| Order number: |
OA4, Memories of the British in India, Sound Cassettes, Box 1 [CLOSED]
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| Summary: |
Lady Squire is interviewed about her life in India, Persia and Afghanistan, as the wife of Sir Giles Squire of the Indian Political Services.
Summary: Family and educational background; securing of a teaching job in India at Hyderabad school; teaching in Hyderabad (Deccan), life at the school, subjects, and contacts with the pupils; teachers' living conditions and life outside the school; vacation in Kashmir; marriage to Sir Giles Squire; Lady Squire's health in India, general levels of health; Indore, character of station; character of political service work; memories of a shoot; experiences stationed in Kathiawar; her children and their education; the servants, their quality and work organizing of shopping and supplies in Kabul; Indian friends; welfare and voluntary work, particularly the leprosy unit in Meshed; her opinion of the Indian independence movement; anti-British outburst of a doctor friend; unable to accept presents from Indians; her contact with Moral Rearmament movement; Meshed, modernizing efforts of Shah, unco-operative attitude of people to British; strength of Islam in Kabul; memories of the Quetta Earthquake and its afermath; highlights of Lady Squire's time in the East, camel excursion in Baluchistan; feeling of safety in India; unpleasant incidents with Congress supporters during Quit India movement; her interest in the sights of India; prohibition of entry into mosques in Meshed, though not in Kabul.
Summary: Playback Cassette Side 1: Family and educational background. Securing of teaching job in India. Character of Hyderabad school. Reasons for wanting to live in India. Journey to India. Teaching in Hyderabad (Deccan): close contact with pupils; subjects taught; problem of early marriage for girls; teachers' living conditions; housekeeping arrangements; social life; meeting zenana ladies; school's daily routine; its annual routine. Hyderabad school: Kashmir vacation; Kashmir crafts; Nizam's household; his miserly reputation. Marriage to Sir G Squire. Lady Squire's sicknesses in India. Level of health in India for Europeans; health precautions. Indore: pleasant character of station; accompanying husband on tour. Character of Political Service work. Kathiawar experience. Character of Jamnagar ruler; memories of a shoot. Protocol and formality.
Summary: Playback Cassette Side 2: Amusing story to illustrate protocol. Children's education. Quality of Indian servants; work of cooks; their habit of supplementing earnings from shopping money; organization of shopping; organization of household supplies. Kabul winters. Problem in Political Service of making close friends; Indian friends. Relative lack of contact with Anglo-Indians. Welfare and voluntary work. Contact with missionaries; their leprosy unit at Meshed. Lack of interest in Indian politics. Lady Squire's opinion of Indian independence movement; an Indian doctor who -criticized British rule. Refusal of British to accept presents from Indian princes. Sir G Squire's discussion with anti-British doctor. British protection of poorer classes. Lady Squire's contact with Moral Rearmament. Meshed modernizing efforts of Shah; unco-operative attitude of Iranians. Power of Islam in Kabul.
Summary: Playback Cassette Side 3: Memories of Quetta earthquake aftermath. Highlights of Lady Squire's life in East: camel excursion in Baluchistan; love of sleeping out-of-doors. Feeling of safety in India. Unpleasant incident with Congress supporter. Incident with Congressmen which caused Lady Squire apprehension. Her interest in music. Her interest in sights of India. Meshed: prohibition on mosque entry. Kabul: different attitudes to European entry into mosques.
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| Main author: |
Squire; Lady; Irene Mary (b 1898); teacher |
| Other authors: |
Wood; Conrad (b 1942); historian and interviewer |
| Previous numbers: |
OA2/76/1-3
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| Extent: |
2 sound casettes
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| Admin history: |
Lady Irene Mary Squire - Went to India as school teacher; married, 1926, Sir Giles Frederick Squire (1894-1959), Indian Civil Service 1920-24, Indian Political Service (I.P.S.) 1924-47. Interview describes life in India as a teacher at the Mahbubia School, Hyderabad, and as the wife of an I.P.S. Officer serving in Iran (1936-1943) and Afghanistan (1943-47) as well as India. |
| 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: C63/94-98]
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| Format: |
Archive
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