Down The Memory Lanes: The Last 31st December Before Partition

It had become quite obvious to all but the confirmed blimps that the end of British rule was but a matter of time as the year 1946 was drawing to a close. The word ‘Pakistan’ had become an accepted concept, though the exact contours were perplexing. 

The Punjab government made its annual transfers, nay adjustments, of the top echelons of bureaucracy in December 1946 and all the officers had been asked to take charge before 31st December. The British officers felt that the British government still had a great deal of support, whereas the Indian officers were convinced about the inevitability of Independence.

The population of Punjab (which included Pakistan’s Punjab) was one-fifth of what it is now. No pollution, no stubble burning, no traffic hazards. Most of the people lived frugally but gleefully, as a relaxed, contented lot.

By 31st December of 1946, people were still inordinately innocent about the humongous and ferocious storm getting ready to hit them in a few months’ time in the form of Partition violence, in which almost 10 lakh would lose their lives. There was no incipient distress visible as the year drew to a close in 1946.

Sir Evans Jenkins (ICS of 1920 batch) was the Governor of Punjab since 8th April, 1946 and Sir Khizar Hayat Tiwana the premier since December 1942.

Punjab had five ministers — Sardar Swarn Singh (Development), Muzzafar Ali Khan (Revenue), Bhim Sen Sachar (Finance), Chaudhry Lehri Singh (Public Works) and Mohammad Ibrahim Barq (Education). The Home Department (which included the police) always remained with the Governor during the British rule.

The three Financial Commissioners were P Mareden (ICS, 1912 batch) of Colonisation, Ram Chandra (ICS of 1913 batch) of Revenue and HD Bhanot (ICS of 1921 batch) of Development. The five Divisional Commissioners heading Divisions were C King of Rawalpindi, Saidullah Khan of Lahore, CN Chandra of Jullundur, PK Kaul of Multan and JA Mackeown of Ambala.

During the British administration, whenever a Governor of a state (there were 11 provinces in the country) would go on leave, the Financial Commissioner Revenue used to be acting Governor. 
In Punjabi folklore, the Governor was called “Lord Sahab” and FCR “Chhotta Lord Sahab”. Also, Divisional Commissioners were senior and placed higher in Warrant of Protocol to the Chief Secretary of the state. The post of Chief Secretary was created in Punjab on 6th March, 1890. 
Akhtar Hussain (ICS of 1926 batch) was the last Chief Secretary of Undivided Punjab.
There were 35 superior ICS appointments with officers like HS Malik, SK Kriplani, Amid-Ud-Din, A MacFarquhar and Akhtar Hussain.

In the pre-Partition Lahore High Court, Sir Abdul Rashid was the Chief Justice. SN Haksar (ICS, 1933) was Registrar of the High Court and Nawab Singh (ICS, 1929) the Legal Remembrancer. There were 73 appointments of junior and middle-level ICS officers in Punjab and the juniormost ICS officer was Nirmal Kumar Mukherjee, who joined on 25th October, 1944.

There were 29 districts and 10 PCS officers had been appointed as Deputy Commissioners. The strength of the PCS Executive branch was 330 and that of Subordinate Judges and Additional Sessions Judges 151 in Punjab.

Service matters were not entertained in the High Court and there was no provision of Writs.
“Claims over the state” was the mandatory information required for every post from clerk or constable to the ICS or IP. For competing in the state services and ICS/IP, one had to appear before the District Magistrate and convince him about the plausibility of one’s capabilities.

In case the District Magistrate accepted the form, the candidate could appear for the competition, otherwise it was curtains for him and no appeals were entertained.

Officers enjoyed full space and powers and immunity from petty intrigues or frivolous complaints. They had impeccable integrity and from 1927 till Independence, only two ICS officers of Punjab were charge-sheeted. One was EP Moon, former DC of Amritsar who had a close friendship with a lady (later Minister in Union Cabinet), and the other was AM Khan Laghari (ICS, 1938-Nominated) for some financial impropriety. 

In the pre-Partition administration, Punjab Police was headed by JTM Bennet, a 1914-batch IP who was the IG of Punjab and ex-officio Joint Secretary, Home, to Government of Punjab, whereas AA MacDonald (ICS, 1928) was Home Secretary. There were six posts of DIGs, including five Range DIGs and one DIG CID.

JA Scot (IP, 1915), GT Hamilton Hardinge (1915) and WC Plumb (1915) were DIGs of Lahore, Rawalpindi and Ambala Ranges. JA Scroggie (IP, 1915) and Sant Parkash Singh (1920-Nominated) were DIGs of Jullunder and Multan Range.

There were six Selection Grade SPs, 51 Senior Scale SPs and 55 Junior Scale SPs called ASPs in Punjab Police before Partition. Later, the administration had a split, with most of the British officers going to England and Muslim officers opting for Pakistan.

In 1947, India had a total of 101 Muslim ICS officers of whom 95 opted for Pakistan and six agreed to serve in India. Badruddin Tyabji (ICS, 1932) and PM Ismail (ICS, 1933) were the ones who served in Independent East Punjab.

Of the 151 Additional Sessions Judges and Sub Judges, 91 opted for India. Of 329 PCS Executive officers, 163 opted for India.

The memories of that pre-Partition administration — before the perennial split — remained fresh in the minds of those who served with them or later read about them, for many many years because of those vaulting standards of fairness, efficaciousness, diligence and financial perspicacity of the officers, but the melancholic reality is that the era gone by can’t be relived.


(RK Kaushik In Tribune)