Description

Papers of Lady Beatrix Scott, wife of Sir Walter Scott, I.C.S., C.I.E. Sir Walter arrived in India in 1904 and served in senior positions in Assam between 1905 and 1939. In September 1932 he was appointed Chief Secretary to Government and in June 1935 he was made a Member of the Governor’s Executive Council.

Given by Mr G.P. Stewart, I.C.S.

“Indian Panorama”, a typescript autobiographical account by Lady Beatrix Scott of her life as the wife of Sir Walter Scott, I.C.S., C.I.E., 1910-39. Written 1951.

A most vivid account from the point of view of the wife of an Indian civil servant interested in her husband’s work and in the country and its people. It is a detailed description of life on tour and in the stations, and later in the towns and cities:

1. Husband’s career: joins I.C.S. 1904 – Bengal; Barisal; Island of Bhola; Patwakali; leave; moves to high administrative post and consequently moves around Mymensingh, Jamalpur etc.; marries December 1910.
2. With his wife he returns to India, January 1911, to Dacca where he was Registrar of cooperative credit societies; transferred in same job to Shillong; tours; Bengal division ended’; joins Assam, ceases to be Registrar and becomes under-Secretary in the finance department; next Settlement Officer in Cachar, and the Jaintia Pargannas; house at Haflong, Silchar; touring; Cachar; tea gardens and tea planters; life in Shillong – insects, birds, noise; Cherrapunji; back to New Zealand in the war with children and returns to India via Sydney, Singapore and Java and Madras.
3. Returns to Calcutta where Scott is Deputy Commissioner after the resettlement, and putting down the Manipur rebellion.
4. Description of District Commissioner’s work; enteric; convalescence.
5. Lady Scott becomes Political Under-Secretary to the Government of Assam, Sir Walter Scott becomes Excise Commissioner.
6. Tiger shoot at Goalpara; disasters; continuing work.
7. Scott appointed Superintendent, Lushai Hills 1918; description of district and subdivision on first tour, and the work entailed; human relations in small hill station; visit of Governor of Assam; description of Lushai villages and life there; detailed description of superintendent’s work; relations with the Burmans; silkworks; missionaries and their work; details of tour in area seldom visited by white people, and last tour to Blue Mountain on Burma border of Lingbeh subdivision; description of Chins and Lakhers, their villages and the camps in the villages.
8. 1923-34. Director of Land Records with Agriculture, Shillong: touring; Daflas; touring in the plains; Surma Valley.
9. 1934. Loses Directorship of Agriculture, but takes on income tax; life in Shillong at HQ; tour up to Mokokchang with Gerry Stewart, Elizabeth and Lady Scott; second visit for Christmas with Sir Walter Scott, great welcome by Nagas.
10. 1936. Scott temporarily Chief Secretary to Government of Assam during civil disobedience.
11. Gerry Stewart made President of the Maharaja’s Durbar in Manipur.
12. Scott appointed Commissioner of Surma Valley and hill districts.
13. Silchar HQ. Description of journey from Shillong, and life there; appointed Assam representative of the Central Legislative Assembly; touring again; Delhi and life there; finance member to the Government of Assam – Shillong; life of the wife of an I.C.S. in the Administration HQ – Assam Industries Shop; leave in England and South Africa; return to India as chairman of the Revenue Tribunal.