A day in the Office

 

 

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Introduction

 

Even after the move of the capital to New Delhi, office work remained dominant activity for many people in the city.  With its colonial and municipal civil service, with its many imperial business concerns, and with the war bringing with it mind boggling military bureaucracies of several nations, it was not surprising that the days of a great many Calcuttans, established or newly arrived  were spent in offices.  With the extra loads or work due to that war and many office workers being called up to the forces those that remained in fact seemed to never be able to leave the desk at all. 

Office life with its messengers and tea boys, sweepers and durwans, middle-ranking babus, young newcomers on the make and old (-fashioned) India hands, with all its ranks privileges and traditions, was often a microcosm of the colonial world in general. Yet as the forties went on political change on the outside was bound to seep through the shutters and change attitudes in the offices of Calcutta as well.

 

 

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          _____Pictures of 1940s Calcutta_________________________

 

 

 

 

 

          _____Contemporary Records of or about 1940s Calcutta_

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

          _____Memories of 1940s Calcutta_________________________

 

A job broker approached me at the station …

I made my first trip to Calcutta from Cochin in a third-class compartment of Howrah Mail. The ticket cost Rs 13. Clad in a dhoti and shirt and clutching my belongings — a tin box and a bedroll — I got off at a neat and clean Howrah station. A job broker approached me at the station itself and gave me the address of an office and Rs 10 as advance salary.

(N.S. Mani, newly employed office worker from Kerala, Calcutta, February 1945
(source: Telegraph Thursday, October 27, 2005)

(COPYRIGHT NOTICE: Reproduced under 'fair dealing' terms as part of a non commercial educational research project. The copyright remains with N.S. Mani )

 

 

 

 

 

 

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The Civil Service

 

 

 

 

          _____Pictures of 1940s Calcutta_________________________

 

 

Government House

Glenn Hensley, Photography Technician with US Army Airforce, Summer 1944

 

 (source: Glenn S. Hensley: Government House, C011, Government House (today's Raj Bhavan.) Gate on side toward Dalhousie Square.  seen at University of Chicago Hensley Photo Library at http://dsal.uchicago.edu/images/hensley as well as a  series of E-Mail interviews with Glenn Hensley between 12th June 2001 and 28th August 2001)

 

 (COPYRIGHT NOTICE: Reproduced by permission of Glenn Hensley and under a Creative Commons license)

 

 

 

The O.B.E. Announcement

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Malcolm Moncrieff Stuart, I.C.S. (Indian Civil Service) District Magistrate Chittagong, Calcutta, 1944

(source: personal scrapbook kept by Malcolm Moncrieff Stuart O.B.E., I.C.S. seen on 20-Dec-2005 / Reproduced by courtesy of Mrs. Malcolm Moncrieff Stuart)

 

 

 

 

 

          _____Contemporary Records of or about 1940s Calcutta___

 

THE BENGAL SECRETARIAT

Trams :—A1I trams except Park Circus to High Court via Harris Road, and Kidderpore and Alipore lines.

Buses :—2, 3A, 4A, 5, 8, 8A, 13,14.

This imposing edifice of Gothic architecture, occupying the northern side of Dalhousie Square, is still known by its old name of "Writers' Building." The portico above the central entrance is supported by a row of hanssome Ionic pillars, surmounted by the Royal Coat of Arms and a statue of Britannia resplendent in yellow.

The roof displays symbolic figures and four allegorical groups representing Science, Agriculture, Commerce and Justice. The western wing of the structure covers the site of St. Anne's Church, which was erected in 1709 and totally destroyed during the siege of Calcutta in 1756.

Writers' Building, originally consisting of nineteen apartments, was constructed in 1776 for the purpose of providing quarters for the writers of the Hon'ble East India Company ; later it was rented out as offices and private rooms. During the Lieutenant-Governor-ship of Sir Ashley Eden (1877-1882) it was greatly enlarged and improved upon, new blocks were constructed, addtional floors added, the appearance enhanced by the present decorative facade and fantastic roof, and the building, under the name of Bengal Secretariat, became the permanent home for the various departments of the  Bengal Government.

Impatient suitors will find the Marriage Registrater Office conveniently located on the ground floor.

John Barry, journalist, Calcutta, 1939/40
(source page 71 of John Barry: “Calcutta 1940” Calcutta: Central Press, 1940.)

(COPYRIGHT NOTICE: Reproduced under 'fair dealing' terms as part of a non commercial educational research project. The copyright remains with John Barry 1940)

 

Charnock Place

We now enter Charnock Place. Immediately on our right is a red brick building known as the Collectorate, accommodating the offices of the Collector of Stamps, Excise and Land Revenue, Calcutta, the Commissioner of Revenue and Circuit, Presidency Division, and the Public Health Department, Engineering Branch.

John Barry, journalist, Calcutta, 1939/40
(source page 8 of John Barry: “Calcutta 1940” Calcutta: Central Press, 1940.)

(COPYRIGHT NOTICE: Reproduced under 'fair dealing' terms as part of a non commercial educational research project. The copyright remains with John Barry 1940)

 

 

Calcutta with not a penny to spend

Unfortunately, I then discovered that, not only the fever, but most of my money, was spent. Believing, however, that it would not be difficult for a member of one of the Secretary of State's Services to recoup his finances, I set forth confidently in search of the Secretariat, the seat of the Bengal Government. In this I was proved to be wrong. I had not realised that, while I was tossing on my sick bed, something called the Durga Puja had begun — an annual Hindu festival, during which the Government of India goes into retreat and takes a three week's holiday. When I arrived at the Secretariat, the doors were shut and barred and not a soul was in sight.

Fortunately, money was not an important means of exchange within the hotel where, until the final day of reckoning, a signature on a chit caused the iced drinks to flow freely. But, once having left its doors, I found myself in a hard, unsympathetic world. Chevrolet taxis sped by driven by bearded Sikhs, whom I could not afford to employ. Even the strings of overworked tram cars  were beyond my slender means. I tramped for miles along dusty streets, visited bazaars full of choice wares I could not buy and was barred from enjoying the air-conditioned comfort of the 'bioscope'.

Calcutta was, I had been told, fun. A good place for a European to be stationed, with lots to do, delightful clubs and a good golf course. To the poor it had less to offer …

[…]

Every so often, I would return to the Secretariat in the faint hope that I might find somebody at work and, after a week, I did. He was a kindly Bengali, a middle-grade civil servant who seemed to have taken on his shoulders the responsibilities of an entire nation. He listened to my tale of woe, regretted that he could not give me an official 'sub' until the office reopened, but made me a small personal loan. That night I boarded the train for Assam.

John Rowntree, Officer Indian Forestry Service. Calcutta, early 1940s

 (source pages 9-10  of John Rowntree: “A Chota Sahib. Memoirs of a Forest Officer.” Padstow: Tabb House, 1981.)

(COPYRIGHT NOTICE: Reproduced under 'fair dealing' terms as part of a non commercial educational research project. The copyright remains with the Estate of John Rowntree)

 

 

Facilis Descensus Averno

Facilis Descensus Averno

I met a chap one day in Hell

and asked him how he liked it: 'Well,'

he answered candidly, 'you see,

Mughs Burmese cooks, much sought after

there's nothing strange in this to me.

I lived among them all—the heat

the stink, the racket, the deceit,

corruption, avarice and fear;

and nearly all my friends are here.

It suits me well, I must confess;

for I was in the ICS.'

D.H.A. Alexander, ICS, 1940s
(source: page 19-20 R.V. Vernède (ed.): “British life in India : An Anthology of Humorous and Other Writings…” Delhi; Oxford : Oxford University Press, 1997.)

(COPYRIGHT NOTICE: Reproduced under 'fair dealing' terms as part of a non commercial educational research project. The copyright remains with Oxford University Press 1995)

 

I lost my government job in the Bihar secretariat by writing Daak Diye Jayee

More years passed and life was seized by turbulence. I lost my government job in the Bihar secretariat by writing Daak Diye Jayee, a seditious novel in Bengali based on the 1942 movement. The novel also earned me a position among the important writers, and when I saw no hope of getting another job under the British government, I migrated to Calcutta to be a full fledged writer. There, in 1946, unexpectedly and dramatically, I got connected with films and came in contact with the topmost director of Bengal at the time, Bimal Roy.

Nabendu Ghosh, writer, Calcutta, 1940s
(source: page XI of Nabendu Ghosh: Ashok Kumar. His Life and Times. New Delhi: Indus, 1995.)

(COPYRIGHT NOTICE: Reproduced under 'fair dealing' terms as part of a non commercial educational research project. The copyright remains with Nabendu Ghosh 1995)

 

THE CORPORATION OF CALCUTTA

The administrative headquarters of the Corporation, generally known as the Central Municipal Offices, are situated at No. 5 Surendra Nath Banerjee Road. The building, of Gothic architecture, was erected in 1905 from the design of Mr. Banks Gwyther, and formally opened in June of the same year by Mr. R. T. Grier, then Chairman of the Corporation. The eastern and western wings are connected with the central block by covered passages. The Council Chamber and rooms in the central block have verandahs on the north and south sides, the corridors formed by the verandahs and passages affording easy communication between the several departments,

The main feature of the building is the central tower on the south, raised to a height of 105 feet. Directly under the tower is the official entrance, reached from Chowringhee Place: this is only opened on Committee days for the use of the members.

 Passing through the heavy grilled doors, we are in the well of the staircase, where is conspicuously exhibited a 75 M. M. Krupp gun captured in the Boer War, and presented to the Corporation of Calcutta in 1905 by the Government of India in recognition of services rendered by India during the War.

Ascending the wide steps we find ourselves in the spacious lobby, adorned with the busts of Sir Henry Leland Harrison, Kt,, Chairman of the Corporation, William Mearns Souttar, Chairman, and Sir Surendra Nath Banerjea, Kt., (1848-1925). Tablets to and portraits of, Sir Charles Alien, Kt., Chairman of the Corporation, and Dr. Herbert Milverton Crake, Health Officer of the Corporation ; and portraits of, John Blessington Roberts, Chairman of the Justice of the Peace, Gopal Lal Mitter, Vice-Chairman, Sir Kailash Chandra Bose, Kt., Commissioner, Nilambara Mukerji, Vice-Chairman, Robert Turnbull, Secretary, Rai Bahadur Nalini Nath Sett, Councillor, Raj Bahadur Debendra Chunder Ghose, Commissioner, and others, are also displayed in this lobby.

In the lobby on the south, is the Lady Councillors' Room, and on the east, the Council Chamber, a beautiful and lofty hall, well worthy of its site and functions. On the north, upon a raised dais and under an artistically designed canopy, is the Mayor's chair, elaborately carved and surmounted with the arms of the Corporation embossed in gold : on the right of the Mayor sits the Deputy Mayor, on the left the Chief Executive Officer: the Secretaries sit at the table immediately before the mayorial desk. The Councillors' chairs and desks, arranged in horse-shoe fashion facing the Mayor's chair, are upholstered in green moroccan leather, with the arms of the Corporation emblazoned in gold on each. The Committee Rooms, the offices of the Mayor, the Deputy Mayor, the Chief Executive Officer and Secretaries, are located in the western wing of the building; the Councillors' Room and the lift is in the eastern wing.

The first Corporation of Calcutta was formed in 1727. The present one, constituted under the Calcutta Municipal Act of 1923, consists of a Mayor, a Deputy Mayor, a Chief Executive Officer, five Aldermen, and eighty-seven Councillors. There are nine standing committees, appointed annually to deal with buildings, estates and general purposes; finance, public health, public utilities and markets; roads and bustees; and services, water supply and works.

The last census figures taken of Calcutta in 1931, show a total population of 11,96,734 against 10,77,264 in 1921. The gross valuation of the city on 31st March 1938 was Rs. 10,33,52,543 as compared with Rs. 1,31,77,293 in 1880, and Rs. 2,19,49,992 in 1900. The income of the Corporation in 1937-38 was Rs. 2,47,47,094 and the expenditure Rs. 2,45,03,625; the corresponding figures in 1900-01 were Rs. 54,34,000 and Rs. 62,13,000.

The Health Committee of the Corporation has a special organization for the destruction of mosquitoes, known as the Mosquito Control Department. This was inaugurated with the object of carrying out anti-mosquito measures, and a malaria survey of Calcutta, and in order to pursue the project effectively the city has been divided into 228 sections, each section coming under the attention of the Mosquito Brigade Staff on a fixed day every week.

The Corporation maintains :

A number of vaccination stations in various parts of the city, and employs female vaccinators to vaccinate purdah ladies.

Four Maternity Homes with a lady doctor in charge of each.

Eight Maternity Units adequately staffed by midwives, under the supervision of Lady Health Visitors, whose services are available free of charge to persons of small means.

Eighteen Milk Kitchen Centres, where milk and barley are given free morning and evening to babies up to two and a half years old.

