Memoir of the Career of Sir Reginald Michael Hadow [‎10r] (19/26)

[Reginald] Michael Hadow
Motivation Born Shillong Assam in 1915. Father, Malcolm McGregor Hadow of
the law firm Steele & Hadow (mostly work for the tea planters) was himself
born in Chinsurah, Bengal in 1859. Mother, Constance Lund born in Simla, 1880.
Eldest sister, Sylvia, married 1923 to Charles Daunt of the Central India House,
later commanded 18-Lancers and on retirement (1936?) became military adviser in
Jaipur and then Udaipur. Younger sister, Audrey, married Eric Moore, State
Engineer in Jamnagar. Cousins, the "Kashmir Hadows" had the carpet factory An East India Company trading post. and
crafts centre in that state. Many other Hadows according to family tree sought
their careers in India from E I Company days in 18 century. In my day Austin
Hadow was important in Indian railways and another was in the Punjab Police (I
never met them).
My first language was Khasi, a Mon-Khmer dialect, also a certain amount of
Kitchen Hindustani.
Returned to England in 1921 on death of my father who left my mother in fairly
straitened circumstances. Always assumed that if I could, should try for the
I.C.S. and then the F & P.
Education Berkhamsted School - aim to go to University. Fortunate to get
scholarship to King's College Cambridge and went up in 1934. Graduated 1937 in
Modern languages with a 2(1) degree.
Entry Sat Civil Service exam in 1937 with I.C.S. as my option. It was first
year entry by selection was tried. The Selection Board was after one had sat
the C.S. exams, but results were issued before C.S. exam general results and if
selected you had to withdraw your name from the C.S. exams (which of course
covered Home Civil, Foreign Office, Consular, Sudan C.S. etc. etc. as well as
I.C.S.). I was selected.
Probationary Year I returned to King's and Government grant of £300, a princely
sum in those days. In my old college with many old friends, dons and former
pursuits. I had a marvellous time and did little work. Much of the course seemed
merely time wasting: only Indian History, Law and one's provincial language seemed
necessary. I had (on family advice) chosen the Central Provinces, where I was told
life was still very "Indian", where the sport was good and where a young man gained
responsibility quickly. My language was therefore Hindi, Covenant signed 5 Sept
1938 by Zetland (S of S for India).
I.C.S. Career Sailed to India, Sept 1938 on "Viceroy of India". My sister Sylvia
was also on board, so met many of her friends, army I.C.S. and Political even at
that early stage. On arrival in Bombay directed to Nagpur. The C.P. at that time
was under a Congress Provincial Government (P.M. Pandit Ravishankar Shukla).
Appointed Asst. Commissioner Jubblepore.
Jubblepore Ideal life. Two weeks in every month out on tour of one's subdivision.
2 weeks a month being a criminal magistrate in Jubblepore where "station life" was
very civilised. As a reserve officer (cavalry) I was able to live in the 3rd
Cavalry mess and shared a bungalow with two Indian Officers of that regiment
(Dhargalkar and Badhwar). An unusual feature of Jubblepore and (later) my sub
division Katni was the frequency and ferocity of Hindu/Muslim rioting. The war
broke up this ideal life as my army friends moved on and I was very embittered by
not being released on active service.
I was glad to escape when appointed (1941) as A.D.C. to the Governor, Sir Henry
Twynham in Pachmarhi. Returned to Nagpur where H.E.'s problems grew with the
resignation of the Congress Govt. Suffered a severe fall in July and broke my leg.
3 months in Nagpur hospital followed by 3 months on crutches, which I spent