rifles: disillusionary effect on his belief in British fair play. Enduring British influence on Indian Army. Need of caution in using legacy of Raj.
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| Main author: |
Palit; D K (d 2008); Indian Army officer |
| Other authors: |
Allen; Charles (b 1940); historian and interviewer |
| Extent: |
1 hr. 50 min.
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| Admin history: |
Indian officer in Indian Army. |
| 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: C1510/51/01-04. 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: C1510/51/01-04
Copy available at Imperial War Museum. Reference: 004950/04 |
| Related material: |
Transcript available at SOAS Library. Reference: OA1/51/T |
| Format: |
Archive
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