Nineteen Charitable Dispensaries, equipped with the most modern facilities and staffed with competent doctors. Open daily from 8-30 a.m. to 11-30 a.m. and from 4. p.m. to 5-30 p.m.

Thirty-one Ward Health Association Treatment Centres, with a Medical Officer attached to each who looks after the health of his particular ward.

The Corporation controls seventy-two public parks, squares and gardens, excluding the Eden Gardens, the Victoria Memorial Gardens, and the Botanical and Zoological Gardens. The parks are well laid out, some of them being provided with swings and see-saws for juveniles, swimming pools, football grounds and tennis courts for schools and clubs, and pavilions, benches and other attractions for the general public.

The City Fathers are awake to the necessity for education, and maintain at great expense 230 free primary Schools, as well as model schools, night schools for carters and sweepers, and a training school for teachers.

The Corporation publishes a weekly magazine under the name of "The Calcutta Municipal Gazette". It is the official organ of the Corporation, records all important municipal happenings, and conducts propaganda relative to publicity work.

John Barry, journalist, Calcutta, 1939/40
(source pages 138-140 of John Barry: “Calcutta 1940” Calcutta: Central Press, 1940.)

(COPYRIGHT NOTICE: Reproduced under 'fair dealing' terms as part of a non commercial educational research project. The copyright remains with John Barry 1940)

 

India is governed by England as a part of the British Empire

India is governed by England as a part of the British Empire. The supreme authority id the British Parliament, which exercises control through one of its members, a Minister with Cabinet rank, known as the Secretary of State for India.

The executive head in India is the Governor-General, who is also the Viceroy, representing the British Crown. The Governor-General is assisted by an Executive Council whose members are appointed by the Crown on the recommendation of the Viceroy through the Secretary of State.

The laws of India are made by two houses of legislature - the Council of State and the Legislative Assembly, the Upper and Lower Houses respectively. The Upper House has 60 members, and the Lower House has 140. The Governor-General has the power to veto any measure passed by the Legislature. He has also the power to pass Ordinances and Acts without recourse to the Legislature. There are a large number of members in both the Houses nominated by the Government, and nearly three-fourths of the items of Indian expenditure are non-votable, i.e. the Legislature has no power to vote on them or reject them. The powers of the Viceroy are extraordinary and unlimited.

The provinces are ruled by British Governors with the help of Indian Ministers who represent the majority party in the provincial legislatures.

The day-to-day administration is carried on by the Indian Civil Service recruited in England and India, assisted by Indian subordinates.

 

(source: “A Guide Book to Calcutta, Agra, Delhi, Karachi and Bombay” The American Red Cross and the China-Burma-India-Command. [1943]:  at: http://cbi-theater-2.home.comcast.net/redcross/red-cross-india.html#INDIA)

 

(COPYRIGHT NOTICE: Reproduced under 'fair dealing' terms as part of a non commercial educational research project. The copyright remains with the original submitter/author)

 

 

 

 

          _____Memories of 1940s Calcutta_________________________

 

 

We went up on the roof and actually watched the Japanese bombers

I did not want to go back to school in Simla and I eventually managed to persuade my father to agree to my attending a commercial college in Calcutta. After qualifying, I got a job with the military organisations. While I was working there, there was an air raid. A few of the civilian staff, including me, went up on the roof and actually watched the Japanese bombers flying overhead on their way to bomb the docks. We had many air raids and, on one particular night when the docks and tram depot were bombed, our whole house shook. That was very frightening.

Mary Anderson (nee Hezmalhalch), office worker, Calcutta, 1943

 

(source: A2640601 A Schoolgirl’s War in the Far East at BBC WW2 People's War' on http://www.bbc.co.uk/ww2peopleswar/ Oct 2006)

(COPYRIGHT NOTICE: Reproduced under 'fair dealing' terms as part of a non commercial educational research project. The copyright remains with the original submitter/author)

 

The honours at government house

The durbar was an entirely formal occasion; there were no social exchanges, no conversation, no fiesta. It was a glorified prize-giving day conducted according to strict rules. It was a dignified 'showing the flag' ceremony, a public (as far as the invitees were concerned) display of loyalty to the Raj—and the bestowal of honours and awards in return for that loyalty. All the arrangements for and the smooth running of a ceremonial durbar fell upon the shoulders of myself and H.E.'s Military Secretary. We started a month or so in anticipation. The Honours and Titles to be awarded had been gazetted by the King Emperor. Fortunately, I had a small staff of Indian clerks who knew exactly where the wife of the managing director of Jardine and Skinners should be seated in relation to the sister of a Police Inspector, or the daughter of the Chief Secretary (Finance) and the wife of an Indian grandee. We seldom made mistakes and enjoyed ourselves immensely imagining the consequences of a mistake-on-purpose... Having sent out beautifully printed invitations in heavy gold lettering, and everyone having  dusted down his dress uniform, creased his morning trousers, and the women aired their finery after months of monsoon dampness— the great day arrives. No troublesome fears about bad weather, for Calcutta's cold weather months are perfect, day by day ... The durbar hall was a large and ornate auditorium, shaped somewhat like that of a theatre, but level except for the raised platform (two or three feet) at the far end. Up the centre, towards the platform, was a gangway about ten or twelve feet wide. On the platform, on an ornate throne, sat His Excellency [The Governor of Bengal], flanked on either side by his military ADCs, and behind them two or three rows of senior officials with wives, sisters, daughters and what-have-you in strict order of precedence. Those destined to receive honours, which included OBEs, Raj Bahadurs, and Khan Bahadurs, as well as more modest decorations, were seated in the main body of the hall, along with less important guests ... My job was to lead the nervous recipient in a sort of dignified goose-step up the red carpet to within a few feet of the throne, bow to H.E. in unison, and then, after the ribbon was safely around the neck, to about-turn and retire with the same slow dignity. At least, that was the theory of it. In practice, the march was almost a tottering and hesitant shamble with swords getting tangled between legs and head-gear slipping askew. After all, these honoured recipients, white or brown, were mostly men of some age, weighed down with fat and unable to see the ground immediately in front of them because of their paunches ... So we weaved from side to side in our progress, like elderly passengers taking their exercise on board a rolling ship. We made our way forward, making some pretence of a slow march, my partner pottering along with small nervous steps and a clanking sword. Inevitably, the long foreseen crisis came with the perilous mounting of the two steps onto the regal platform. I held onto the old man's arm firmly, muttering words of encouragement out of the comer of my mouth, but I knew this time we were for it. "With a final effort and a final gasp he tripped on the top step and plunged madly forward. Two ADCs quietly and efficiently took the impact without need to draw their swords. But to H.E. goes first prize for presence of mind— as the head came towards him he adroitly slipped the ribbon and medal over the butting head and used his hands to pat the shoulders of the good man. In a more relaxed gathering of civilised people, the hall would have resounded with laughter and applause, perhaps with shouts of 'encore!' But no!, The British and their loyalists with stern composure and stiff upper lips looked straight ahead. Only a young woman somewhere tittered for an embarrassed moment. Meanwhile we, the two star performers, shambled our way back in sweat and misery.

Micheal Carritt, ICS officer. Calcutta, 1930s.
(source: Micheal Carritt: A Mole in the Crown. New Delhi: Rupa 1986)

(COPYRIGHT NOTICE: Reproduced under 'fair dealing' terms as part of a non commercial educational research project. The copyright remains with Micheal Carritt )

 

 

 

 

 

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Banks & Insurance Companies

 

 

 

          _____Pictures of 1940s Calcutta_________________________

 

Calcutta stock exchange

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Street scene outside the Calcutta stock exchange.  The noise is similar to the bedlam in all word exchange and many transactions (unofficial) take place in the street as shown here.

Clyde Waddell, US military man, personal press photographer of Lord Louis Mountbatten, and news photographer on Phoenix magazine. Calcutta, mid 1940s

(source: webpage http://oldsite.library.upenn.edu/etext/sasia/calcutta1947/?  Monday, 16-Jun-2003 / Reproduced by courtesy of David N. Nelson, South Asia Bibliographer, Van Pelt Library, University of Pennsylvania)

 

Lloyds Bank

collected by Malcolm Moncrieff Stuart, I.C.S. (Indian Civil Service), Calcutta, 1940s

(source: personal scrapbook kept by Malcolm Moncrieff Stuart O.B.E., I.C.S. seen on 20-Dec-2005 / Reproduced by courtesy of Mrs. Malcolm Moncrieff Stuart)

 

 

 

          _____Contemporary Records of or about 1940s Calcutta___

 

The Imperial Bank of India

Passing Hare Street and then Hastings Street, we come to the Imperial Bank of India, a handsome three storeyed building occupying the corner uf Strand Road and Esplanade Row (West). Founded in 1806 as the Government Bank of Calcutta, it received its Charter in 1809 under the name of the Bank of Bengal. The idea of a central banking establishment for British India was mooted as early as 1836, but the scheme did not come to fruition until January 1921, when the Provincial Banks of Bengal, Bombay and Madras were amalgamated to form the Imperial Bank of India, with a capital of 11½ crores of rupees divided inro fully paid up shares of Rs. 500/'- each. The Imperial Bank of India is the sole agent for the Reserve
Bank of India.

John Barry, journalist, Calcutta, 1939/40
(source page 14 of John Barry: “Calcutta 1940” Calcutta: Central Press, 1940.)

(COPYRIGHT NOTICE: Reproduced under 'fair dealing' terms as part of a non commercial educational research project. The copyright remains with John Barry 1940)

 

Clive Street the "Wall Street of the East"

Retracing our steps and passing through Clive Ghat Street, we find ourselves in Clive Street, which runs from Charnock Place (Dalhousie Square) across Canning Street and Harrison Road to Darmaharta Street. The northern half of Clive Street is occupied mostly by dealers in hardware and medical stores ; the southern half. lined with imposing modern buildings is the centre of the commercial and financial activities of the city and can readily be designated as the "Wall Street of the East".

At the corner of Clive Ghat Street and Clive Street is the stately building of the Central Bank of India. Ltd., on the upper floors of which are the offices of the Tata Iron and Steel Co. Ltd., Mitsui Bussan Kaisha Ltd., and other commercial firms. Directly opposite the Central Bank at No. 11 Clive Street, is the building of The Planters' Stores & Agency Co. Ltd., housing Landale and Clark Ltd., and other firms. Next, at No. 10, is the building of Worthington Simpson Ltd. Engineers, accommodating William Jacks &. Co., A. & J. Main & Co. Ltd., the office of the American Trade Corn mils; oner and many other mercantile firms. Adjoining it and facing south, is Graham Building, giving accommodation to the Eastern Bank Ltd., the Bank of India Ltd., the Federal Union Insurance Co. Ltd. and the Bank Line Ltd., (formerly Andrew Weir & Co.)

By the side of Graham Building is Clive Row, running across Canning Street and rejoining Clive Street at No. 14. At No. 2 Clive Row is the Oriental Government Security Life Assurance Building, where are the offices of Nippon Yusen Kaisha (Japan Mail Steamship Co. Ltd.), the Bengal Bank Ltd., the Angus Co. Ltd., Thomas Duff & Co. Ltd., and several other firms. Jardine Skinner & Co. Merchants and Shipping Agents, are at No. 4; John Dickinson &. Co. Ltd. at No. 6, and Andrew Yule & Co. Ltd. at No. 8.

Back to the point where we entered Clive Street, we have on the right, Duncan Brothers' building. No. 101, accommodating E. D. Sassoon & Co. Ltd., and Roberts, McLean &. Co. Ltd. Adjoining it is the North British Building, on the upper floor or which are the offices of George Henderson & Co. Ltd., and the North British and Mercantile Insurance Co. Ltd.. the ground floor being occupied by Lloyds Bank Ltd. Then comes in succession, the East Bengal Bank, the Yokohama Specie Bank, the Continental Bank of Asia, the Calcutta Safe Deposit Co. Ltd., and immediately after, the Bengal Bonded Warehouse, alongside which is a gate giving access to the Commercial Building blocks. Next is Balmer Lawrie & Co. Ltd.

On the other side, across the thorough fare at No. 8, is Gillanders Arbuthnot & Cos Clive Buildings, the largest in Clive Street, housing the Imperial Bank of India (Clive Street Branch), the Mercantile Bank of India. Lionel Edwards & Co., the Prudential Assurance Co. Ltd., and several other business firms. A few stops lower down is the South British Insurance Co's buildings, accommodating the National City Bank of New York and the Board of Trustees for the improvement of Calcutta.

We now come to the Royal Exchange, built on the site of the New Oriental Bank Corporation, which was purchased by the Chamber of Commerce in 1893.

