Interview with Dr. John R. Marr [sound recording]

Dr. Marr is interviewed about his time in the army serving in India and Burma just after World War 2. Summary: Playback Cassette Side 1: Family background. Acquiring initial interest in India. Indian film and music. Educational background. Recruitment to Indian Army Scheme: interview; ideas of Ind...

Full description

Archive & Special Collections OA4/14 Closed

Order number: OA4, Memories of the British in India, Sound Cassettes, Box 1 [CLOSED]
Date(s) of creation: 15 October 1983
Level: Item
Format: Archive           
Main author: Marr; John R (b 1927); linguist
Other authors: Wood; Conrad (b 1942); historian and interviewer

collection SOAS Archive
id OA4.14
recordtype archive
scb_item_location Archive & Special Collections
item_location Archive & Special Collections
scb_loan_type Reference only
scb_order_with OA4, Memories of the British in India, Sound Cassettes, Box 1 [CLOSED]
callnumber OA4/14
callnumber_txt OA4/14
callnumber-sort OA4/14
prefix_number 14
scb_previous_numbers OA2/71/1-3
title Interview with Dr. John R. Marr [sound recording]
scb_date_creation 15 October 1983
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 2 sound casettes
author Marr; John R (b 1927); linguist
author_facet Marr; John R (b 1927); linguist
Wood; Conrad (b 1942); historian and interviewer
authorStr Marr; John R (b 1927); linguist
author_letter Marr; John R (b 1927); linguist
author2 Wood; Conrad (b 1942); historian and interviewer
author2Str Wood; Conrad (b 1942); historian and interviewer
format Archive
scb_admin_history Interview with Dr. John R. Marr - Army service in India and Burma 1946-48. Lecturer in Dravidian languages and Karnatic music, School of Oriental and African Studies.
scb_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.
description Dr. Marr is interviewed about his time in the army serving in India and Burma just after World War 2. Summary: Playback Cassette Side 1: Family background. Acquiring initial interest in India. Indian film and music. Educational background. Recruitment to Indian Army Scheme: interview; ideas of Indian Army career; transfer from India service to British service, 1946; embarkation leave. Jersey: signs of German occupation; attitudes to British and Germans. Memories of Col. Buckmaster, SOE. Preparations for going to India: Urdu practice; standard of Urdu instruction. Voyage on GEORGIC. Feast of plantains on arrival in Bombay. Kind of boys on draft: an Indian cadet. Culture shock of Indian cadet. Kalyan: impression of Ganesha festival; visit to Ambarnath festival; positive first impressions of India. Attitude of Indians to British. Marr1s hobby collecting reptiles. Bangalore: journey to; Marr's OTS course; comparison of Mysore with British India; relative insulation from civilian life; liberal Army regime; Marr's state of health; strict Army health regime; Army camps; loss of rations to kites; killing Russell's vipers; Army instruction; lack of interest in politics. Summary: Playback Cassette Side 2: Bangalore: friendships with Tamil bearer; prejudice of Rajput cadet against southerners. Marr's objection to inferior status of havildars vis-a-vis sergeants. Bangalore: Army advice about attitude to be taken to Indians; Marr's RAOC commission. Leave in Kodaikanal. An amusing notice at Ootacamund. Jubbulpore: M/T course; friendship with Tamil troops; Marr's interest in Indian culture; social contact with Indians; Marr's dislike for club life; his interest in local plant life; lack of signs of political activity. Marr's attitude to Indian independence; his estimate of impact of British rule. Camaraderie of officers and jawans; horror at racial¬ism of brother officer. Economic effects of British rule in India. British gift of politically neutral Army. Journey to Burma: favourable impression of Madras. Voyage on EMPIRE PENRHYN. First impressions of Burma: Marr's failure to familiarise himself with the country. His disastrous introduction to tank driving. 19 July 1947: murder of members of Cabinet; subsequent restrictions on Army movements; reasons for anti-Burmese feelings of British; female Karen clerical workers. Summary: Playback Cassette Side 3: Problem of theft of Army property; how dacoit problem solved by Gurkhas. Xenophobia of Burmese. Friendship with Burmese officer. Shaky character of Burmese administration. Extortion by Aung San armed groups. Relics of Japanese occupation; Anglo-Karen girl's account of Japanese occupation of Burma. Marr's feelings on leaving the country.
scb_access_status Closed
scb_conditions_gov_access 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.
scb_copyright Copyright held by British Library
scb_use_restrictions Private study only. For publication or broadcast please refer to Archivist
language English
language_search English
scb_originals Original sound recording of interview available at British Library Listening & Viewing Service [Reference: C63/52-56]
note Soldiers - Reminiscences.
Burma - Independence, 1948
Burma
India - Independence, 1947
India. Army - British rule, 1765-1947 - Reminiscences.
hierarchy_top_id_raw OA4
hierarchy_sequence OA4.0014

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