Walter John Christie: Difference between revisions

What links here Related changes Page information Get shortened URL
Created by Tom.Bot
Last edited October 11, 2022
VisualWikitext
>Tom.Bot
 
 
Line 7: Line 7:
}}
}}


'''Walter Henry John Christie''' [[Order of the Star of India|CSI]], [[Order of the Indian Empire|CIE]], [[Order of the British Empire|OBE]] (17 December 1905 – 25 August 1983) was a [[United Kingdom|British]] colonial [[civil servant]] ([[Indian Civil Service]]) who played a key part in the independence of [[India]] and provided administrative continuity after independence. He was also referred to as John Christie and "Red Christie".{{Citation needed|date=July 2017}}
'''Walter Henry John Christie''' [[Order of the Star of India|CSI]], [[Order of the Indian Empire|CIE]], [[Order of the British Empire|OBE]] (17 December 1905 – 25 August 1983) was a British colonial [[civil servant]] ([[Indian Civil Service]]) who played a key part in the independence of [[India]] and provided administrative continuity after independence. He was also referred to as John Christie and "Red Christie".{{Citation needed|date=July 2017}}


== Early life ==
== Early life ==
The son of Henry George Christie, Walter John Christie was born in [[Poona]], [[India]]. He was a [[King's Scholar]] at [[Eton College|Eton]] where he won the Newcastle medal. At [[King's College, Cambridge]] he won the Winchester Reading Prize and took first in part one of the classical tripos in 1926 and then another in part two of the historical tripos in 1927.<ref>[https://archive.org/stream/historicalre192130univuoft/historicalre192130univuoft_djvu.txt Cambridge University The Historical Register]</ref> Christie married Elizabeth Louise Stapleton in 1934.
The son of Henry George Frederick Christie, Walter John Christie was born in [[Poona]], [[India]]. He was a [[King's Scholar]] at [[Eton College|Eton]] where he won the Newcastle medal. At [[King's College, Cambridge]] he won the Winchester Reading Prize and took first in part one of the classical tripos in 1926 and then another in part two of the historical tripos in 1927.<ref>[https://archive.org/stream/historicalre192130univuoft/historicalre192130univuoft_djvu.txt Cambridge University The Historical Register]</ref> Christie married Elizabeth Louise Stapleton in 1934.


== Career ==
== Career ==
Christie joined the [[Indian Civil Service]] in 1928, and served in [[Bengal]] at [[Asansol]] and [[Chittagong Hill Tracts]] until 1937. He was then posted to New Delhi and after two years became one of the secretaries to the [[Viceroy of India]] [[Victor Hope, 2nd Marquess of Linlithgow|Lord Linlithgow]].<ref>John Christie ''Morning Drum'' BACSA 1983 {{ISBN|0-907799-04-3}} pp20-86</ref> In 1943, the Indian Food Department was established and Christie joined the department which was almost immediately overwhelmed by the [[Bengal famine of 1943]] and then challenged by the task of raising food production in India.
Christie joined the [[Indian Civil Service]] in 1928, and served in [[Bengal]] at [[Asansol]] and [[Chittagong Hill Tracts]] until 1937. He was then posted to New Delhi and after two years became one of the secretaries to the [[Viceroy of India]] [[Victor Hope, 2nd Marquess of Linlithgow|Lord Linlithgow]].<ref>John Christie ''Morning Drum'' BACSA 1983 {{ISBN|0-907799-04-3}} pp20-86</ref> In 1943, the Indian Food Department was established and Christie joined the department which was almost immediately overwhelmed by the [[Bengal famine of 1943]] and then challenged by the task of raising food production in India.