[…]

To the east of the Royal Exchange Building, in Royal Exchange Place, is Law Building, the ground floor of which is occupied by the Netherlands Trading Society, and the upper floor by Biria Brothers. Ltd. Next is the Allahabad Bank Building, housing Sinclair Murray &. Co, the European Association, and the European Group Corporation. The Jute Balers' Association (1909) is at No. 5, by the side of which runs Swallow Lane leading to Old China Bazar Street. The East India Jute Association Ltd. is at No. 2, on the upper floor of which are housed a large number of offices, including those of the National Chamber of Commerce and Calcutta Brokers Limited. At No. 1, is the Netherlands India Commercial Bank, the Great Eastern Life Assurance Co. Ltd., Francis Klein &. Co. Ltd., and others.

The imposing building at No. 2, Clive Street is that of the Chartered Bank, erected in 1908 by Martin & Co. at a cost of Rs. 9,62,000/-. The upper floors of this building are occupied by Bird & Co. and F. W. Heilgers & Co (entrances from Royal Exchange Place). Passing James Finlay & Co. we turn left into Lyons Range which leads to Dalhousie Square.

In Lyons Range, on the right, are the rear entrances of the Bengal Secretariat; on the left. at the corner of Royal Exchange Place and Lyons Range, stands the stately building of the Calcutta Stock Exchange.

[…]

Higher up, at No- 6, Lyons Range, is Turner Morrison's building, where Graham's Trading Co. (India) Ltd., Place, Siddons &. Gough, and the Norwich Union Life Assurance Society (1803) have their offices. Adjoining Turner Morrison's is Sassoon House, which ranks among the loftiest buildings in Calcutta and accommodates a large number of business firms. A little further on is Old Court House Lane leading to Radha Bazar Street.

Finding ourselves once more in Clive Street, in front of the Chartered Bank, we have Fairlie Place across the road. At the corner of Fairlie Place and Clive Street is the imposing building of the National Bank of India, crowned with a lofty tower of Gothic architecture, and accommodating on its upper floors Hoare Miller & Co. Ltd. and the Calcutta Football Club (entrances from Fairlie Place). Alongside, at No. 4, is Fairlie House, Kilburn & Co's building. housing Gladstone Wyllie & Co., Lyall Marshall & Co.. the Senior British Trade Commissioner, John Thompson Ltd., Lloyds Agency and The Aluminium Manufacturing Co. Ltd. Adjoining Fairlie House is Mackinnon Mackenzie & Co's building.

The whole of the southern side of Fairlie Place is occupied by the Head Offices of the East Indian Railway Company (main entrance at 105. Clive Street). By the side of East Indian Railway House is the Custom House, a large building extending in depth from Clive Street to Strand Road. Immediately to the west of the main entrance, formerly extended a range of buildings where the East India Company's Writers were housed.

This was known as 'Long Row' and divided the Old Fore into two sections.

1John Barry, journalist, Calcutta, 1939/40
(source page 14-18 of John Barry: “Calcutta 1940” Calcutta: Central Press, 1940.)

(COPYRIGHT NOTICE: Reproduced under 'fair dealing' terms as part of a non commercial educational research project. The copyright remains with John Barry 1940)

 

Royal Exchange & Chamber of Commerce

We now come to the Royal Exchange, built on the site of the New Oriental Bank Corporation, which was purchased by the Chamber of Commerce in 1893. Designed by T. S. Gregson of Messrs Gregson, Batley &. King (Architects), Bombay, the foundation stone was laid in 1916 by Lord Carmichael and the structure, of Grecian architecture, erected by J. C. Bannerjee &. Co., of Calcutta, at a cost of Rs. 5,00,000/-, completed and formally opened in 1918 by Lord Ronaldshay. A bronze tablet at die main entrance of the new Royal Exchange, presented by Mr. John D. Nimmo Vice President of the Chamber of Commerce in 1905, records that the building was erected on the site of the Town House' of Sir Philip Francis, Member of Council, 1774-1780. Tradition says that the site was occupied by a house in which Lord Clive once lived and from which the street derives its name. The Upper floors of the building are occupied by the Bengal Chamber of Commerce, founded in 1834 and registered with a declared membership of 300. The Chamber was organised in 1853; its main activities involve the promoting of Indian business and encouraging friendly feelings among business men. The Chamber maintains a tribunal of arbitration for settlement of trade disputes and a Licensed Measurers' Department under a special Committee.

John Barry, journalist, Calcutta, 1939/40
(source page 16 of John Barry: “Calcutta 1940” Calcutta: Central Press, 1940.)

(COPYRIGHT NOTICE: Reproduced under 'fair dealing' terms as part of a non commercial educational research project. The copyright remains with John Barry 1940)

 

Calcutta Stock Exchange

In Lyons Range, on the right, are the rear entrances of the Bengal Secretariat; on the left. at the corner of Royal Exchange Place and Lyons Range, stands the stately building of the Calcutta Stock Exchange. constructed by Mackintosh Burn Ltd., at a cost of Rs. 4,11,000/-, and completed and formally opened in 1928 by Sir Stanley Jackson, then Governor of Bengal.

Although business in stocks and shares in Calcutta can he traced back as far as 1885, yet an organised Association, under the name of the Calcutta Stock Exchange Association, was formed only in 1908. It was registered as a limited company in 1923, with its registered offices at No. 2, Royal Exchange Place, and was shifted to its present address at No. 7, Lyons Range in 1927.

John Barry, journalist, Calcutta, 1939/40
(source page 17 of John Barry: “Calcutta 1940” Calcutta: Central Press, 1940.)

(COPYRIGHT NOTICE: Reproduced under 'fair dealing' terms as part of a non commercial educational research project. The copyright remains with John Barry 1940)

 

Dalhousie Square (West)

The red brick structure at the corner of Koila Ghat Street and Dalhousie Square (West) is that of the Royal Insurance Company Ltd., accommodating Sandersons &. Morgans (Solicitors), and the Manufacturers' Life Assurance Company of Canada (1887). Adjoining is McLeod House,. housing the Phoenix Assurance Company Ltd., and the Empire of India Assurance Company Ltd.

John Barry, journalist, Calcutta, 1939/40
(source page 19 of John Barry: “Calcutta 1940” Calcutta: Central Press, 1940.)

(COPYRIGHT NOTICE: Reproduced under 'fair dealing' terms as part of a non commercial educational research project. The copyright remains with John Barry 1940)

 

Government Commercial Institute

Lower down is Old Post Office Street, almost wholly occupied by lawyers' offices; facing Old Post Office Street is Church Lane and at No, 11, Hastings Street the Government Commercial Institute.

This Institute is controlled by a Board of Management on which the influential section of the mercantile community is fairly represented.  It conducts Day and Evening classes and there are special arrangements for classes in connection with the training of students for the examinations of the London Institute of Bankers, and those held for the recruitment to the Railway Accounts Service.   The institute follows courses of study carefully prepared under the guidance of the Board, affiliates other commercial institutions in the province, holds its own examinations and grants its own Diplomas.

John Barry, journalist, Calcutta, 1939/40
(source page 24 of John Barry: “Calcutta 1940” Calcutta: Central Press, 1940.)

(COPYRIGHT NOTICE: Reproduced under 'fair dealing' terms as part of a non commercial educational research project. The copyright remains with John Barry 1940)

 

 

Addresses of Banks in 1940

 

Business Hours :—10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays—to 1 p.m. Closed on Sundays and Holidays.

Allahabad Bank, Ltd.—6 Royal Exchange Place. Phone, Cal 5827.

American Express Co., Inc.—14 Government Place East, Phone, Cal. 5005.

Ballygunge Bank, Ltd.—6 Tilak Road. Phone, South 1529.

Bank of Commerce, Ltd.—12 Clive Street. Phone. Cal. 3373.

Bank of India, Ltd.—9A Clive Street. Phone, Cal. 1126.

Bengal Bank, Ltd.—7 Clive Row. Phone, Cal. 2073.

Bengal Central Bank, Ltd.—86 Clive Street. Phone, Cal 700.

Bengal Provincial Co-operative Bank, Ltd.—3/2 Dalhousie Square East. Phone, Cal. 1412.

Bhowanipore Banking Corporation, Ltd.—47 Ashutosh Mukerjee Road. Phone. South 28.

Calcutta Commercial Bank, Ltd.—2 Clive Ghat Street. Phone, Cal. 1759.

Calcutta National Bank, Ltd.—14/5 Clive Row. Phone, Cal. 6310.

Calcutta People’s Bank, Ltd.—12 Dalhousie Square. Phe., Cal. 660.

Central Bank of India, Ltd.—100 Clive Street. Phone. Cal. 4585.

            Branches—8A Russa Road. Phone, South 791.

                        71 Cross Street. Phone, B.B. 4901.

                        10 Lindsay Street. Phone, Cal 3267.

                        133 Cornwallis Street. Phone, B.B. 1929.

Central Calcutta Bank, Ltd.—3 Hare Street Phone, Cal. 2125.

Chartered Bank of India, Australia and China—2 Clive Street. Phone, Cal. 6945.

Comilla Banking Corporation, Ltd.—1 Clive Ghat Street. Phone, Cal. 3174.

            Branches-         8 Pugiaputty Street. Phone, B.B. 4074.

                        5 Hastings Street. Phone, Cal 1972.

                        139/3 Russa Road. Phone, South 1121.

Comilla Union Bank, Ltd.—10 Clive Street. Phone, Cal 5877.

Continental Bank of Asia, Ltd.—102/1 Clive Street. Phe., Cal. 5890

            Branch—         93 Rash Behari Avenue. Phone, South 480.

East Bengal Bank, Ltd.—102/1 Clive Street. Phone. Cal. 4989.

Eastern Bank. Ltd.—9 Clive Street. Phone, Cal. 5355.

Federated Commercial Bank, Ltd.—9 Clive Row. Phe., Cal. 2965.

Grindlay & Co., Ltd.—6 Church Lane- Phone, Cal. 14.

Hongkong & Shanghai Banking Corporation—31 Dalhousie Square. Phone. Cal. 3205.

Imperial Bank of India—1, 2 & 3 Strand Road. Phone, Cal. 7140.

            Branches -154 Russa Road. Phone, South 1027.

                        195 Harrison Road. Phone, B.B. 1027.

                        8 Clive Street. Phone. Cal. 2178.

                        9 Grand Trunk Road. Phone, Howrah 420.

                        Galstaun Mansions, Park Street. Phone, Cal. 1977

                        138/2 Cornwallis Street. Phone, B.B. 4612.

Incorporated Bank, Ltd.—3 Commercial Buildings. Phe., Cal. 5226.

India Associated Bank, Ltd.—14 Clive Street. Phone. Cal, 1744.

Karnani Industrial Bank, Ltd.—3 Synagogue Street. Phe., B.B. 497.

Lloyd’s Bank, Ltd.—101/1 Clive Street. Phone, Cal. 4520.

            Branch—37 Chowringhee Road. Phone, Cal. 780.

Luxmi Industrial Bank, Ltd.—84 Chowringhee. Phe., P.K. 1168.

Mercantile Bank of India, Ltd.—8 Clive Street. Phone. Cal. ,830.

            Branch—21 Grand Trunk Road. Phone, Howrah 100.

National Bank of India, Ltd.—104 Clive Street, Phone, Cal. 5396.

National City Bank of New York—4 Clive Street. Phone, Cal. 3875.

National Mercantile Bank, Ltd.—14 Hare Street. Phone, Cal. 6264.

Nederlandsch Indische Handelsbank, N. V. (Netherlands-India Commercial Bank)—l Royal Exchange Place. Phone. Cal. 2861.

P. & 0, Banking Corporation, Ltd.—l Fairlie Place. Phe., Cal. 5686.

Punjab National Bank, Ltd.—135/136 Canning St. Phone, Cal. 919.

Reserve Bank of India—8 Council House Street. Phone, Cal. 6140.

The Issue Department, Calcutta Branch, is housed at the Currency Office, 1 Dalhousie Square East. Phone, Cal. 3942.

Tho’m. Cook & Son (Banker’s) Ltd.—4 Dalhousie Square East. Phone, Cal. 5560-

Union Bank of Bengal, Ltd.—8 Clive Street. Phone, Cal. 916.

            Branch—Lake Road Market. Phone, South 1127.

Yokohama Specie Bank, Ltd.—102/1 Clive Street. Phe., Cal. 5211.

 

John Barry, journalist, Calcutta, 1939/40
(source pages 222-223  of John Barry: “Calcutta 1940” Calcutta: Central Press, 1940.)

(COPYRIGHT NOTICE: Reproduced under 'fair dealing' terms as part of a non commercial educational research project. The copyright remains with John Barry 1940)

 

 

 

Addresses of Insurance Companies in 1940

Allianz und Stuttgarter Life Insurance Bank, Ltd.— 4 Esplanade East, Phone, Cal, 3337.

AH India United Assurance Co., Ltd.—102 Clive Street. Phone, Cal. 4552.

Asiatic Government Security Life Assurance Co., Ltd.—15 Clive Street. Phone, Cal. 35-10.

