Description

1) Xerox copy of a letter from Mr. A.J.V. Arthur, when Commissioner, Multan, to A.A. MacDonald, Home Secretary to the Punjab Government, Lahore, describing the first day of the Communal Riots which occurred in Multan on 5 May 1947.

2) Handing-over notes on Sub-Division. Murree. 24.X.41.

List of contents:

• Introductory. (p.1)

• A. Murree (pp.1-15)
• Introduction.
• Duties of the Sub-Divisional Officer.
  1. Sub-divisional magistrate:
     1. Administration of justice: chief function of the SDO
     2. Bar: relations with and list of the pleaders at the court of the SDO
     3. Police: general and personalities
     4. Motor traffic
     5. Political
  2. Assistant Collector, 1st Grade
     1. Revenue cases
     2. Tahsil: general comments, personalities
     3. Inspection of Kanungos and Patwanis
  3. Senior Vice-President of the Municipal Committee, Murree
     1. Constitution
     2. Staff
     3. Administration: Finance; Education; Medical; Public health; Public works; Water supply: Forest.
  4. Sub-Treasury Officer: regulations and staff
  5. Sub-registrar
  6. Miscellaneous duties
• General
  1. SDO’s Office
     1. Staff
     2. Reorganisation of files
  2. Air Raid Precautions:
     1. Blackouts
     2. Fire Brigade
  3. Rent Control
  4. Murree personalities
• 2. The Ilaqa (pp. 16-38)
     1. Introduction
        1. General description
        2. Tribal Distribution – originally 4 Sikh ilaqas split into 2 zai1s; description of Dewal & Tret Zails, the Chareham Zail, Kotli. Zail, & Karor Zail
        3. Trees & vegetation
        4. Bungalows, owned by the Forest Department
     2. Rural Notabilities, listed
     3. Agriculture
        1. “The Good Earth”
        2. Crops
        3. Fruit growing
        4. Staff employed by the Agricultural Department
        5. Experiments
        6. Livestock
        7. Hay’s Farm
     4. Forests
        1. Description
        2. The Guzaras:
           1. the problem – to reconcile land hunger with forest preservation
           2. administration – personnel & duties
           3. Guzara Fund – re. compensation
           4. verification by Panchayats
           5. Nantor
           6. conclusion – general improvements achieved and problems remaining
     5. Cooperation:
        1. Staff
        2. Cooperative Societies
        3. Cooperative Marketing Scheme – to encourage fruit & vegetable growing; requirements for the scheme’s success
     6. Education:
        1. Organisation – schools
        2. Improvements achieved & recommended
     7. Panchayats – judicial & extra-judicial activities
     8. Communications – improvements
     9. Medical & Public Health
     10. Rural Reconstruction – the difference between the hill & plains villages.
     11. Murree Suburban Area:
         1. Economic Enquiry – report awaited
         2. Area covered by the enquiry – inadequacies
         3. Improvements
     12. The War:
         1. Recruiting
         2. War work & war charities
         3. The Defence Savings Movement
     13. Inclusion of Kahuta Tahsil in the Murree Sub-Division – proposal and reasons

  3) The Handing-over Notes of A.J.V. Arthur, Sub-Divisional Officer, Kasur. (19.1.42 to 15.1.44)

