| Summary: |
Audio recording of oral history interview with David Symington and Anne Ellen Symington, covering the period 1904-1947.
Cassette side OA1/64/1: Mr Symington's reflections on differing British and Indian perceptions of India. Family connections with India. Childhood recollections of India. Britain's links with India. Youthful dream of Indian independence. Impressions on arrival as Indian Civil Service officer in Bombay 1926. Posting as assistant collector in Sind; life in Karachi bungalow. Indian language lessons. Paperwork. Differences of army lifestyle; mess guest nights. Sind crime patterns: murder; cattle stealing. Recollections of training tour; hiring baggage camels.
Cassette side OA1/64/2: Clubs: opinions on racial discrimination in membership; description of typical club. Drinking habits. Chit system. Posting to Ratnagiri as collector. Description of Konkan coastal region. Origin of Gandhi's salt campaign 1930; stopping his supporters landing at Vengurla. Recollections of high caste language tutor and his views. Nature of criminal tribes; efforts to reform them using settlement camps and work programmes.
Cassette side OA1/64/3: Amusing story of VIP's visit to criminal tribe settlement. Posting as backward classes officer in Bombay 1934; responsibilities. Position of 'untouchables'; reactions to Gandhi's efforts on their behalf. Descriptions of Poona and Bombay. Pomp and ceremony of Government House, Bombay; amusing incident. Origin of communal riots; precautionary methods of control. Opinion that civil disobedience movements were ineffective. Warrant of precedence. ICS officers' relationship with Indians. Levels of bribery and corruption.
Cassette side OA1/64/4: Opinions on partition. Reasons Symington and other ICS officers left India; feelings on departure. Reasons British rarely settled in India. Differing British and Indian perceptions of India. Mrs Symington's recollections of childhood in Mahabaleshwar. Visit to India 1921; Bombay social life. Further visit 1929; marriage. Husband's posting to Sind; unpleasant conditions and health hazards. Responsibilities of running household. Feeling of security in India. Friendship with Mrs Naidu. Bombay social life. Meeting Gandhi.
Cassette side OA1/64/5: Reactions to civil disobedience campaign. Evocative memories of India. Monsoons. Stories illustrating dangers of snakes and scorpions. Story of seeing ghost. Friendship with Mrs Naidu. Mr Symington's recollections of generally friendly state of personal relationships with Congress leaders. Examples of individual civil disobedience of anti-war movement during Second World War. Mrs Symington's recollections of her amusing faux pas during dance at Government House, Poona.
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| Main author: |
Symington; David (1904-1986); colonial administrator |
| Other authors: |
Symington; Anne Ellen (fl 1972); wife of David Symington, Allen; Charles (b 1940); historian and interviewer |
| Extent: |
2 hr. 20 min.
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| Admin history: |
British secretary to Governor of Bombay, Indian Civil Service. |
| 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: C1510/64/01-05. 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: C1510/64/01-05
Copy available at Imperial War Museum. Reference: 004963/05 |
| Related material: |
Transcript available at SOAS Library. Reference: OA1/64/T |
| Format: |
Archive
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