Assicurazioni Generali. Branch Office for India—6 Clive Row. Phone, Cal. 3015.

Atlas Assurance Co.. Ltd. (with which is incorporated The Manchester Assurance Co.) —4 Clive Row. Phone, Cal. 6992.

Batavia Sea & Fire Insurance Co., Ltd.—4 Lyons Range. Phone, Cal. 4358.

Bengal Insurance and Real Property Co., Ltd.—2 Church Lane. Phone. Cal. 5842.

Bengal Mercantile Life Insurance Co., Ltd.—1 Mission Row. Phone, Cal. 5185.

Bharat Insurance Co., Ltd.—3 Chittaranjan Avenue. Phone, Cal. 2646

Bombay Mutual Life Assurance Society, Ltd.—100 Clive Street. Phone, Cal. 4274.

British India General Insurance Co., Ltd.—2 Old Court House Corner. Fhone, Cal. 6645.

Calcutta Insurance. Ltd.—86 Clive Street. Phone, Cal. 700.

Caledonian Insurance Co,.—B3 Clive Buildings, Clive Street. Phone, Cal. 2560-

Century Insurance Co.. Ltd.—B3 Clive Buildings, Clive Street. Phone, Cal. 2560.

China Fire Insurance Co., Ltd.—8 Clive Street. Phe., Cal. 3698.

Clive Insurance Co.. Ltd.—8 Clive Street. Phone, Cal. 6669.

Commercial Union Assurance Co., Ltd-—32 Dalhousie Square. Phone, Cal. 1

Cornhill Insurance Co., Ltd.—6 Clive Row. Phone, Cal., 3015

Eagle Star & British Dominions Insurance Co., Ltd.—21 Strand Road. Phone, Cal. 3712

Eastern Federal Union Insurance Co. Ltd.—9 Clive Street. Phone, Cal. 7060.

Empire of India Life Assurance Co.. Ltd.—28 Dalhousie Square- Phone, Cal- 2046.

Fine Art & General Insurance Co.. Ltd.—103 Clive Street. Phone, Cal. 4320.

General Accident, Fire & Life Insurance Corporation, Ltd.— 7 Hare Street. Phone, Cal. 3171.

Hindusthan Co-operative Insurance Society, Ltd. —Hindusthan Buildings, 6A Surendra Nath Baneriee Road. Phone, Cal 1173.

Indian Life Assurance Co., Ltd.—41 Stephen House, Dalbousie Square. Phone, Cal. 936.

Indian Mercantile Insurance Co.. Ltd.—22 Carmine Street. Phone, Cal. 2127.

"La Concorde" Insurance Co., Ltd. of Paris; (Branch Office for India)—6 Clive Row, Phone, Cal. 3015.

Law Union & Rock Insurance Co., Ltd.—28 Dalhousie Square West. Phone, Cal. 4926.

Liverpool & London & Globe Innuance Co., Ltd.—26 Dalhousie Square. Phone, Cal. 1102.

Lloyds of London : (Agents, Maitland-Heriot & Co.)—5 Clive Row. Phone, Cal. 78.

London & Lancashire Insurance Co., Ltd.—2 Fairlie Place. Phone, Cal. 5100.

London & Scottish Assurance Corporation, Ltd.—7 Hare Street. Phone. Cal. 2818.

Manufacturers Life Insurance Co.,—27 Dalhousie Square. Phone, Cal. 4210.

Metropolitan Insurance Co., Ltd.—4B Council House Street. Phone, Cal. 2995.

Motor Union Insurance Co., Ltd.—1 &. 2 Old Court House Corner. Phone, Cal. 3320.

National Employers' Mutual General Insurance Association. Ltd. : (Agents, Maitland-Heriot & Co.)—101C Ballygunge Place. Phone, P.K. 1885.

National Fire & General Insurance Co., Ltd.—7 Council House Street. Phone, Cal. 5726.

National Indian Life Insurance Co., Ltd-—12 Mission Row. Phone, Cal. 6620.

National Mutual Life Association of Australia. Ltd.— Chartered Bank Buildings, Clive Street. Phone, Cal. 6040.

New Zealand Insurance Co., Ltd.—26 Dalhousie Square West. Phone, Cal. 5008.

North British & Mercantile Insurance Co.. Ltd.—101/1 Clive Street. Phone, Cal. 4733.

Northern Assurance Co., Ltd.—7 Hare Street. Phone, Cal. 2818.

Norwich Union Fire Insurance Society, Ltd.—2 Hare Street. Phone, Cal. 97.

Norwich Union Mutual Life Insurance Society—6 Lyons Range. Phone, Cal. 4700.

Ocean Accident & Guarantee Corporation, Ltd.—32 Dalhousie Square- Phone, Cal. 1022.

Oriental Government Security Life Assurance Co., Ltd.— 2 Clive Row. Phone, Cal. 500.

Phoenix Assurance Co., Ltd.—28 Dalhousie Square. Phe, Cal. 95.

Prudential Assurance Co., Ltd.—8 Clive St. Phone, Cal. 6666.

Queensland Insurance Co., Ltd.—1 Clive Ghat Street. Phone, Cal. 2591.

Royal Exchange Assurance Corporation—1 & 2 Old Court House Corner. Phone, Cal. 2000.

Royal Insurance Co., Ltd.—26 Dalhousie Square. Phone, Cal 55.

Scottish Union & National Insurance Co., Ltd.—6 Lyons Range- Phone, Cal. 3000.

South British Insurance Co., Ltd.—3/5 Clive Street. Phone, Cal. 5320.

South Indian General Assurance Co., Ltd.—9 Dalhousie Square East- Phone, Cal. 2359.

Standard Lire Assurance Coy.—32 Dalhousie Square South. Phone, Cal, 1801.

Sun Lire Assurance Co. of Canada—12 Dalhousie Square East. Phone, Cal- 1387.

Union Insurance Society of Canton, Ltd.—8 Clive Street. Phone, Cal. 3698.

Unique Assurance Co., Ltd.—lA Vansittart Row.Phe., Cal. 1719

United India Life Assurance Co.. Ltd.—21 Chittaranjan Avenue South. Phone, Cal. 6170.

 

John Barry, journalist, Calcutta, 1939/40
(source pages 224-226 of John Barry: “Calcutta 1940” Calcutta: Central Press, 1940.)

(COPYRIGHT NOTICE: Reproduced under 'fair dealing' terms as part of a non commercial educational research project. The copyright remains with John Barry 1940)

 

 

 

 

 

 

          _____Memories of 1940s Calcutta_________________________

 

 

Small change

Then I went to Comilla where they seemed to have more than their share of vultures. This was more barren, nothing, like Cawnpore. A "Burra Sahib" ran the stores. When you bought goods, you received cardboard money as change. He had crudely stamped the shape and value of coins on cut up boxes that had contained packets of "Woodbine" cigarettes. When chaps were posted, it was always early in the morning and they always had a few annas in cardboard, which were worthless outside the camp. We kicked up a din and a plane was flown to Calcutta to get change. So we were told anyway! The change lasted about a week and then we were back to cardboard. I bet the Burra (big) Sahib made a fortune. Hundreds of chaps must have passed through that camp. The work was just the same as at the other camps.

Albert Augustus Crisp , Royal Air Force, Comilla, 1942-3

 

(source: A6781584 Walthamstow Wanderer 3 at BBC WW2 People's War' on http://www.bbc.co.uk/ww2peopleswar/ Oct 2006)

(COPYRIGHT NOTICE: Reproduced under 'fair dealing' terms as part of a non commercial educational research project. The copyright remains with the original submitter/author)

 

 

 

 

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Management Agencies

 

 

 

          _____Pictures of 1940s Calcutta_________________________

 

 

 

 

 

          _____Contemporary Records of or about 1940s Calcutta_

 

 

Addresses of Managing Agencies in 1940

Anderson Wright & Co. Merchants and Agents—22 Strand Road. Phone, Cal. 4300.

Andrew Yule & Co., Ltd. Managing Agents for Jute Mills, Tea Estates, Coal Companies, Insurance Companies, Steamer Companies, etc.—8 Clive Row. Phone, Cal. 5280.

Balmer Lawrie & Co., Ltd. Merchants, Engineers and. Managing Agents for Electrical and Coal Companies, Paper and Flour Mills, Tea Estates, etc,—103 Clive Street. Phone, Cal. 4320.

Barry & Co. —Agents for Gourepore Paint Co., Tea Estates, etc.—2 Fairlie Place. Phone, Cal. 5100.

Bess Dunlop & Co., Ltd. Merchants and Managing Agents for Tea Estates, Sugar Companies, Jure and Textile Mills—2 Hare Street, Phone, Cal. 4335.

Bird & Co. Merchants and Managing Agents for Jute Mills, Collieries, Indian Patent Stone : Labour Contractors, etc—Chartered Bank Building, Royal Exchange Place. Phone, Cal. 6040.

Birla Brotherts Ltd. Managing Agents for Jute, Cotton, Sugar and Rice Mills, etc. —3 Royal Exchange Place. Phone. Cal. 562.

Daulatram Rawatmull. Agents for Jute and Sugar Mills—178 Harrison Road. Phone, B.B. 4501.

Davenport & Co., Ltd. Merchants and Managing Agents for Tea Companies—6 Church Lane. Phone, Cal. 6220.

Duncan Brothers & Co., Ltd. Managing Agents for Jure Mills, Tea Companies, etc—101 Clive Street. Phone, Cal. 5411.

Finlay, James, & Co.. Ltd. Agents for Jute, Tea, Railway and Sugar Companies—1 Clive Street. Phone, Cal. 4600.

Gillanders Arbuthnot & Co. Merchants, Bankers and Importers : Managing Agents for Jute Mills, Tea Estates. Collieries, Railways, Insurance, Timber, Building and Engineering Companies, etc.—Clive Buildings, 8 Clive Street. Phone, Cal. 6666.

Harrisons & Crosfield, Ltd. Merchants and Agents for Steamship and Tea Companies, etc.—6 Church Lane. Phone, Cal. 6220.

Heilgers, F. W. & Co. General Merchants and Agents for Collieries, Jure, Oil, Paper Mills; Paint Works, etc.—Chartered Bank Buildings, Royal Exchange Place. Phone, Cal. 6040.

Henderson, George, & Co.. Ltd. Agents for Insurance, Jute and Tea Companies—101/1 Clive Street. Phone, Cal. 4733.

Holmes, Wilson & Co., Ltd. Managing Agents for Britannia Building &. Iron Co., Ltd. and The Scar Iron Works—Central Bank Building. 100 Clive Street. Phone, Cal. 3376.

Jardine, Skinner & Co. Merchants and Agents fot Jute Mills, Tea Estates; Coal, Insurance, Steamship Companies, etc.1 Clive Row. Phone. Cal. 6990.

Kedarnath Ramnath & Co. Merchants and Proprietors, Shiva Jute Press -130 Mechuabazar Street. Phone, B.B. 3850.

Kettlewell Bullen & Co., Ltd. Merchants; Agents for Tea and  Insurance Companies, Cotton and Jute Mills, etc.—21 Strand Road. Phone, Cal. 4901.

Keymer Bagshawe & Co., Ltd. Engineers; Agents for Jute and  Textile Companies, Coates Bros', printing inks, etc.—4 Lyons Range. Phone, Cal. 530.

Lyall Marshall & Co. Merchants and Agents for Carew &. Co. (Gin Manufacturers), Tea Estates, etc.—4 Fairlie Place. Phe., Cal. 168.

McLeod & Co.. Ltd. Merchants and Agents for Tea, Jute. Railway, Engineering and Insurance Companies—McLeod House, 28 Dalhousie Square West, Phone, Cal- 4926-

Macneill & Co. Merchants and Agents for ]ute Mills, Rope and Coal Companies. Tea Estates and Garden Reach Workshops, Ltd.— 2 Fairlie Place. Phone, Cal. 6100.

Octavius Steel & Co. Ltd. Merchants and Agents for Tea Estates, Sugar and Coal Companies—14 Old Court House St, Phe., Cal. 146.

Planters Stores & Agency Co., Ltd.  Agents for Tea Gardens,

Colliery and Mill Scores -11 Clive Street. Phone, Cal. 5808.

Shaw Wallace & Co. Merchants and Agents for Tea and Insurance Companies, Flour and Cotton Mills, Collieries, The Atlas Fertilizer Works and The Tinplate Co. of India, Ltd.— Wallace House, 4/5 Bankshall Street. Phone. Cal. 5300.

Turner Morrison & Co., Ltd. Merchants and Agents for Collieries and Tar Products. Steamer Companies and Rope Works—6 Lyons Range. Phone, Cal. 5l22.

Williamson, Magor & Co. Agents for Venesta, Ltd., Union Oil Co., Tea Companies, etc.—4 Mangoe Lane- Phone, Cal. 5208.

John Barry, journalist, Calcutta, 1939/40
(source pages  227-236 of John Barry: “Calcutta 1940” Calcutta: Central Press, 1940.)

