Dear Jonathan, Take no notice of East Indies. People in those days called India the East Indies! Try the India Office, (Branch of British Library, Euston Road, London) Salaams - Hazel Craig

G'day folks, Those of you with connections to GMS can now see it on Google Earth at these co-ordinates. 26°54’ 08.57”N, 88°17’13.73”E ooroo If you don't hear the knock of opportunity - build a door. Anon.

G'day Desmond, On 20/06/2008, at 10:25 AM, Desmond Harris wrote: << A wonderfully exciting concept-but unless I missed it in Johns message-is there an estimated time of completion for this project?. >> I am but the messenger. ooroo If you don't hear the knock of opportunity - build a door. Anon.

A wonderfully exciting concept-but unless I missed it in Johns message-is there an estimated time of completion for this project?. Cheers Des Harris

Thanks to munrozoo for this... Subject: India to London by Train - New Journey Soon, India to London by Rail A 23-Day Trans-Asia Train Trip From Dhaka To UK Via India. New Delhi: In what would be perhaps the world's greatest railway journey, a new rail link, to be opened later this year, will enable one to undertake a 23-day journey by train from London to Dhaka via New Delhi. The Trans-Asia railway network stretching over 11,265 km will follow one of the old Silk Roads through Istanbul, Tehran, Lahore and Delhi. The journey, already being described as the greatest by train enthusiasts, will be longer than the Trans-Siberian railway, which spans 9,289 km., reported The Sunday Times. India has earmarked £90 million to extend its vast rail network towards its border with Myanmar. From there just over 350 km of missing track stands in the way of an overland rail journey fromLondon to Singapore. Under a UN-sponsored scheme, Pakistan and Iran will link their lines in the coming months to join the sub-continent's track to that of Europe for the first time. The UN said the link would open up new trade routes within Asia and give the former Soviet republics of Central Asia rail access to Iran's strategic seaport at Bandar Abbas on the Gulf. The route was extended when the Kolkata to Dhaka line reopened earlier this month, more than 40 years after it was blocked during the Indo-Pakistan war of 1965. Last week, senior Indian officials met their Iranian counterparts in Tehran to discuss the progress so far made in the rail network. The prospect has caused excitement among Britain' s rail enthusiasts. Mark Smith, whose website Seat 61.com promotes rail adventures around the world, was planning his firstLondon to Dhaka itinerary. His trip incorporates the Eurostar to Brussels , breakfast in Vienna and onward trains to Istanbul , where travellers must take the ferry across the Bosporus linking Europewith Asia. The ferry will eventually be replaced by an underground tunnel, but for now passengers will be able to enjoy views of the Aya Sofya and Topkapi Palace. China, a big supporter of the project, is spending billions on extending rail lines to its Myanmarese border. Trans-Asia railway sources said the only barrier to connecting London to Yunnan province and Singapore was Myanmar' s military regime, whose poor human rights record means no foreign funding is available. ANI. My own comment would be what a great journey, but I wasn't aware that Myanmar had any "human rights" or knew what they were. ooroo If you don't hear the knock of opportunity - build a door. Anon.

In addition to Google maps, there are some very good views available on WikiMapia. One can zoom in and possibly locate their former dwellings and other places of interest. _http://wikimapia.org/#lat=23.9661759&lon=81.9140625&z=5&l=0&m=a&v=2_ (http://wikimapia.org/#lat=23.9661759&lon=81.9140625&z=5&l=0&m=a&v=2) Charles Dique in Honolulu **************Gas prices getting you down? Search AOL Autos for fuel-efficient used cars. (http://autos.aol.com/used?ncid=aolaut00050000000007)

For all those who lived in Karachi, this is a link to a photo of the graveyard off Drigh road. It is also visible on google earth. A very sad state, as the area is under water in the photo and a lot of gravestones are overturned. _http://www.panoramio.com/photos/original/6108326.jpg_ (http://www.panoramio.com/photos/original/6108326.jpg) **************Gas prices getting you down? Search AOL Autos for fuel-efficient used cars. (http://autos.aol.com/used?ncid=aolaut00050000000007)

