| Summary: |
Audio recording of oral history interview with Cuthbert Bowder and Norah Bowder, covering the period 1925-1947.
Cassette side OA1/8/1: Mr Bowder's recruitment into Irrigation Branch of Public Works Department in United Provinces; advantages of location. Inspections by elephant; carrying guns. Touring districts traversed by canals. Description of area. Landscapes. History of area's canals. Description of tour: packing; staying in inspection bungalows and tents. Routine: inspection of canals; interviewing villagers; shooting game. Flexibility of timetable. Enjoyment of tour.
Cassette side OA1/8/2: Mrs Bowder's keenness to visit India. Enjoyment of voyage. Marriage on arrival in Bombay; honeymoon in Agra. Difficulty of communicating with servants on first camp. Mr Bowder describes British marriages in India. Mrs Bowder recalls their frequent moves in India. Touring on elephant; dangerous incident on elephant. Duck shoots. Mr Bowder describes road conditions. Driving Model T Ford. Comfort of train journeys. Composition of station personnel.
Cassette side OA1/8/3: Mr and Mrs Bowder describe various inspection bungalows. Dislike of lizards. Importance of bearer. Little contact with servants' families. Servants' uniforms and quarters. Mr Bowder recalls his dealings with Indian farmers. Shooting tigers; incident of misfiring. Shooting of man-eating tiger in camp. Posting in Naini Tal; recollections of Jim Corbett and his associations with tigers. Efforts to keep cool in hot weather.
Cassette side OA1/8/4: Sleeping outdoors in hot weather. Description of Christmas camps. Mr Bowder dressed by bearer. Husbands' after-dinner sleeps. Enjoyment of game shooting. Hill walking. Meeting wild elephants. Shooting crocodiles. Gossip. Flirtations. Smells of India. Buying from itinerant merchant; other visitors. Admiration for work of Indian tailors. Moderation in drinking habits; local drinks. Buying from catalogues; easily available credit.
Cassette side OA1/8/5: Payment by chits. Story of close guarding of cash box. Outline of office staff. Account of amusing visit to Rajah's palace; visiting women in purdah. Reasons for limited social contact with Indians. Opinion that Raj fulfilled promises made to Indians. Liking Indians. Acquiring library books from London. Visiting sites before judging cases. Lack of corruption among officials.
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| Main author: |
Bowder; Cuthbert (fl 1925-1972); colonial offical |
| Other authors: |
Bowder; Norah (fl 1972); wife of Cuthbert Bowder, Allen; Charles (b 1940); historian and interviewer |
| Extent: |
2 hr. 20 min.
|
| Admin history: |
British official in Irrigation Branch of Public Works Department in United Provinces. |
| 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: C1510/08/01-05. 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: C1510/08/01-05
Copy available at Imperial War Museum. Reference: 004907/05 |
| Related material: |
Transcript available at SOAS Library. Reference: OA1/8/T |
| Format: |
Archive
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