(COPYRIGHT NOTICE: Reproduced under 'fair dealing' terms as part of a non commercial educational research project. The copyright remains with John Barry 1940)

 

 

 

 

          _____Memories of 1940s Calcutta_________________________

 

Business at Dalhousie Square

I remember Dalhousie Square well and McLeod and Co as well as the H.Q.s of the majority of British companies operating in India. My Dad worked at IG & RS River Steam Navigation Co at 4 Fairley Place which is off Dalhousie Square, alongside BISN, McKinnon McKenzie, Kilburn & Co, Jenson & Nicholson and many many more. Just across the road was the HQ for the Railways and at the end of Fairley Place was the River and all the Ghats. Dalhousie Square was the commercial hub of our city and probably still is.

Molly Hamilton, Calcutta. late 1940s
 (Source: Several E-mail interviews with Molly Hamilton in 2003. / Reproduced by courtesy of Molly Hamilton)

 

‘I think we had to be more tactful.’

I think we had to be more tactful. My husband had various government connections and when he made a speech he had to be very careful because the Indians are sensitive people. If he felt that they were in the wrong - as they often probably were - he had to choose his words carefully. Before partition we were the government and then it was much easier to say what you thought.

Sheila Coldwell, wife of a management agency employee, Calcutta, late 1940s
 (source: page 236 of Trevor Royle: “The Last Days of the Raj” London: Michael Joseph, 1989)

(COPYRIGHT NOTICE: Reproduced under 'fair dealing' terms as part of a non commercial educational research project. The copyright remains with Trevor Royle 1989)

 

 

 

 

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Mercantile & Trading Firms

 

 

 

          _____Pictures of 1940s Calcutta_________________________

 

 

 

 

 

          _____Contemporary Records of or about 1940s Calcutta___

 

COMMERCE AND TRADE

COMMERCE AND TRADE: The great jute industry of Bengal, the tea industry of Assam, the coal and mica industries of Bengal and Bihar, the wheat traffic of the United Provinces and generally the agricultural areas tapped by the main lines of the East Indian and Bengal Nagpur and the Eastern Bengal Railways and by numerous waterways connecting the Gangetic delta with the interior of Bengal and Assam all converge on Calcutta. Through Calcutta passes roughly one-half of the total sea-borne traffic of India.

 

(source: “A Guide Book to Calcutta, Agra, Delhi, Karachi and Bombay” The American Red Cross and the China-Burma-India-Command. [1943]:  at: http://cbi-theater-2.home.comcast.net/redcross/red-cross-india.html#INDIA)

 

(COPYRIGHT NOTICE: Reproduced under 'fair dealing' terms as part of a non commercial educational research project. The copyright remains with the original submitter/author)

 

 

Addresses of Mercantile Firms in 1940

A. E. G. India Electric Co., Ltd. Electrical Engineers and Contractors for electrical goods and appliances—Avenue House, Chowringhee Square. Phone, Cal, 5763.

Adair Dutt & Co., Ltd. Merchants, Agents and Dealers in chemicals and surveying instruments—5 Dalhousie Square. Phone, Cal. 444.

Air Conditioning Corporation, Ltd. Agents for air conditioning plant and equipment—8 Esplanade Mansions- Phone, Cal. 1076.

Allen Berry & Co., Ltd. Automobile Engineers, oxy-acetylene and electric welders and motor car importers—Works, 62 Hazra Road. Phone, P.K. 1800. Showrooms

, 24B Park Street. Phone, P.K. 2100.

Alfred Herbert (India) Ltd. Agents for machine tools and work-shop equipment—13/3 Strand Road, Phone. Cal. 4800.

Amritlal Ojha & Co., Ltd. Merchants, Agents and Exporters of coal, rice, gunny, etc.—102/A Clive Street. Phone, Cal. 6476.

Anglo-Iranian Oil Co. (India) Ltd.—31 Dalhousie Square. Phone, Cal. 5150.

Antoine Bentz. Manufacturers' Representative for pharmaceutical patent medicines, perfumery, paper, etc.—5 Dalhousie Square. Phone, Cal. 1838.

Arathoon, A, M., Ltd.—Manufacturer and Exporter of shellac and button lac—11 Stephen House, Dalhousie Square. Phone, Cal. 5905.

Asbestos & Belting Co., Ltd.—Agents for asbestos and belting—2 Clive Ghat Street. Phone, Cal. 977.

Atherton, G. & Co. (Eastern) Ltd. General Merchants, Importers and Manufacturers' Agents—4 Mission Row. Phone, Cal. 393.

Baltey & Kemp. Merchants, Agents and Contractors: Garage Equipment Specialists—P6 Mission Row Extension. Phone, Cal. 4981.

Birkmyre Brothers. Manufacturers and Agents for hair and leather belting—8 Clive Row. Phone, Cal. 4430.

Blackwood Bryson & Co., Ltd. General Merchants ; Agents for Coleman Lamps, Underwood Typewriters, etc.—2 Mangoe Lane. Phone, Cal. 283.

Burmah-Shell Oil Storage & Distributing Co. of India. Ltd.— Hongkong House, Dalhousie Square. Phone, Cal. 5150.

Burn & Co., Ltd. Engineers and Agents ; potteries, ironworks and waggon builders—12 Mission Row. Phone, Cal. 6030.

Butto Kristo Paul & Co., Ltd. Manufacturers and Agents for chemical and pharmaceutical preparations—1 &. 3 Bonfield Lane. Phone, Cal. 4510.

Calcutta Electric Supply Corporation, Ltd.—Phone, Cal. 6200. P. 24.

Carrara Marble & Terrazzo Co., Ltd. Importers and Dealers in marble, tiles and mosaics—P12 Mission Row Extension. Phone, Cal. 4229.

Carreras (India) Ltd. Cigarette and Tobacco Manufacturers and Agents—Factory, Circular Garden Reach Road. Phone, South 202. Office, 21 Old Court House Street. Phone, Cal. 2369.

Dewar, John & Sons, Ltd. Wine Merchants—Dewar House,  12 &. 13 Hare Street. Phone, Cal. 1077.

Dickinson, John, & Co., Ltd. Paper Merchants and Agents for machinery and printing materials—6 Clive Row. Phone, Cal, 6940.

Elias, B. N. & Co., Ltd. Bone Mill Proprietors and Agents for The National Tobacco Co., Ltd., etc—Norton Buildings. Phone, Cal. 668.

Frank Ross & Co., Ltd. Manufacturing Chemists and Dealers Inphotographic goods—15(7 Chowringhee Road. Phone, Cal. 1199.

General Electric Co. (India) Ltd.—Electrical Engineers and Contractors :  Agents for electrical goods and appliances—Magnet House, Central Avenue. Phone, Cal. 4613.

Hoyle. Robson, Barnett & Co, (India) Ltd. Paint Manufacturers. Agents of Silvertown Lubricants (India) Ltd.—26 Middle Road, Entally. Phone, Cal. 5610.

Imperial Chemical Industries (India) Ltd. Sole Distributors in India, Burma and Ceylon for chemical fertilizers and dye products. Kynoch's, EIcy's and Nobel Cartridges, etc—18 Strand Road. Phone, Cal. 2165.

Imperial Tobacco Co. of India, Ltd. Cigarette and Tobacco ManufactureTS and Agents—Virginia House, 37 Chowringhee Road. Phone, Cal. 4815.

Ispahani, M. M., Ltd. Merchants and Agents for tea, hides, produce and shellac —51 Ezra Street. Phone, Cal. 3561.

Japan Cotton Trading Co., Ltd. Importers of cotton piece goods and silk yarn—15 Clive Street. Phone, Cal. 7000.

Jones,Ivan, Ltd. Merchants and Manufacturers Agents—8 Dalhousie Square. Phone, Cal. 1029. Workshops and Factory, 206 Lower Circular Road. Phone. P.K. 390.

Fitze, Samuel, & Co., Ltd. Wine Merchants : Agents for Elgin Mills and Brushware, Ltd.—26 Chowringhee Road. Phone, Cal. 463.

Francis Klein & Co. Ltd. Machinery Merchants and Agents—1 Royal Exchange Place. Phone, Cal. 4620.

Kodak, Ltd. Agents for cameras and photographic materials— 17 Park Street. Phone, Cal. 6650.

Krupp Indian Trading Co., Ltd. Railway equipment and locomotives—22 Canning Street. Phone, Cal. 3430.

Remfry & Son. Patent and Trade Mark Agents—Stephen House, Dalhousie Square. Phone, Cal. 593.

Remington Rand Inc. Typewriters, duplicators and accessories3 Council House Street. Phone, Cal. 6930.

Stewarts and Lloyds of India, Ltd. Manufacturers and Stockists of wrought iron, steel tubes and fittings—Victoria House, Chowringhee Square. Phone. Cal. 6180. Workshops, Hide Road, Kidderpore. Phone. South 569.

Thomson, T. E., & Co., Ltd. Founders, Hardware and Metal Merchants—9 Esplanade East. Phone, Cal. 102.

Thornycroft (India) Ltd. Agents for Thornycroft Commercial Vehides—60 Chowringhee Road. Phone, P. K. 1796.

Wakefield, C. C., & Co., Ltd. Manufacturers and Importers of lubricating oils and lubricators—7 Royal Exchange Place. Phe., Cal. 986.

William Jack & Co. Engineers and Importers of pneumatic tools caterpillar tractors, etc-—10 Clive Street. Phone, Cal. 981.

John Barry, journalist, Calcutta, 1939/40
(source pages 227-236 of John Barry: “Calcutta 1940” Calcutta: Central Press, 1940.)

(COPYRIGHT NOTICE: Reproduced under 'fair dealing' terms as part of a non commercial educational research project. The copyright remains with John Barry 1940)

 

 

British Paints,(India) Limited – Chowringhee Road

 (Source: Contributors)

 

 

 

 

          _____Memories of 1940s Calcutta_________________________

 

 

‘…Calcutta, the commercial capital of India …’

It was a new job of a quasi-diplomatic kind, to represent in Delhi a group of interests of which the chief constituent was Assocham - short for the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry in India - whose membership was predominantly, but not entirely, British. Their headquarters were in Calcutta, the commercial capital of India, but at an awkward distance from the seat of government. Mountbatten and Ismay, whom I had consulted, had encouraged me to accept this offer of employment, arguing that British business interests in India, which were considerable, would need a representative in the capital to advise them in the new political context.

John Christie, civil servant, Calcutta, late 1940s
 (source: page 155 of Trevor Royle: “The Last Days of the Raj” London: Michael Joseph, 1989)

(COPYRIGHT NOTICE: Reproduced under 'fair dealing' terms as part of a non commercial educational research project. The copyright remains with Trevor Royle 1989)

 

he used to take on juniors and try it on with them

So I left school at the end of that year and got a job as a shorthand typist- The man had advertised for one girl but he eventually took on all the three who applied. At the end of the month he called us in and said "I'm very sorry girls but I cannot pay you. But I will get you jobs." We were supposed to receive the princely sum of sixty rupees - three pounds per month. True to his word he sent us all off with letters to various friends of his. He sent me to a place called The Anglo Iranian Oil Company. It was a small - one- man business. This man had two girls who literally ran the office and he used to take on juniors and try it on with them.

[…]

I had to leave this job because of sexual harrassment by my boss. He would call me into his office and then start pestering me to go out with him. When I refused he became quite nasty and eventually he told me he did not need my services any longer. By that lime, I had already decided that the job was not for me and was about to give in my notice but he pre-empted that.

 

Elizabeth James (nee Shah), AngloIndian secretary. Calcutta, 1951
(source: page 52-53 Elizabeth James: An Anglo Indian Tale: The Betrayal of Innocence. Delhi: Originals, 2004 / Reproduced by courtesy of Elizabeth James (nee Shah))

 

 

 

 

 

 

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The Professions

 

 

 

 

          _____Pictures of 1940s Calcutta_________________________

 

 

 

 

 

          _____Contemporary Records of or about 1940s Calcutta_

 

 

THE HIGH COURT

Location :—Esplanade Row (West).

Trams:—Park Circus to High Court via Harrison and Strand Roads:Sealdah to High Court via Bow Bazar Street and Dalhousie :Dalhousie to High Court (on weekdays only), 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Buses .—Nil.

This splendid edifice of Gothic architecture, with a handsome tower 180 feet high, was designed by Walter Granville, who is said to have been inspired by the Town Hall of Ypres, Belgium. The foundation stone was laid in 1864 and the building, erected on the site of the old Supreme Court, successor to the old Court House in Dalhousie Square, was completed in 1872.

The structure takes the shape of a rectangle built on the four sides of a quadrangle, the interior having arcaded cloisters which give access to various Courts and Legal Apartments.