He was Secretary of the Indian Delegation at the FAO Representative 2nd Session of the conference in 1946.<ref>[http://www.fao.org/docrep/x5583e/x5583e04.htm United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation Conference 1946]</ref> In 1947 he was appointed Joint Private secretary with [[George Abell (civil servant and cricketer)|George Abell]] to the Viceroy [[Archibald Wavell, 1st Earl Wavell|Lord Wavell]] and worked on emergency plans for dealing with the possibility of a collapse of order on transition of power. [[Louis Mountbatten|Lord Mountbatten]] replaced Wavell as [[Viceroy]] with the objective of handing over power to a united India within a year. Christie and his colleague [[V. P. Menon]] realized [[Partition of India|partition]] was almost inevitable and decided to prepare a document to hold in readiness on the administrative issues involved in dividing all aspects of the state. Christie had the assistance of two civil servants [[Chaudhry Muhammad Ali]] future Prime Minister of Pakistan, and [[Haribhai M. Patel]] future Finance and Home Minister of India.<ref>John Christie ''Morning Drum'' BACSA 1983 {{ISBN|0-907799-04-3}} pp95-102</ref> The implications of the thirty-three page document ''The Administrative Consequences of Partition'' stunned the party leaders, [[Jawaharlal Nehru]] and [[Mohammad Ali Jinnah]], to silence when presented it to them.<ref>V P Menon ''The Transfer of Power in India'' Sangam Books Ltd, {{ISBN|81-250-1596-5}}</ref>
He was Secretary of the Indian Delegation at the FAO Representative 2nd Session of the conference in 1946.<ref>[http://www.fao.org/docrep/x5583e/x5583e04.htm United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation Conference 1946]</ref> In 1947 he was appointed Joint Private secretary with [[George Abell (civil servant and cricketer)|George Abell]] to the Viceroy [[Archibald Wavell, 1st Earl Wavell|Lord Wavell]] and worked on emergency plans for dealing with the possibility of a collapse of order on transition of power. [[Louis Mountbatten|Lord Mountbatten]] replaced Wavell as [[Viceroy]] with the objective of handing over power to a united India within a year. Christie and his colleague [[V. P. Menon]] realized [[Partition of India|partition]] was almost inevitable and decided to prepare a document to hold in readiness on the administrative issues involved in dividing all aspects of the state. Christie had the assistance of two civil servants [[Chaudhry Muhammad Ali]] future Prime Minister of Pakistan, and [[Haribhai M. Patel]] future Finance and Home Minister of India.<ref>John Christie ''Morning Drum'' BACSA 1983 {{ISBN|0-907799-04-3}} pp95-102</ref> The implications of the thirty-three page document ''The Administrative Consequences of Partition'' stunned the party leaders, [[Jawaharlal Nehru]] and [[Mohammad Ali Jinnah]], to silence when presented to them.<ref>V P Menon ''The Transfer of Power in India'' Sangam Books Ltd, {{ISBN|81-250-1596-5}}</ref>


After Indian independence Christie remained in India as an adviser to the central government committee until 1952.  In 1951 he became Steward of the [[Indian Polo Association]] when the sport of polo in India most needed revival.<ref>[http://www.indianpolo.com/ipa/index.asp Indian Polo Association]</ref>  He was Vice Chairman of the [[British India Corporation]] from 1952 to 1958 and President of the Upper India Chamber of Commerce from 1955 to 1956. He was then Vice President of the Employers Federation of India in 1956 and President of the UK Citizen’s Association in 1957. After India, he served on the Commonwealth development finance committee from 1959 to 1968 and became Adviser to the [[East African Development Bank]] from 1969 to 1970.
After Indian independence Christie remained in India as an adviser to the central government committee until 1952.  In 1951 he became Steward of the [[Indian Polo Association]] when the sport of polo in India most needed revival.<ref>[http://www.indianpolo.com/ipa/index.asp Indian Polo Association]</ref>  He was Vice Chairman of the [[British India Corporation]] from 1952 to 1958 and President of the Upper India Chamber of Commerce from 1955 to 1956. He was then Vice President of the Employers Federation of India in 1956 and President of the UK Citizen’s Association in 1957. After India, he served on the Commonwealth development finance committee from 1959 to 1968 and became Adviser to the [[East African Development Bank]] from 1969 to 1970.
Line 33: Line 33:
==References==
==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{Reflist}}
{{Authority control}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Christie, Walter}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Christie, Walter}}
Line 44: Line 42:
[[Category:Indian Civil Service (British India) officers]]
[[Category:Indian Civil Service (British India) officers]]
[[Category:Companions of the Order of the Star of India]]
[[Category:Companions of the Order of the Star of India]]
[[Category:British people in colonial India]]
[[Category:Companions of the Order of the Indian Empire]]
[[Category:Officers of the Order of the British Empire]]