  1. Introduction
  2. Law and order:
     1. Policy
     2. Reduction of crime
     3. Political:
        1. Congress
        2. Akalis
        3. Communists
        4. Rashtriya Swayyam Sewak Sangh
        5. Nihangs
        6. Ahrars
        7. Muslim League
     4. Communal
     5. Magistracy
     6. Disposal of criminal work
     7. Honorary magistrates
     8. The bar
  3. Police:
     1. P.S. City Kasur
     2. P.S. Lulliani
     3. P.S. Sadar Kasur
     4. P.S. Ganda Singhwala
     5. P.S. Khalra
     6. P.S. Bhikhiwind
     7. P.S. Patti
     8. P.S. Valtoha
     9. P.S. Chunian
     10. P.S. Kanganpur
     11. P.S. Khudian
     12. P.S. Raewind
     13. P.S. Bhai Pheru
     14. P.S. Sarai Mughal
     15. P.S. Pattoke
  4. Revenue:
     1. introduction
     2. Collections
     3. Staff:
        1. Tahsildars and Naib Tahsildars
        2. Field Kanungos and Patwaris
        3. Tahsils
     4. Case work
     5. Village officials
     6. Nazul Land
     7. Excise
     8. Local bodies:
        1. Introduction
        2. Municipal Committee, Kasur
        3. Municipal Committee, Pattoke
        4. Municipal Committee, Khem Karan
        5. Municipal Committee, Patti
        6. Municipal Committee, Chunian
        7. Small Town Committee, Khudian
        8. Small Town Committee, Sur Singh
        9. Notified Area Committee, Kot Rai Buta Mal-cum-Azamabad, commonly known as Kot Radha Kishan
        10. Notified Area Committee, Khalra Mandi
        11. Lulliana and Raja Jang
        12. Market Committees
        13. Panchayats
     9. Sub-jail
     10. War effort:
         1. Recruitment
         2. Defence Savings Campaign
         3. National War Front
         4. ‘Grow More Food’ campaign
     11. Civil supplies
     12. Mandir mata musli, Katluhi Kalan
     13. The Gumbaz
     14. Distinguished visitors
     15. Inspections
     16. Recommendations
     17. Sub-divisional office
     18. Conclusion

  4) The Handing-over Notes of A.J.V. Arthur, Deputy Commissioner Attock District, 1944 – 1946

  1. Introduction
  2. Law and Order.
     1. Crime
     2. Political:
        1. Local politics – feudal aspect and tribal rivalries
        2. Congress – very little weight in the district as a whole, except in the towns and larger villages; incident with Khan Abdul Ghafar Khan
        3. Sikhs
        4. Ahars
        5. Rashtriya Swayyam Sewak Sang
     3. Communal:
        1. Kot Fateh Khan – a dispute
        2. General – very little communal ill feeling
     4. Magistracy and disposal of criminal work
     5. Police
     6. Honarary Magistrates
     7. Bar
  3. Revenue and Excise
     1. Collections – improvement in collections
     2. Staff
     3. Case Work
     4. Touring
     5. Village officials
     6. Court of Wards
     7. Consolidation of Holdings
     8. Locusts
     9. Excise
  4. Local Bodies
     1. District Board
     2. Municipal Committee, Campbellpur
     3. Municipal Committee, Hazro
     4. Municipal Committee, Pindigheb
     5. Small Town Committee, Hasanabdal
     6. Small Town Committee, Talagang
     7. Small Town Committee, Fatehjang
     8. Notified Area Committees – Khaur, & others proposed
     9. Panchayats
     10. Market Committee
  5. Civil Supplies
     1. Staff
     2. Cloth, sugar, kerosene oil rationing
     3. Illicit export – prevention
     4. Wheat situation
  6. Military Matters
     1. Camps and Air Fields.
     2. Land acquisition.
     3. Traffic accidents.
     4. Internal Security.
  7. District War Effort
     1. Recruitment
     2. War Fund
     3. War Loans
     4. Small Savings Campaign
     5. Soldiers’ welfare
     6. District War Committee and National War Front
     7. District Red Cross Society
     8. Rewards:
        1. Titles
        2. Civil non-official reward grants of one square each
        3. Special recruiting grants of one square each
        4. Land Gentry grants of two squares each
        5. Special Landed Gentry Grants
        6. Gangi
     9. Special Projects
        1. Sir Sikandar Hayat Khan Memorial High School, Basal
        2. High School, Temman
        3. High School, Chhab
        4. High School at Adhwal
        5. Middle School, Danda Shah, Bilawal
        6. Habib Ullah Zenana Hospital, Pundighels
        7. Provision of X-Ray Equipment in the Civil Hospital, Campbellpur
        8. General – supply difficulties for above projects
     10. Postwar Reconstruction
     11. Forests
     12. Office – Personalities
     13. Miscellaneous
         1. Industries – the Punjab Cement Works, and the oil fields of the Attock Oil Company Limited
         2. Medical – Personalities
         3. Jail
         4. Agricultural Department
         5. Inspections
         6. Personalities
         7. Distinguished visitors – Sir Claude Auchinlek, Sir Harry Finnis and Lieut. Colonel Malik Sir Khizar Hayat Khan
         8. Confidential records – overhauled
         9. Electricity – supplies
         10. Kutchery Garden – improvements
         11. Clubs
         12. House and garden

