Gerald Pakenham Stewart, I.C.S. Joined service 1930, Assam; Political Agent, Manipur 1938; Prisoner of War in Japan 1941-45.
Typescript Memoir: ‘The Rough and the Smooth: the Autobiography of G.P. Stewart, I.C.S. (Retd.)’.
Born (in 1901) and bred in Ireland, G.P. Stewart, after completing his education and his probationary year for the Indian Civil Service, departed in November 1930 to take up his first appointment as Assistant Commissioner in Sylhet, Assam. From there he was transferred, after little more than a year, to Kohima in the Naga Hills District and appointed Subdivisional Officer, Mokokchung. During this period he married Liz Scott, daughter of Mr Walter (later Sir Walter) Scott, a senior I.C.S. officer and a New Zealander. In March 1933 Stewart was moved again, this time to Imphal in Manipur, as President of the State Durbar.
After their return from leave in Ireland in 1936 he held sundry posts. Within two years they had seven transfers. Some of his appointments were: S.D.O., Sibsagar, Acting Deputy Commissioner, Sylhet and to Shillong, the chief town in the Khasi and Jaintia Hills District, where he was given the task of making territorial boundaries for each of the Khasi chieftains.
In February 1939 he was appointed Deputy Commissioner, Sylhet, where they spent two and a half years before departing for leave in New Zealand in September 1941, a journey made by flying boat. Hs leave was to be shortlived for, after Japan’s entry into the war in December, he was recalled to duty in Assam. He departed from New Zealand on 12th March 1942. After various exigencies of travel his ship, the Nankin’, was attacked by a German raider on 10th May and he, along with all other passengers and crew, were made prisoner and taken aboard by their German captors. After transfers to two more German ships they were disembarked at Yokohama on 10th July, having spent eighty-four days at sea. They were imprisoned in an abandoned convent in Fukushima where they remained under stringent conditions until their release in September 1945 by American airmen, after Japan’s surrender. Stewart rejoined his wife and family in Nelson, New Zealand.
He and his wife, leaving their children in New Zealand, returned in May 1946 to Assam where he was appointed Deputy Commissioner of Cachar District, posted at Silchar.
For their final ten months in India he was appointed Political Agent, Manipur, moving there in December 1946. He records the changes which had taken place during the five years since their previous appointment there. He mentions the many V.I.P. guests they had to entertain while at the Residency and tells of the last hill tour he and his wife made to the northeastern part of the Province.
When Sir Akbar Hydari was appointed Governor of Assam he asked members of the I.C.S. to stay on for a few months after the transfer of power. Stewart agreed to do so. At the time of independence there was the possibility of trouble in Manipur between Satyagrahis and the Maharajah’s people, making a tense situation. In the end all was settled amicably.
Stewart and his wife left Manipur on 20th October, only two months after independence. His position had become untenable and they were feeling increasingly isolated. They managed to leave Calcutta by air on 10th December, arriving in Nelson, New Zealand where they rejoined their children on 18th December.>
The final chapter of the autobiography describes their life in Nelson. He qualified as a barrister and worked in a law firm. After his retirement he was appointed Coroner of Nelson.
His story is full of interest from many angles. He describes various ethnic groups of the northeastern corner of India amongst whom he worked and tells of their customs, giving some historical details of the area. The life and work of a District Officer in Assam is graphically described, not only by himself but also in his wife’s letters to her parents from which he quotes. His dispassionate account of the daily routine and conditions in a Japanese prisoner of war camp is both moving and illuminating. 237pp.
Stewart, G.P. Papers: Box 2
Gerald Pakenham Stewart, I.C.S. Joined service 1930, Assam; Political Agent, Manipur 1938; Prisoner of War in Japan 1941-45.
TS extract from the Manipur State administration report for 1943-44, by E.F. Lydall. 8 pp.
TS copy of some notes made by Mr. Gimson for Lady Bourne; notes on the war in Manipur. 6 pp.
Tour diaries of the Deputy Commissioner, Naga Hills. Shillong, 1942:
Vol. I, 1870;
Vol. II, 1870-72;
Vol. III, 17 February – 11 April 1873;
Vol. V, December 1876 – October 1879;
Vol. VI, November 1880 – February 1882.
Administration report of the Manipur State for the year 1933 – 34, by G.P. Stewart. Imphal, 1934.
Final report on the resettlement of Cachar for the year 1917-18, by W.L. Scott, Esq., M.A., B.Sc., I.C.S., Settlement Officer. Shillong, 1919.
Stewart, G.P. Papers: Box 1
Gerald Pakenham Stewart, I.C.S. Joined service 1930 and held posts in Assam; Political Agent, Manipur 1938; Prisoner of War in Japan 1942-45.
