George Edward Campbell Wakefield
Given by Colonel J.H. Wakefield
Photocopy of book Recollections 50 Years in the Service of India by G.E.C. Wakefield, C.I.E., O.B.E. (Illustrated by M.G. Anderson). 212 pp. 1892-1942. Punjab, Rajputana (Tonk, Udaipur), Hyderabad Deccan, Jammu and Kashmir.
An anecdotal account of a varied Indian career, primarily in princely states. A self-made man whose grandfather, father and elder brother also served the country, he worked successively as Assistant Engineer in Punjab. Irrigation Department, Special Duty Officer in the Great Rajputana Famine, 1899-1900, as Superintendent Land Revenue and Irrigation, Tonk State, 1900, as Boundary Settlement Officer, Superintending Engineer Irrigation, Tutor to Heir Apparent and Confidential Secretary to Maharaja of Udaipur, 1903-09. From 1900-21, in service of Nizam of Hyderabad, he was Irrigation Settlement Officer, Deputy Director-General of Revenue and Director-General of Commerce and Industries. From 1921-29 he held various posts in service of Raja and Maharaja of Jammu and Kashmir: Chief Secretary to General Raja Sir Hari-Singh, as State Secretary to Maharaja, as Foreign and Political Development Minister, to name a few. Towards end of his life, during ‘Quit India’ Movement, he reflected on Britain’s past mistakes in India and prognosticated the course of future events.