Ascending the main staircase we reach the first landing, adorned with a bust of Sir C. M. Ghose, while right above in the southern corridor is a statue of Sir Edward Hyde East, (Chief Justice, 1813-1822) by Chantrey.

On the first floor, on the right, is a bust of Baron Sinha of Raipur, and farther down the corridor, one of Sir R. C. Mitter. On the left is a bust of Sir Rash Behari Ghose, and, let into the wall, a tablet to the memory of Syed Amir Ali. The various Courts, the Judges' and Bar Libraries, and the offices of the Registrar are on the first floor. The walls of the different Courts and offices are lined with portraits of members of the legal professions; particularly noteworthy among these is one of Sir Elijah Impey, (first Judge of the Supreme Court) by Zoffany. In the Meeting Room of the Judges' Library are two finely executed oil paintings of their Majesties King Edward VII and King George V. The Administrator-General and the Legal Remembrancer have their offices on the top floor.

From the lofty tower over the main entrance, a splendid view of Calcutta and the river Hooghly can be obtained.

John Barry, journalist, Calcutta, 1939/40
(source pages 81-82 of John Barry: “Calcutta 1940” Calcutta: Central Press, 1940.)

(COPYRIGHT NOTICE: Reproduced under 'fair dealing' terms as part of a non commercial educational research project. The copyright remains with John Barry 1940)

 

BENGAL LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL HOUSE

Location :—Esplanade Row (West).

Trains :—Park Circus to High Court via Harrison and Strand Roads:Sealdah to High Court via Bow Bazar Street and Dalhousie:Dalhousie to High Court (on week days only), 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Buses :—Nil.

The Bengal Legislative Council House, facing the Eden Gardens on the south, with the Town Hall overlooking it on the north, stands in well-laid out grounds, adorned with the statues of the Earl of Ronaldshay, Governor of Bengal (1917-1922) and now Secretary of State for India ; Edwin Samuel Montagu, Secretary of State for India (1917-1922) and Lord William Bentinck, the first Governor-General of India, whose administration from 1828 to 1835 was marked by a number of outstanding events, particularly noteworthy among which were the drawing up of the Indian Penal Code, the suppression of Thuggee, and, in 1829, the abolition of Suttee. A bas-relief on the pedestal of the statue, depicting the performance of Suttee (widow-burning) commemorates the event. The inscription is from the pen of Lord Macaulay, Law Member of the Supreme Council (1834-1838).

The building, of modern architecture, was designed by J. Greaves, London, and constructed by Messrs. Martin & Co., Calcutta, at a cost of Rs. 21,34,000. The foundation stone was laid by Sir Stanley Jackson, then Governor of Bengal, on the 9th July 1928, and the building formally opened by him on the 9th February 1931.

Both externally and internally the Council building is a magnificent structure, worthy of its name and high office: it is fitted throughout with an air-conditioning plant, and the electric installation within is entirely concealed. Access to the Chamber is gained from the south, east and north, the entrance to the Gallery being on the west. There are 38 electric clocks in the building, controlled by the one in the Enquiry Office. When the house is sitting a Union Jack flies from the southern porch by day, and a blue light burns from the top of the flagstaff by night.

The usual entrance for members is by the south-east gate at Auckland Road. Entering and crossing the grounds we arrive at the southern porch, and, ascending a short flight of steps, find ourselves in the Entrance Hall, the flooring of which, as that of the vestibule adjoining, is of beautifully-designed coloured marble.

On the left of the Entrance Hall is the Enquiry Office;

on the right, the lift. Wide marble staircases on either side lead to the upper floors. Eight marble pillars support the roof of the vestibule and from the dome above hangs a sea-green electrolier with concealed lighting. Oil paintings of King Edward VII and King George V adorn the walls.

The Bengal Legislature consists of an Upper House of 63 members with the President in the Chair, and a Lower House of 250 members with the Speaker in the Chair.

The Council Chamber, a beautiful circular hall, is 64 feet in height and 304 feet in circumference, and is illuminated by concealed lighting from the dome overhead. The benches, of solid teakwood, polished to a light-oak shade, are covered with striped material of rich texture and pleasing design. On the north, under a handsomely carved canopy, is the Presidential Chair of mahogany, bearing the Royal Coat of Arms. In front of the Presidential Chair is the Secretary's table, on which, upon a cushion, lies the Silver Mace, the symbol of the House's dignity and privileges; next is a table for the clerks of the Administrative and Council staff and, in the well of the Chamber, one for the Council reporters.

On the right of the Presidential Chair sit the Premier and his Cabinet Ministers; next are the Moslems who, with the Scheduled Cast Hindus, other Hindu supporters of the Government and the Nationalists, form the Coalition; then come the Europeans, occupying the benches directly opposite the Presidential Chair, with the Anglo-Indians and the Indian Christians in the rear.

On the left of the Chair are the Opposition groups, consisting of the Congress, Krishak Proja, Independent, Independent Proja, the Scheduled Castes, etc.  The benches behind the Cabinet Ministers are occupied by the Government officials; those behind the Coalition by the Press reporters.

On State occasions, the Governor takes the chair under the canopy, with the President on his right and the Speaker on his left; but on informal visits, the Governor occupies his box in the Gallery overlooking the Presidential Chair.  On these occasions the Governor's suite sits on his right and the President's and Speaker's guests on his left. To the left is the Ladies' Gallery, and on the right the Public Gallery. The distinguished visitor  occupy the Gallery above the Presidential Chair.

Along the south corridor, on the left, are the Part Leaders' retiring rooms, and elaborate up-to-date service rooms; on the right is the Library, the walls of which are of a pale-green colour with buff facings. Over the mantle piece hangs an oil painting of Sir E. N. Baker, Lieutenant Governor of Bengal (1908-1911). In the north corridor are retiring rooms for the President, the Speaker, the Premier and Cabinet Ministers.

Returning to the Entrance Hall and ascending the staircase on the left, lined with a marble bust of Sir I. C. Mitter, and oil paintings of Nawab Sir Shamsul Huds, Sir Manmatha Nath Roy Choudhury of Santosh, S. William Prentice and the Maharajah of Nadia, we gain the Members' Writing Room, comfortably fitted with upholstered easy chairs and adorned with the portraits of Lord Carmichael, the Earl of Ronaldshay, Lord Lytton and Sir Stanley Jackson, former Governors of Bengal.

To the right along the corridor is the Refreshment Room, a spacious and pleasant apartment, on the walls of which hang twelve photographs of former Lieutenant Governors of Bengal. In the northern corridor are the Committee Room, the Secretaries' Rooms, the Record Rooms and retiring rooms for Cabinet Ministers.

John Barry, journalist, Calcutta, 1939/40
(source pages 83-85 of John Barry: “Calcutta 1940” Calcutta: Central Press, 1940.)

(COPYRIGHT NOTICE: Reproduced under 'fair dealing' terms as part of a non commercial educational research project. The copyright remains with John Barry 1940)

 

 

 

 

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Publishing & the Media

 

 

 

          _____Pictures of 1940s Calcutta_________________________

 

G.I.s at bookstall

48

 

Corner bookstalls, specializing in lurid novels, sex treatises, are fascinating spots for British and American soldiers alike.  Typical titles, "The Escapades of Erotic Edna", "Kama Sutra, The Hindu Art of Love".

Clyde Waddell, US military man, personal press photographer of Lord Louis Mountbatten, and news photographer on Phoenix magazine. Calcutta, mid 1940s

(source: webpage http://oldsite.library.upenn.edu/etext/sasia/calcutta1947/?  Monday, 16-Jun-2003 / Reproduced by courtesy of David N. Nelson, South Asia Bibliographer, Van Pelt Library, University of Pennsylvania)

 

Calcutta magazine stand

40

 

The Calcutta counterpart of the American railroad magazine stand.  Available are canes, suitcases, soda water, shopping bags, cigarettes and a hundred other items peculiar to the Indian taste.

Clyde Waddell, US military man, personal press photographer of Lord Louis Mountbatten, and news photographer on Phoenix magazine. Calcutta, mid 1940s

(source: webpage http://oldsite.library.upenn.edu/etext/sasia/calcutta1947/?  Monday, 16-Jun-2003 / Reproduced by courtesy of David N. Nelson, South Asia Bibliographer, Van Pelt Library, University of Pennsylvania)

 

 

 

          _____Contemporary Records of or about 1940s Calcutta___

 

 

Addresses of Publishing and Media Firms in 1940

Bourne & Shepherd. Artists and Photographer—141 Corporation Street. Phone, Cal. 658.

Oxford Book & Stationery Co. Booksellers and Lending Librarians —17 Park Street. Phone, Cal. 1613.

Thacker Spink & Co. (1933) Ltd. Booksellers, Publishers, Stationers and Printers—3 Esplanade East- Phone, Cal. 176.

Butlerworth & Co. (India) Ltd. Law and Medical Book Publishers- Avenue House, Chowringhee Square- Phone. Cal. 2900.

Reuters, Ltd. News Agency : General, Commercial, Financial and News Services—7 Hare Street. Phone, Cal. 100.

John Barry, journalist, Calcutta, 1939/40
(source pages 227-236 of John Barry: “Calcutta 1940” Calcutta: Central Press, 1940.)

(COPYRIGHT NOTICE: Reproduced under 'fair dealing' terms as part of a non commercial educational research project. The copyright remains with John Barry 1940)

 

"The Statesman"

To the east of Victoria House and separated from it by a roadway, marking the entrance to Central Avenue, is Statesman House, a stately building of modern architecture, designed by Sudlow, Bailardie and Thompson. The foundation stone was laid by Lord Willingdon, Viceroy and Governor-General of India, on the 9th December, 1931, and the building formally opened by Sir John Anderson, then Governor of Bengal, on the 18th January, 1933.

The shape of the site settled the main lines of the Statesman House, and its designers were able to obtain considerable dignity for the main front by setting it back from the roadway in a broad sweep. The colonnades, which run through two storeys of the structure, emphasise the importance and dignity of the main entrance.

"The Statesman" had a foster parent in "The Friend of India," a paper which was starred in 1817 at Serampore by the famous missionaries, Carey, Marshman and Ward. This paper was bought in 1875 by the journalist Mr. Robert Knight, who was then running a paper under the name of "The Indian Statesman." For some years after the purchase both papers were printed independently, and when Mr. Knight decided to merge the one with the other, reluctant chat " The Friend of India " should disappear altogether, he incorporated its ride with "The Indian Statesman," and a paper "The Statesman and Friend of India" was published for some time, Later the name was changed to "The Statesman (with which The Friend of India is incorporated)".

With the passage of years The Statesman has gradually grown in popularity, size and importance and today holds the record for the largest circulation in the East. It publishes the latest news from the world over and carries a wide variety of advertisement. The Statesman also publishes a "Weekly Overseas Edition".

John Barry, journalist, Calcutta, 1939/40
(source page 26-27 of John Barry: “Calcutta 1940” Calcutta: Central Press, 1940.)

(COPYRIGHT NOTICE: Reproduced under 'fair dealing' terms as part of a non commercial educational research project. The copyright remains with John Barry 1940)

 

Indian Contributor

DURING the week-end died Mr P. N. Guha, who was for many years a member of The Statesman's staff, and as its Indian Contributor had an important place of his own in Indian Journalism. This he had won by a long career in the service of newspapers in the mofussil and in Calcutta and by a long participation in public life. While connected with this journal he was a member of the Bengal Council and the Calcutta Corporation, to both of which he was nominated by Government. His knowledge of men and forces, and a style of his own in commenting on them, gave all he wrote an attractive individuality.

(source: The Statesman. Calcutta/Delhi, December 27, 1939)

(COPYRIGHT NOTICE: Reproduced under 'fair dealing' terms as part of a non commercial educational research project. The copyright remains with The Statesman)

 

Editors Uneducated

SOME little while ago we drew attention to a Bill intended to be introduced in the Central Assembly with the object of ensuring minimum standards of literacy for editors of newspapers.

That Bill has since come up for consideration, and has failed to receive the respect so worthy a cause doubtless merits. One of the main complaints against it appears to have been that it was a "highbrow" measure, that it proposed to introduce minimum qualifications for Journalists far in excess of those required for legislators, if a man could become an M.L.A. (Central) without passing the Matriculation, or indeed any examination, was it not in a manner insulting to the Legislature to expect it to impose superior qualifications for Journalism ? This however is an argument which cuts both ways.

Nevertheless it seems probable that the Bill fell between two stools. While the standard to be imposed was high enough to rouse the ire of self-made popular representatives, it might well be argued that it was too low effectively to secure the objects intended. The possession of a Matriculation Certificate does not inevitably guarantee the ability to write legibly, punctuate intelligently or avoid the more common popular errors (such, for example, as the belief that Frankenstein was a mechanical monster or that it is possible to have more than two alternatives). Nor is mere literacy the sole, or indeed the chief, qualification for running a newspaper. The mover appeared in a dim way to recognize this, for he further stipulated that aspirants should be debarred from becoming editors if guilty of "offences involving moral turpitude." He was promptly if perhaps rather in a spirit of levity, reminded that moral turpitude is no bar to any other profession, including that of governing the country; indeed for some fields of endeavour it is probably a qualification. Why then should journalists alone be forced by governmental action into the path of virtue?