Latest revision as of 04:41, 11 October 2022

Walter John Christie
Born17 December 1905
Died25 August 1983
EducationEton College
Spouse(s)Elizabeth Louise Stapleton

Walter Henry John Christie CSI, CIE, OBE (17 December 1905 – 25 August 1983) was a British colonial civil servant (Indian Civil Service) who played a key part in the independence of India and provided administrative continuity after independence. He was also referred to as John Christie and "Red Christie".[citation needed]

Early life[edit | edit source]

The son of Henry George Frederick Christie, Walter John Christie was born in Poona, India. He was a King's Scholar at Eton where he won the Newcastle medal. At King's College, Cambridge he won the Winchester Reading Prize and took first in part one of the classical tripos in 1926 and then another in part two of the historical tripos in 1927.[1] Christie married Elizabeth Louise Stapleton in 1934.

Career[edit | edit source]

Christie joined the Indian Civil Service in 1928, and served in Bengal at Asansol and Chittagong Hill Tracts until 1937. He was then posted to New Delhi and after two years became one of the secretaries to the Viceroy of India Lord Linlithgow.[2] In 1943, the Indian Food Department was established and Christie joined the department which was almost immediately overwhelmed by the Bengal famine of 1943 and then challenged by the task of raising food production in India.

He was Secretary of the Indian Delegation at the FAO Representative 2nd Session of the conference in 1946.[3] In 1947 he was appointed Joint Private secretary with George Abell to the Viceroy Lord Wavell and worked on emergency plans for dealing with the possibility of a collapse of order on transition of power. Lord Mountbatten replaced Wavell as Viceroy with the objective of handing over power to a united India within a year. Christie and his colleague V. P. Menon realized partition was almost inevitable and decided to prepare a document to hold in readiness on the administrative issues involved in dividing all aspects of the state. Christie had the assistance of two civil servants Chaudhry Muhammad Ali future Prime Minister of Pakistan, and Haribhai M. Patel future Finance and Home Minister of India.[4] The implications of the thirty-three page document The Administrative Consequences of Partition stunned the party leaders, Jawaharlal Nehru and Mohammad Ali Jinnah, to silence when presented to them.[5]

After Indian independence Christie remained in India as an adviser to the central government committee until 1952. In 1951 he became Steward of the Indian Polo Association when the sport of polo in India most needed revival.[6] He was Vice Chairman of the British India Corporation from 1952 to 1958 and President of the Upper India Chamber of Commerce from 1955 to 1956. He was then Vice President of the Employers Federation of India in 1956 and President of the UK Citizen’s Association in 1957. After India, he served on the Commonwealth development finance committee from 1959 to 1968 and became Adviser to the East African Development Bank from 1969 to 1970.

Retirement[edit | edit source]

On retirement he wrote several articles for Blackwood's Magazine, wrote Menon's biography for the ONDB and published an autobiographical account of his service in Morning Drum. He lodged many of his papers in public archives where they have provided a source for works on Indian history.[7] He died on 25 August 1983.

Publications[edit | edit source]

  • Morning Drum (BACSA) 1983
  • Oxford Dictionary of National Biography Menon, Vapal Pangunni (1894-1966)
  • Contributions to Blackwood’s Magazine
    • March 1970
    • November 1970 A Taste of Freedom
    • May 1971 St Cyprians Days
    • June 1971 Little Victims

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ Cambridge University The Historical Register
  2. ↑ John Christie Morning Drum BACSA 1983 ISBN 0-907799-04-3 pp20-86
  3. ↑ United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation Conference 1946
  4. ↑ John Christie Morning Drum BACSA 1983 ISBN 0-907799-04-3 pp95-102
  5. ↑ V P Menon The Transfer of Power in India Sangam Books Ltd, ISBN 81-250-1596-5
  6. ↑ Indian Polo Association
  7. ↑ National Archives
Retrieved from "https://en.bharatpedia.org/w/index.php?title=Walter_John_Christie&oldid=402641"
Discover more