BOX 1
Letters from Elisabeth Stewart in Imphal to her parents, Sir Walter Laurence Scott, C.I.E., I.C.S., and Lady Scott (q.v.) then living in New Zealand, 20 December 1946 – 29 May 1947, noting the changes in Assam since she and her husband, G.P. Stewart, were there in 1941, and recording the life before Independence. The letters are carefully annotated in TS by G.P. Stewart and there is also a covering note.
Letters written by Elizabeth Stewart (wife of G.P. Stewart) to her parents from Shillong/Imphal, Assam in 1947, (again well annotated)
5 June. Detailed account of daily social life while on leave in Shillong.
11 June. Description of Shillong in 1947 – building etc. A lot about various civil service officers and politics – car journey Shillong-Imphal. Choice before I.C.S. officers – back in Imphal as P.A. and daily life there in detail. Comments on the future of I.C.S. members, and considerations for their personal future.
17 June. Daily life in Imphal; rationing: Bishop Biswas. Political agitation beginning; future of Nagas – Preparations for the Governor’s visit.
24 June. Discuss the implications of leaving after Independence with a Congress man, and others – Financial position of Government servants. Visit of H.E. The Governor, Sir Akbar and Lady Hyderi, described in detail.
4 July. Continuation of Governor’s visit – Crisis between the Maharaja and the Governor, end of visit – Home industries and arts and crafts. Difficulties about leaving. Sylhet referendum; trouble in Calcutta. Question of compensation – women’s part in this. The attitude towards Independence of various groups and individuals – Tension beginning in Manipur.
11 July. Domestic life and problems. Result of vote in Sylhet – joining Pakistan. Note about the siege of Kohima. More discussion on the consequences of Independence to her husband’s work. Criticism of Khasi men. Details of beginning of preparations for hand-over. Compensation petitions.
18 July. The events of daily life – News of Congress meetings. Unease for the future. Delay in getting passages home – Proposed visit of a Shakespeare Company – Rumours of various States joining Pakistan. Visit of Sir Charles Pawsey – Spit in Congress Party in Manipur and consequences – Constitutional and political crises and currents in Manipur.
26 July. A letter much as before, with detailed day to day events of the small world of a station like Imphal, coping with influx of visitors, political situation, rationing, servants, climate, and arrangements for going home.
1 August. More about the Shakespeare players, demonstrations against them, and difficulty of getting away. Further complications of Council Members. Rumours of Naga independence. Preparations for departure.
10 August. Trouble with the Maharaja. Beginnings of the change-over of power, intrigues and administrative moves. Beginning to hear of the trouble in the rest of India before Partition – in Calcutta, Alwar and Rampur – G.P. Stewart decides to leave early. More news of rioting etc. Further preparations for Independence Day. New Council takes office. Feeling of panic in Sylhet.
15 August. Independence Day. Ceremony at midnight on 14th attended by H.H. The Maharaja. Followed by procession early in morning of the 15 August and other ceremonies and more processions during day
Further processions and rejoicing. Reaction of Calcutta and Punjab. News from Pawsey about Nagas. Difficulties over flag-flying. Resignation of Daiho, the Mao Circle Officer. Attitude of Nagas.
23 August. Trip to Shillong to stay with the Governor. Meet Pawsey at Kohima. Difficulties of the journey. Life at Government House.
3 September. Meeting many friends. Constant anxiety about release from service, pension, etc. Journey back from Shillong – delays and incidents. Impression of Life in Independent India – attitude of people.
6 September. Packing and selling off possessions. Incident of child with tetanus. ‘Incidents’ in the rest of India as a result of Independence. Gandhi on fast because of rioting – surrender of arms to him. New Council’s difficulties.
14 September. P.W.D. The Maharaja and flag-hoisting. Difficulties about getting passages to N.Z. Congress activities. Satyagraha.
23 September. More about the satyagrahas round the Palace and their developments. More about flag-hoisting. Description of Manipuri boat-race.
29 September. Domestic and home news. Discussion with Maharaja’s heir.
6 October. Letter about routine affairs; change-over etc. House repairs. Checking claims for compensation.
14 October. Arrival of new P.S., Mr. Debeswar Sarma. Farewells.
25 October. Shillong. Having left Imphal. Said goodbye to the Maharaja. Further farewells. Kohima. Goodbye to Pawsey. Galaghat. Smuggling. Refugees.
29 October. Changes in Shillong. Meeting old friends – social life.
4 November. Buying building plot for their servant Precilla. Business connected with leaving. Exhibition of hand-craft.