         Note recommending the D.C. appended

  5) The Handing-over Notes of A.J.V. Arthur, Deputy Commissioner Multan, 18.10.46 – 5.8.47.

  1. Introduction – description, including history
  2. Law and Order
     1. Crime – increases in.
     2. Politics:
        1. General – detailed comments on the leading personalities
        2. Muslim League Agitation – serious difficulties with
     3. Communal
        1. Description of communal disturbances in March 1947
           • 5.3.1947 rioting in Multan City
           • 6.3.1947 incident in villages in the vicinity of Multan
           • 7.3.1947 incident in villages in the vicinity of Multan
           • 8.3.1947 sanitation reorganisation patrols, ban on processions etc
           • 9.3.1947 looting, public meeting, patrols, reinforcements, arrests of Goondas
           • 10.3.1947 Official visits and inspections, reinforcements arrive, a serious incident at Traggar etc.
           • 11.3.1947 Reorganisation of deranged city areas, rationing arrangements, troop movements
           • 12.3.1947 Continued trouble in the villages in the Shinjabad Tahsil, transport requisitioning
           • 13.3.1947 Clearing up operations
           • 14.3.1947 Situation completely under control
           • 15.3.1947 few further incidents
           • 16.3.1947 Riot investigations started: visit from Nehru
           • 17.3.1947 Curfew relaxed, further official visits
           • 18.3.1947 Area tour
           • 19.3.1947 Minor incident. Return to normal life
           • 24.3.1947 Visit by the Governor
        2. Casualties to religious communities & damage to property
           • City:
             • Casualties inflicted by the public
             • Casualties inflicted by the police
           • Rural area:
             • Casualties inflicted by the public
             • Casualties inflicted by the police
           • Casualties inflicted by the military in the City and Rural areas
           • Total casualties. Value of buildings destroyed by fire in Multan City
        3. Arrest of culprits and investigation of cases
        4. Trial of riot cases, and reasons for delay
        5. Aftermath. Mutual recriminations, and panic manifestations
        6. Collective fine on Multan City; delays
        7. Compensation
        8. Present situation, under control.
     4. Magistrates and the disposal of Criminal work situation; comments on the Magistrates
     5. Police – personalities.
     6. Honorary Magistrates – personalities and benches
     7. Kisan agitation – grievances against landlords. Communist involvement
     8. Labour – trouble occasional
     9. Internal Security
  3. Revenue
     1. Demand and Recovery
     2. Details re the fixed land revenue; fluctuating land revenue;. Abiana; rent on temporary cultivation paid each year in each Tahsil
     3. Arrears
     4. Arrears of the cost of the additional Police Posts
     5. Staff. Personal
     6. Case work
     7. Inspections
     8. Touring
     9. Village officials – general comments
     10. Court of Wards
     11. Colony Office
  4. Local Bodies.
     1. District Board – general survey
     2. Municipal Committee, Multan, efforts to improve efficiency
     3. Other Municipal Committees
     4. Municipal Committee, Khanewal
     5. Municipal Committee, Mian Chanavar
     6. Municipal Committee, Shinjabad
     7. Town Committee Mailsi
     8. Small Town Committees
     9. Small Town Committee, Kahoor Ricca
     10. Small Town Committee, Jalapur Pirwala
     11. Small Town Committee, Kabirwala
     12. Small Town Committee, Tulamba
     13. Small Town Committee, Duhyapur
     14. Notified Area Committees:
         1. N.A.C. Jahanian
     15. Panchayats
     16. Market Committees
  5. Civil Supplies:
     1. Staff
     2. Rationing of Cloth, Sugar and Kerosene Oil throughout the District
     3. Rationing in Multan City
  6. Wheat Monopoly Procurement and Distribution Scheme:
     1. Organisation of the staff
     2. Difficulties
     3. Reorganisation of staff
  7. Deputy Commissioner’s Office – personalities
  8. Army:
     1. Military formations
     2. District Soldiers, Sailors and Airmen’s Board
  9. Miscellaneous:
     1. Excise and Taxation Department
     2. Canals
     3. Medical
     4. Jails
     5. Sub Registrar
     6. Debt Conciliation Board
     7. Small Savings Campaign
     8. Red Cross Society etc.
     9. Personalities
     10. British Cotton Growers’ Association
     11. Housing of officers
     12. Distinguished visitors
     13. House and garden
     14. Conclusion

