| Order number: |
OA4, Memories of the British in India, Sound Cassettes, Box 1 [CLOSED]
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| Summary: |
Oral history interview, given 1983, by Dr Mildred Agnes Archer (b 1911), wife of William George Archer (1907-79), Indian Civil Service, Bihar 1931-47, on their lives in India and their interest in Indian popular painting, music and culture, and tribal peoples.
Summary: Playback Cassette Side 1: Family and educational background of Mrs Archer and her husband. The difference in outlook and politics between the Archers and the majority of the ICS. Her husband's university education and entry into the ICS. Her own university education at Oxford, and interest in Indian affairs. Brief reminiscences of Krishna Menon. Bill Archer's first posting in India, at Arrah in Bihar. His efforts to mix with the Indian community and learn about Indian culture. The attitude of the different sections of the British community to the Indians and the Indian attitude towards the British. E.M. Forster's book 'A Passage to India', its accuracy in portraying life in India at that time, and friends to the Archers who were portrayed in the book. The differing attitudes of the Hindu population and the tribal people towards Indian independence. The honesty of the British administration. Bill Archer's growing interest in Indian art. His discovery of stone figures in the.jungle and his work on the poetry and sculpture connected with the worship of the god Birnath. His posting as subdivisional officer in Madhubani. The Bengal and Bihar Earthquake of 1934. His research into Maithil painting. More modern developments concerning Maithil painting -increased commercialisation. The similarities between these primitive paintings and modern Western art. Bill Archer's work in Madhubani and the problems he faced. Improvements in cattle breeding. Rural indebtedness. His discovery of further popular paintings at Puri.
Summary: Playback Cassette Side 2: Puri paintings. His meeting with Tagore and his impressions of him and Shantiniketan. Mrs Archer's opinion of Tagore's poetry. Bill Archer's meeting with Gandhi. Mrs Archer's marriage and arrival in India to the Chota Nagpur plateau. Her impressions of the country and the people. The particular problems of the tribal people. Rural indebtedness, lack of sympathy for the tribal people on the part of the Hindu population Deforestation. Bill Archer's recording of poetry and marriage sermons. Mrs Archer's daily routine. Mixing with Indians at the tennis club. Accompanying her husband on his official tours around his district. Settling small grievances on the spot. The social life of the club and Mrs Archer's lack of interest in it. The Archers' children and their early education. The health of the family while in India. The health of the European community generally. The difficulty in entertaining Indian women because of caste. The lack of hostility between the Hindu and Muslim communities. The Anglo-Indian community. Mrs Archer's contacts with missionaries and her evaluation of their work in India. Her work in preparing text books for use in the schools. The Text Book Committee. Mass literary movement.
Summary: Playback Cassette Side 3: The differing attitudes of the official and non-official European community towards the Indians. The community of the planters at Purnea, their life¬style and their reminiscences. Their attitude towards Indian culture. The tradition of ICS men interested in Indian culture. The Government's encouragement of Bill Archer's work. His editorship of 'Man in India' and the publication of his book 'The Blue Grove'. Bill Archer's appointment and work in producing the 1941 Census - unable to produce a full report because of wartime. The Archers' interest in Indian miniatures. The collection of P.C. Manouk in Patna. The Attitude of the classical Indian scholars towards the popular painting and poetry. Bill Archer's cataloguing of part of the Manouk collec¬tion at the V & A. The Patna school of painting and the reminiscences of the old Patna painters. Other collectors the Archers met, including Khandalawala. The troubles and the Quit India movement in Patna. Its effect on the Archers' relationship with the Indian community. Mrs Archer's identification with the British in India during wartime. Her opinion of the Quit India movement and the fact that it was not a spontaneous movement. The arrest of Indian leaders in Patna including Rajendra Prasad. Making their life in prison more comfortable. Bill Archer's meeting with Jagjivan Ram. Mrs Archer's stay at Mussoorie, her interest in the Anglo-Indian families who had been in India for several generations. The eruption of violent rioting in Patna.
Summary: Playback Cassette Side 4: Bill Archer having to order the police to fire on a crowd of rioters. The rules governing police firing on rioting crowds. Lack of restraining leadership over students and other disorderly elements because of imprisonment of Congress leaders. Bill Archer's transfer to working among the Santals. Criticisms of Sir Thomas Stewart. The problems of the Santals, their disadvantages in the courts, and their own tribal justice and laws. Bill Archer's report on their problems. The lack of sympathy on the part of the Indian administration towards helping the tribes. Reminiscences of Verrier Elwin. The rarity of marriages between European men and Indian women. The growing bitterness between Hindus and Muslims. The Archers' decision to leave India after Independence. Mrs Archer's evaluation of British rule in India and its benefits to both Britain and India. The honesty and lack of corruption in the ICS. Areas where the British administration failed. The effect on her life of their time in India. Their subsequent careers in Britain. The absence of any bitterness over the troubles after Independence.
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| Main author: |
Archer; Mildred Agnes (1911-2005); art historian |
| Other authors: |
Blake; David M (fl 1983); librarian and interviewer |
| Previous numbers: |
OA2/59/1-4
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| Extent: |
2 sound cassettes
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| Admin history: |
Dr. Mildred Agnes Archer - Married William George Archer (d.1979), 1934; Indian Civil Service, Bihar, 1931-47 who became an authority on Indian popular painting and tribal poetry and culture. Mrs. Archer shared these interests, herself publishing several books on Indian painting. |
| Custodial history: |
Recorded as part of the ’Memories of the British in India’ project by India Office Library & Records [subsequently the Oriental and India Office Collection, British Library]. This recording was previously held at SOAS Library as part of the 'British in India Oral Archive Project' collection [Reference OA2], removed from this collection in August 2014 to reflect the recording’s alternative provenance as part of the ‘Memories of the British in India’ project. |
| Access status: |
Closed
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| Access conditions: |
Sound recording currently unavailable at SOAS Library due to preservation reasons. Researchers can access a copy of this audio recording at the British Library Listening & Viewing Service. 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 Library |
| User restrictions: |
Private study only. For publication or broadcast please refer to Archivist |
| Language: |
English
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| Originals: |
Original sound recording of interview available at British Library Listening & Viewing Service [Reference:C63/57-64].
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| Format: |
Archive
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