'Memoir for the Indian Political Service - Scheme by Lieut. Colonel L.A.G. Pinhey O.B.E.' [‎21r] (41/44)

- 20 -
the arrangement of the shoot or in any of its potential
dangers!
The Rulers of these States were, on the whole, enlightened
and well educated men who took a personal interest in the
welfare of their subjects and ruled with the advice of Min
isters but, of course, without any attempt to establish
electoral procedures. Some of them had their own units of
the State Forces v/hich were available for help to the Central
Government in case of major wars. The Maharaja of Bundi was
himself an officer in the Indian Cavalry before he inherited
the position of Ruler and was decorated with the Military
Cross while serving with the 5th Probyn’s Horse in North Africa.
In 1947 Lord Mountbatten, with the advice and instructions
of the British Government, announced that Independence would
be given to India and Pakistan from the 14th August 1947.
This was after the failure of all efforts to get the poli
ticians to come to an agreement over the division of the two
races, Hindu and Muslim. The Rulers of the States were asked
to state to which country they wished to be joined and in the
end all the States of Rajputana as it was then called, agreed
to join with India.
During this period, between about April and August 1947, the
Political Agent A mid-ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Agency. in Jaipur was promoted and it was not felt
necessary to appoint a new P.A. during the last few months
of British rule. I was therefore appointed to take over the
post of P.A.Jaipur in addition to the Eastern Rajputan Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent.
and I accordingly moved to Jaipur which was the most populous
and important of the States in that joint Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. . This in
cluded the States of Alwar, Tonk, Kishenglaii. and one or two
minor States. This meant that my charge included States,
particularly Alwar, which bordered on the Punjab in the North.
As a result, I had to witness some of the terrible border
troubles between Hindus and Muslims at the time of partition
without being able to intervene in any way as control had
passed to the politicians on both sides and any influence
which the Political Officers had been able to exercise had
completely disappeared. It was most harrowing and tragic at
this time to know that all those massacres and streams of
refugees were going on while vie were helpless and unable to
interfere.