Whether editors are particularly in heed of education is a debatable point.

(source: The Statesman. Calcutta/Delhi, February 13, 1940)

(COPYRIGHT NOTICE: Reproduced under 'fair dealing' terms as part of a non commercial educational research project. The copyright remains with The Statesman)

 

Second Son

MR Robert Knight, second son of the founder of The Statesman, has died at Eastbourne, after some years of illness.

With his elder brother Paul he served this .paper finely for many years, and, trained as an engineer, he carried great responsibilities in the years when modern machinery was being introduced into newspaper offices in India. He left India some twenty years ago, after 10 years of hard work in Calcutta as engineer and business manager, and his health gave way a few years later.

(source: The Statesman. Calcutta/Delhi, August 28, 1941)

(COPYRIGHT NOTICE: Reproduced under 'fair dealing' terms as part of a non commercial educational research project. The copyright remains with The Statesman)

 

India's Hartal

For one day last week, India was practically without news. More than 100 of India's newspapers suspended publication in a one-day hartal (Indian sitdown strike). Only nine major papers appeared.

India's press is a hodgepodge. There are the British-owned English-language papers: the Calcutta Statesman, the Bombay Times of India, etc. There are few Moslem papers (some English-language, some native), like the newly started Delhi Dawn of Obstructionist Mohamed Ali Jinnah. And there are the liberal, Hindu-owned English-language and Hindu-language papers, like the Calcutta Amrita Bazar Patrika and the Bombay Chronicle, that support Mohandas Gandhi. These latter, in the majority, are always whole-hog for Indian independence.

Before the war all Indian papers were fairly free; there were restrictions, but the British seldom applied them. When war came, Indian editors and British leaders agreed: 1) the press would not hamper Britain's war effort; 2) the Government would permit the papers to go on demanding Indian independence; 3) as a control, the Government retained the right to close any obstreperous publication after giving the offending editor full warning, a second chance. Things worked well until last August, when the suppression of Gandhi's civil-disobedience campaign culminated in disorders.

Heavy Hand. India's press at once felt Britain's heavy hand. Papers in Delhi were ordered to limit political trouble stories to three columns, use headlines not higher than a fifth of an inch over them. Elsewhere in India news offices were searched, some papers suppressed, some editors arrested.

India's editors stood it as long as they could, in late December decided to stage last week's hartal. They also decided to refuse to print, thenceforth, any unnewsworthy British handouts or the speeches of any British statesmen. On New Year's Day they failed to publish such routine news as Britain's annual "honors list." Although the British-owned Indian papers did not participate, they sympathized; the Calcutta Statesman offered Indian-owned papers "our good will and . . . mediation. . . ."

Boomerang. Because Britain long encouraged the teaching of English in Indian schools and colleges, Indians learned to like their news in English, which explains why so many Indian papers are printed in English. By watching the British press, Indians long ago learned that an unfettered press is a steppingstone to freedom. Because they had good British newsmen as models (Rudyard Kipling joined the Lahore Civil and Military Gazette in 1882), Indians grew up to be Grade A journalists, dialectically skillful, intensely nationalistic.

The British, faced with a rebellious Indian press, this week had only to look to the past to see who was to blame. From Britain herself, Indian editors had learned to value press freedom and to fight for it.

(source: TIME Magazine, New York, Jan. 18, 1943)

(COPYRIGHT NOTICE: Reproduced under 'fair dealing' terms as part of a non commercial educational research project. The copyright remains with Time Magazine)

 

A Letter From The Publisher

If you want to talk to our correspondent in Batavia, Java, his telephone number is (or was, recently) satuh duaw sambulan toojoo. Ask for Robert Sherrod—but don't expect him to be there.

During the last six months Sherrod has traveled 25,000 miles trying to keep up with the news in Southeast Asia and the western Pacific. The Pacific—from Attu to Iwo Jima —was his stamping ground in World War II, and we sent him back there after the war on a roving commission to go anywhere his news judgment dictated. His work to date is fairly typical of the postwar trials, tribulations and rewards of a TIME correspondent.

He chose Java, and the Indonesian independence movement, for his first major assignment and, in the process of reporting that story, made two trips through territory forbidden to white men with Sjahrir, Indonesian premier. He also spent some time with rebel leader Soetomo, a fiery five-footer regarded by the Dutch as a most dangerous enemy. Soetomo's chief lieutenant was a pint-sized woman, about 50 years old, who said she was born on the Isle of Man, claimed U.S. citizenship through one of her marriages, and was variously known as Miss Tantri, Miss Daventry, Miss Merdeka (freedom), and Surabaya Sue (for her "freedom" broadcasts over the secret Indonesian radio).

In the process of meeting and sizing up most of the newsworthy people in his territory, Sherrod interviewed Mahatma Gandhi, who told him with a twinkle in his eye: "I had assumed that Americans were to be the new citizens of the world, but I find them all homesick lads." Gandhi's opponent, Mohamed Ali Jinnah, leader of the Moslems, was not so easy to get to. In fact, he wanted a year's subscription to TIME as the price of an interview.

Like almost everything else in the postwar Far East, transportation—like communications, a correspondent's lifeline—is a shambles. Says Sherrod: "Covering a war was fairly simple, provided, of course, you lived through it. There were public relations officers to make your reservations, and nobody worried about priorities because the admirals and generals wanted their war covered. Nowadays, it is every man for himself, and it is a fight from beginning to end."

For instance, Sherrod tried for three days to buy a plane ticket for a quick trip from New Delhi, India, to Shanghai (via Calcutta and Manila). When he finally located the Air Transport Command officer and gave him money for the passage, the ATCman promptly lost it. So Sherrod bought another ticket and got to the airport just in time to watch his plane taking off (they had given him the wrong departure time). In Calcutta, nobody had even heard of his reservation for Manila. There, he found that his China visa had not arrived and, to make things more difficult, a brand new inoculation for plague had been ordered. That meant a seven-day wait. Meanwhile, the ATCman in New Delhi had found the original passage money he claimed Sherrod had not given him . . . etc. Eventually, Sherrod got to China.

Sherrod's recipe for riding out such exasperating delays and frustrations is: a degree of patience, a sense of humor, adaptability to changing conditions and an iron stomach. "Furthermore," he says, speaking of his stomach as well as the scores of tongues the Far East talks in, "thank God for the English language and Chinese restaurants. They are familiar everywhere. And most of the people in Asia who know English know TIME."

One of them is the leading dentist of New Delhi, whose air-conditioned, neon-lighted office is a repository for TIME, LIFE, FORTUNE and THE ARCHITECTURAL FORUM—all of which arrive there ahead of the TIME India office's own airmailed copies. Sherrod, and others who tried unsuccessfully to solve this mystery, are inclined to lay it to 1) a special "in" with the customs officials, 2) the inscrutable East.

(source: TIME Magazine, New York, Jul. 8, 1946)

(COPYRIGHT NOTICE: Reproduced under 'fair dealing' terms as part of a non commercial educational research project. The copyright remains with Time Magazine)

 

To Our Readers: Edgar Baker of TIME-LIFE International,...

Edgar Baker of TIME-LIFE International, publishers and distributors of our overseas  editions, returned last week from a six months' business trip to the South Pacific,  Malaya and India, where he experienced the usual quota of unexpected surprises and  contradictions.

In India, for instance, he found that sending telegrams was a fruitless occupation because the operators were likely to mail the message to its city of delivery, where  another operator retyped it on a telegraph form—both operators then pocketing the difference. On the other hand many of India's top Hindu and Moslem leaders went out of  their way to tell Baker that, in or out of jail, they would not be without their weekly  copy of TIME.

[…]

In India, where Baker spent three months and traveled 15,000 miles by air, dockside  strikes and irregular mail delivery from TIME's branch printing plant in Cairo had  accumulated quantities of unsold newsstand copies of TIME. They were stacked in a  warehouse in the Moslem section of Calcutta and TLI's distributor, a Hindu like most  Indian businessmen, did not dare try to recover them. Baker located a bearer who was a  Christian and helped load the back copies of TIME into a truck himself. Later, the  bearer, "a likeable, inoffensive little chap," was kidnapped by a band of Moslems who  mistook him for a Hindu and wanted to kill him. He finally convinced them that he was a  Roman Catholic by showing his crucifix and answering some questions about the Bible put  by a mission-bred Moslem.

Incidents like this, combined with the economic uncertainty that India's impending  partition has produced, made it almost impossible to do business there. Nevertheless,  Baker eventually managed to straighten out TLI's Indian affairs. In the future, readers  in Indonesia and India, like TIME's growing audience of readers elsewhere overseas, will  be receiving their copies of TIME within a few days of our distribution date in the U.S.

Cordially,

(source: TIME Magazine, New York,  Aug. 11, 1947)

(COPYRIGHT NOTICE: Reproduced under 'fair dealing' terms as part of a non commercial educational research project. The copyright remains with Time Magazine)

 

Self-Made Correspondent

Most of the 50,000 U.S. newsmen drudge along in their 40-hour-a-week (usually) jobs, pushing pencils, punching typewriters, interviewing small fry, reporting the drab doings of civic characters. Tom Treanor was one such unglamorous unfortunate. But last week Tom Treanor was in Chungking.

Tom Treanor is a columnist-correspondent, of the same general school as Ernie Pyle (TIME, May 31). His cozy, comfortable, popular column, paradoxically called The Home Front, appears daily in the Los Angeles Times.

His airmailed articles (to save cable tolls) are angled for publication six weeks after writing. They are bright vignettes—a picture of the five Italian bootleggers who supply the U.S. Army in Ethiopia; American soldiers borrowing the instruments of a Calcutta dance band and giving Calcuttans a taste of boogie-woogie.

Tall, handsome Thomas Stanly Treanor is 35 years old, with a mop of jet-black hair and a shy face. He started out in routine fashion, reporting for Hearst papers in Los Angeles (his home). Later he joined the Los Angeles Times as woman's-page editor, in 1940 got his Home Front column to write.

In April 1942, he was on a tour of defense plants, when he decided to be a war correspondent. He wired the Times, asked if it would pay his daily living expenses if he could get a free bomber ride to the Middle East. The Times wired him $1,500 and its blessing. Treanor invested $1,250 in a Pan American Airways ticket, arrived in Cairo as Nazi Marshal Rommel approached Alexandria.

No Insignia. The British refused to accredit him. His claim that he was the only correspondent from a paper west of the Mississippi failed to impress them. Why, they said, we've got plenty of correspondents from west of the Mississippi — five from Chicago, for instance. Tom Treanor was not permitted to go near the front.

He went anyway. For 70¢ he bought a pair of correspondents' shoulder insignia. He borrowed a British military truck, got to the lines, got back to Cairo before the British Public Relations Officers knew he was gone. He sent letters to the Times telling all. The British stripped him of his illegal insignia.

Then he nosed around a rear R.A.F. base, finally wangled a free bomber ride to Malta, then to Gibraltar. On the way back to Egypt, he saw the bombing of Navarino Bay. The British P.R.O.s were furious, forbade him to ride in combat planes.

No Trouble. Undaunted, Correspond ent Treanor sidled up to some New Zealanders, was taken along into the Battle of El Alamein. Treanor went with them into enemy gunfire, saw five days of the battle before the British discovered him. This time they complained to the U.S. Army. Treanor was ordered by his paper to leave the Near East, fast. The first plane out was one bound for India. Treanor hopped it.

In India, he was finally accredited. He saw jungle fighting, in his spare time interviewed maharajas. He went along when U.S. bombers plastered Rangoon, finally went across the Himalayas into China.

As far as the Times is concerned, he can go on being a foreign correspondent forever. Probably no paper ever got war coverage as cheaply. Paid an estimated $125 a week, Treanor gets along on $10 a day expense money, even in expensive Cairo, where it costs most correspondents three times as much.

(source: TIME Magazine, New York,  Jun. 21, 1943)

(COPYRIGHT NOTICE: Reproduced under 'fair dealing' terms as part of a non commercial educational research project. The copyright remains with Time Magazine)

 

Paul Knight Dies

THE Statesman regrets to announce the death at Eastbourne, England, last Saturday, of Mr Paul Knight, son of Robert Knight, founder of The Statesman, and himself its second editor and owner. Death came less than a year before the 75th anniversary of The Statesman's birth—by conjunction with the older Friend of India—which falls due in January next year.

The senior of two remarkable brothers, Paul Knight was born in 1858 and succeeded to ownership of the paper on his father's death in'1890. He was originally destined for a mercantile career, and after leaving school entered a business office in Manchester. There he remained until the early 'eighties, when he came out to Calcutta to assist his father on The Statesman. He was taught the technicalities of printing, circulation and management, and it was this practical knowledge of all branches of newspaper work which eventually made The Statesman under his editorship pre-eminent among its contemporaries.