  TS ‘Memoir of a District Officer in the Punjab ? 1938-47′.(completed 22 February 1977, written at the request of the India Office Library). 32pp.

  Appendix: Zamzana (Kim’s Gun) 2pp.

  Family and educational background. Probationary year for ICS in England, 1937-38.

  First impressions of India from extracts from letters home, about English and Indian society and the way of life. Starts touring first with D.C. then alone. Impressions of villagers and Sikhs. Communal riot procedure. Meets Sir Malcolm Darling (14 March 1939). Passes Departmental Examinations with a Higher Standard. Starts office work in D.C.’s office Amritsar. Goes on 10 days’ leave to stay with the Viceroy’s (Lord Linlithgow) P.S. (Sir) Gilbert Laithwaite in Simla. Lunches with Viceroy. On return is given more work including Excise Officer. Supervises the destruction of the Pohli weed. Finds deaf and dumb boy being ‘tortured’ for religious reasons. July 1939 goes on Treasury training in Dalhousie.

  Comments on anti-Indian attitude of the British.

  September 1939. Comments on Amritsar Muslim Bye-election, parties and procedures.

  October 1939. On harvest inspection. Angus Macdonald becomes D.C. Settlement training in Amritsar District. Becomes 1st Class Magistrate in May 1940.

  June 1940. Engaged in defeat of Khaksars. Comments on judicial and other work. Judges the Minto Park Murder Case – 1941. Inauguration of Sir Bertrand Glancy.

  Sub-Divisional Officer: Murree. (April 1941) Describes areas of work. Co-operative market for fruit and vegetables (1 September 1941).

  Kasur (January 1942-1944) Sikhs: house formerly belonged to flora Annie Steel. Describes administrative organisation of Kasur, and his work there.

  Moves against civil disobedience movement (9 August 1942) Kasur sub-division very quiet.

  Lord Wavell and Governor of Punjab visit Sikh village of Lulliana.

  Deputy Commissioner: Attock. (January 1944) Brief history of District. Outline of work. Tours the Chhach collecting revenue. Other tours.

  Raja of Chamba arrives for three months` training 10 January 1945 – 6 March 1945.

  Cattle Fair at Tallagang, visit of the Governor.

  Investiture of young Raja of Chamba, 8 May 1945.

  Arrests Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan, the Frontier Gandhi. 28 July 1945.

  Does not want to move from Campbellpur until his projects are completed: drainage scheme, High School and hospital.

  Deputy Commissioner: Multan. October 1946 – August 1947. Extract from handing over note.

  Wheat Monopoly Procurement and Distribution Scheme and rationing scheme for cloth, kerosene and sugar.

  Kisan Agitation: Muslim League Agitation in Punjab. Extracts from Handing Over Notes – January and March 1947. Riots in Multan and dealing with them.

  Kasur Savings Scheme.