The paper had been fighting an uphill struggle to maintain itself. When Robert Knight died, the property was mortgaged. With no capita! behind them Paul and his brother Robert the younger had to maintain their mother and a large family of brothers and sisters and at the same time make enough revenue out of The Statesman to develop it and pay off the mortgage.

They threw themselves into the task with ferocious energy, and for nearly 40 years The Statesman's development became their sole interest in life. One who knew them intimately has left it on record that "when they were not toiling at it they were talking o£ it, dreaming about it, planning for it". Their subsequent success shows what is possible when two able men, working in harmony, devote all their physical, mental and spiritual resources to attainment of one object.

(source: The Statesman. Calcutta/Delhi, February 15, 1949)

(COPYRIGHT NOTICE: Reproduced under 'fair dealing' terms as part of a non commercial educational research project. The copyright remains with The Statesman)

 

Editor Goes

MR lan Stephens has relinquished his editorship of The Statesman. He is succeeded by Mr G. A. Johnson.  Stephens has been Editor for nine years. During this period there have been changes of unprecedented magnitude in this sub-continent's affairs.

The first three years from August 1942 to August 1945, were dominated by World War II, and by the very abnormal conditions created thereby throughout India and especially in Bengal.

They included also the great tragedy of the Bengal Famine. Then came two years of political uncertainty and civil disorder, culminating in the attainment of national independence and the subcontinent's partition. The last four years have been a time of vigorous nation-building and readjustment, and unfortunately also, in large part, of strained relations between India and Pakistan.

Mr Stephen's editorship has, therefore, covered a period of historic importance and exceptional stress, and The Statesman Ltd extends to him its thanks and good wishes.

(source: The Statesman. Calcutta/Delhi, August 30, 1951)

(COPYRIGHT NOTICE: Reproduced under 'fair dealing' terms as part of a non commercial educational research project. The copyright remains with The Statesman)

 

 

 

 

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'The Modern Review'

Both my grandfather and father were journalists, my grandfather having started 'The Modern Review' which U Thant, first Secretary-General of the United Nations, years later said "truly represents the voice of freedom".

Nandita Sen, Schoolgirl, Calcutta. August 1945
 (Source: Nandita's story at: http://timewitnesses.org/english/%7Enandita.html, Nandita Sen Hyderabad - January 2005, seen 18th November 2005)

(COPYRIGHT NOTICE: Reproduced under 'fair dealing' terms as part of a non commercial educational research project. The copyright remains with Nandita Sen)

 

 

the Luce studio on Calcutta's Landsdowne Road

With his friends Ajit Sen, and few others Baba started the Luce studio on Calcutta's busy Landsdowne Road.

Luce's portrait portfolio boasted of leading cinema stars amongst other luminaries. This reputed photography studio shut down sometime in the late seventies.

Rinki Bhattacharya, daughter of Bimal Roy, Calcutta, 1940s
(source page 41 of Rinki Bhattacharya: “Bimal Roy – A Man of Silence” New Delhi: Indus, 1994.)

(COPYRIGHT NOTICE: Reproduced under 'fair dealing' terms as part of a non commercial educational research project. The copyright remains with Rinki Bhattacharya 1994)

 

Bimalda deserved the princely sum of Rs 400

When N.T. engaged Baba as the chief cinematographer for Devdas, his monthly salary was raised to a princely Rs. 400. At the time Benoy Chatterjee, the screen play writer of numerous N.T. box office hits was receiving Rs. 125.

It was true however, that one could survive, if not thrive, well even on Rs 30 in the early 30s. Arvind Sen [late film maker, cousin of Monobina, onetime baba's assistant at New Theatre], recalls:

"Bimalda deserved the princely sum of Rs 400. It was after all in recognition of his exceptional talent."

Rinki Bhattacharya, daughter of Bimal Roy, Calcutta, 1936
(source page 41 of Rinki Bhattacharya: “Bimal Roy – A Man of Silence” New Delhi: Indus, 1994.)

(COPYRIGHT NOTICE: Reproduced under 'fair dealing' terms as part of a non commercial educational research project. The copyright remains with Rinki Bhattacharya 1994)

 

A 1500% wage rise to Rs.150/- per month

Q. You joined as a …?

A. As a laboratory assistant.

Q. How much was your salary then?

A. First six months I got nothing. Then my monthly salary was fixed at Rs.10/-.

Q. How longs you worked for Rs.10/-?

A.There is a story behind it. I found interest in editing. At that time, Biren Guha was the editor of Aurora. Though I learned nothing from him. Very soon he resigned and Santosh Gangooly took the charge. He taught me editing, aesthetically, practically. In 1942 Aurora was producing a film 'Patibrata'. During its post production, suddenly the editor left the job and the studio manager could not find out any other editor to complete the film. Some of my colleagues proposed my name to Anadi babu. Though the manager did not want to give me the chance, but anyway, I got the opportunity to edit the film. I did it well. Several people praised my edit-work and I became the permanent editor of Aurora. My salary jumped into Rs.150/- per month.

Q. Wow! It was a great jump!

A. Yah! After 'Patibrata', I edited all films, produced by Aurora.

(Biswanath Mitra, Film editor at Aurora Film, Calcutta, 1930-today )
(source: Interview By Sougata Bhattacharya (sougata_28@rediffmail.com) with Mr. Biswanath Mitra (Editor) at Aurora Film, Calcutta, 1930-today, seen at  http://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/reader-list/2003-March/002556.html, Thu Mar 27 21:04:56 CET 2003)

(COPYRIGHT NOTICE: Reproduced under 'fair dealing' terms as part of a non commercial educational research project. The copyright remains with Sougata Bhattacharya)

 

What was an average cost for feature film at that time?

Q. What was an average cost for feature film at that time?

A. As far I know, it needed Rs.30000/- to produce Aurora's first full length talkie film, 'Patibrata'. It was in 1942. In the 1950s, the average cost was around Rs.50000/-. Though our biographical films like, 'Raja Rammohan' and 'Bhagini Nibedita' were more expensive due to the sets, props and costumes. Moreover, few locations of 'Bhagini Nibedita' were shot in London.

(Biswanath Mitra, Film editor at Aurora Film, Calcutta, 1930-today )
(source: Interview By Sougata Bhattacharya (sougata_28@rediffmail.com) with Mr. Biswanath Mitra (Editor) at Aurora Film, Calcutta, 1930-today, seen at  http://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/reader-list/2003-March/002556.html, Thu Mar 27 21:04:56 CET 2003)

(COPYRIGHT NOTICE: Reproduced under 'fair dealing' terms as part of a non commercial educational research project. The copyright remains with Sougata Bhattacharya)

 

Equipment was changing hands in Tollywood

A. Several people took loan from Anadi babu by pawning their equipment but could not pay off. Most of those equipment were very old and ultimately useless. In this way Aurora got several cameras but could not use those for shooting purpose.

Q. Your studio was also built in the same process…

A. Once P.C.Barua took loan by mortgaging his studio and could not pay back. Then Aurora claimed it at court and finally we won the case. But according to the order we got very short time, only one night, to occupy those things. At that time Aurora had a huge manpower. Within a night, we could be able to take those all even every brick from Barua studio. Later we built our own studio at Narkeldanga.

(Biswanath Mitra, Film editor at Aurora Film, Calcutta, 1930-today )
(source: Interview By Sougata Bhattacharya (sougata_28@rediffmail.com) with Mr. Biswanath Mitra (Editor) at Aurora Film, Calcutta, 1930-today, seen at  http://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/reader-list/2003-March/002556.html, Thu Mar 27 21:04:56 CET 2003)

(COPYRIGHT NOTICE: Reproduced under 'fair dealing' terms as part of a non commercial educational research project. The copyright remains with Sougata Bhattacharya)

 

'Aurora Screen News'

A. From 1938 Aurora started production of 'Aurora Screen News'. In fact, the touring party never stopped. Only shifted from the exhibition of films to the production of documentaries. The team moved entire Bengal, Bihar, Orissa, Asam or United provinces and captured almost every item they found interesting like from rituals to festivals or from lifestyles to memorable events.  Indeed, we produced a lot. Aurora recorded speeches of several eminent personalities like, Subhash Chandra Bose, Jwaharlal Nehru, Shyamaprasad Mukhopadhyay, Rabindranath Tagore and so on. To capture a news regarding earthquake at Muzaffarpur, Aurora hired an aeroplane to reach there.

Q. Was there a very good market of those documentaries?

A. Not at all. Those were for free screening purposes only. It was a passion of Anadibabu. Or perhaps, he could understand the potentiality of Documentaries. But unfortunately, In 1946, all those were damaged by fire.

(Biswanath Mitra, Film editor at Aurora Film, Calcutta, 1930-today )
(source: Interview By Sougata Bhattacharya (sougata_28@rediffmail.com) with Mr. Biswanath Mitra (Editor) at Aurora Film, Calcutta, 1930-today, seen at  http://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/reader-list/2003-March/002556.html, Thu Mar 27 21:04:56 CET 2003)

(COPYRIGHT NOTICE: Reproduced under 'fair dealing' terms as part of a non commercial educational research project. The copyright remains with Sougata Bhattacharya)

 

 

 

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The Newspapers

 

 

 

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The left wing press

I was taken to meet a left-wing editor functioning somewhere in one of the bustees, up flight after flight of wobbly darkish wooden stairs—and certainly no fire safety provision. It felt like being in the middle of the set for some really nasty propaganda film.

Naomi Mitchinson, traveling writer. Calcutta, late 1940s early 1950s.
(source: Naomi Mitchinson: Muccking around , Five continents over 50 years. London Victor Gollancz, 1981)

(COPYRIGHT NOTICE: Reproduced under 'fair dealing' terms as part of a non commercial educational research project. The copyright remains with Naomi Mitchinson)

 

 

They were ready to hire me on the spot, but…

You asked about the images related to the Calcutta Statesman newspaper. Yes, I did spend quite a bit of time in its offices, visiting with its news gathering department and its mechanical printing personnel. You see, I am a graduate of the University of Missouri School of Journalism, so I was highly interested in newspapers and newspaper publishing.

One day, while wandering around the Esplanade, I looked up at the "Statesman" building, worked up enough nerve to just walk up to the door and go in. In introduced myself and explained my interest in newspapering -- and was literally received with open arms. A young man asked me what I'd like to see. I was taken up to the news department -- and sadly, now, I kept no record of names -- introduced to the Editor-in-chief. He called several of the news staff and we had an interesting conversation about newspapering in the US and in India. Many of the news people were interested in the Missouri School of Journalism, wanted to know all about it. I had gone in to the Statesman's office to learn about Indian newspapering and found I was the one being questioned.

They took me up to the type composing room, showed me the equipment they had, which was exactly like the machines we had on my hometown newspaper where I had worked as a youngster. I said I could run a "Linotype" typesetting machine, so they sat me down before one, handed me a piece of copy and said, "OK, Yank, go to work!"

When I had soon batted out half-a-column of type in a few minutes, I think they were ready to hire me on the spot if I could have even considered such a thing. But, I had to tell them, "No, fellows, I've got a job,"

I went back to the "Statesman" offices frequently when in the center of Calcutta. I always felt welcome among other newspaper people.

Even yet, when I call up their website, I feel a thrill, for having been there among the staff so long ago.

Glenn Hensley, Photography Technician with US Army Airforce, Summer 1944

(source: a series of E-Mail interviews with Glenn Hensley between 12th June 2001 and 28th August 2001)

(COPYRIGHT NOTICE: Reproduced by permission of Glenn Hensley)

 

Newspaper Vendors

We often walked down Chowringhee of an evening passing all the newspaper vendors with their publications all neatly laid out on the pavement and of course their American ciggies.

Molly Hamilton, Calcutta. late 1940s
(Source: Several E-mail interviews with Molly Hamilton in 2003. / Reproduced by courtesy of Molly Hamilton)

 

 

 

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All-India-Radio

 

 

 

 

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Science & Education

 

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Indian Statistical Institute & Professor Mahalanobis

The Indian Statistical Institute was in a great garden centring on the house where Professor Mahalanobis and Ranee lived and reigned and where I stayed that first time. There were marble floors cool to the feet and soft rugs; there were pictures and books and objects of beauty of historic interest. If you leant over the parapet of the roof, the scent of the flowering mangoes came drifting up and someone would quote Tagore.

Naomi Mitchinson, traveling writer. Calcutta, late 1940s early 1950s.
(source: Naomi Mitchinson: Muccking around , Five continents over 50 years. London Victor Gollancz, 1981)

(COPYRIGHT NOTICE: Reproduced under 'fair dealing' terms as part of a non commercial educational research project. The copyright remains with Naomi Mitchinson)

 

 

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