Mr Brajendranath Dé, Esq., ICS, (Dec 23, 1852 - Sep 20, 1932) was a civil servant, linguist, and historian. He was appointed as (Acting) Commissioner of Burdwan thrice in 1905. Due to his pro-nationalist sentiments and decision to visit a number of Swadeshi Bazaars in the division in that year, he was severely criticised by his British colleagues in the civil service. This act of patriotism, however, won him high praise in nationalist circles, especially from Congress leaders, such as Surendranath Banerjee, and also from his Indian colleagues in the civil service. The Bengalee, the nationalist daily edited by S.N.Banerjee wrote: " What are the sovereign recipes for the unrest that Mr.De had? A little intuitive sympathy with his countrymen, born of first-hand knowledge of their desires, their requirements, their character and their temperament, and as the Pioneer says there was no trouble in Hughli. The Pioneer's testimony to the efficacy of sympathy in the governance of men is complete. " Even the Pioneer, which was a pro-British newspaper, supported the view that De was an exceptionally able and patriotic administrator, committed to the maintenance of law and order in his district. It wrote: "If it had been possible to multiply Mr.De sufficiently, there would have been no trouble in Bengal". The Indian Opnion added: "... but these are men who glide out of the service unnoticed while the person who is chiefly responsible for the mischief probably makes his exit under salutes, in a coat covered with ribbons and stars." As the Collector of Hooghly, he started a club, called the Duke Club in the district exclusively for Indians. His decision was promted by the British refusal to allow any Indian entry into any one of their clubs. Once his commissioner reportedly told him not to even entertain any thought of wanting to join one of the British clubs in his district. snipped from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brajendranath_De --- Harshawardhan_Bosham Nimkhedkar Nagpur, India

Past and present of Indian forest management The history of Indian forest surveys goes back to over 2300 years, when the Mauryan empire conducted the first authentic survey. But, the present system of organised forest management was launched by the British empire, says a government report. THE HISTORY of forest surveys goes back to the Mauryan period in the third century BC. Chandra Gupta Maurya conducted the first authentic study and classified forests according to the functions they were required to perform such as religious, production, grazing for royal elephants, hunting and public use. But as there was no threat of dwindling green cover during that time, detailed records were not maintained. During the Mughal rule, surveys were limited to royal hunting reserves. A report by the Press Information Bureau (PIB) says that the first forest survey was launched in South India in 1800 by the British rulers. A commission was set up to study the availability of teak in Malabar region. During the first half of 19th century conservators and superintendents were appointed to survey forest resources and manage the assets all over the country. In 1863, the Conservator of Forests of Madras made a systematic collection of all information related to the working of the forests and produced the first 'Manual of Forests Operations'. This could be considered as the first step towards formal codification of the results of forest survey in the shape of written documents later to be known as 'working plan'. In due course, these working plans contained detailed forest maps based on the results of forest survey. In 1865, Brandis was appointed the first Inspector General of Forests working directly under the orders of Government of India. His job was to introduce a system of scientific management and conservation of forests through systematic forest surveys and preparation of working plans based on it. Prior to 1910, forest surveys and mapping were carried out by Survey of India at scales decided by Superintendent of Survey in consultation with the forest departments. After 1910, forest surveys were made ancillary to topographical surveys. The boundaries of legal forest areas are indicated by double dot lines while information about forest cover is shown in the form of green wash in these maps. After Independence in 1947, all princely states were merged into the Indian Union along with their forest areas. A further big addition of forest areas took place as a result of abolition of zamindari and proprietary rights in forest. The National Forest Policy enunciated in 1952 laid emphasis on forest surveys and demarcation along with other aspects of forest development. However, till 1960 non-availability of classified data of forest-wealth was a major problem in planning of scientific utilization of forest. To overcome this, a complete and broad survey of forest resources was required. Keeping this in view, a project named "Pre-Investment Surveys of Forest Resources" was undertaken by the Government in collaboration with UNDP/FAO in 1965. The PIB website informs that in 1976, the National Commission on Agriculture, realizing the importance of collection of data of a more general nature on a national level, recommended the creation of a National Forests Resources Survey Organisation. As a result of this recommendation, PISFR was converted into Forest Survey of India (FSI) in June, 1981. Till date, this organisation conducts the field work with its headquarters based in Dehradun. http://india.merinews.com/catFull.jsp?articleID=135751 --- Harshawardhan_Bosham Nimkhedkar Nagpur, India

The Times (London) has announced the availability, as a link from their home page: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/ to their archive: http://archive.timesonline.co.uk/tol/archive/ This may only be a limited free offer, so make the most of it. I have used this archive as a free service from my local library (you may have a similar facility) and unearthed a wealth of my family history. This includes a great deal from India. BMD announcements were (are) something of a status symbol, although before the telegraph link they were somewhat delayed. Shipping information often included 1st class passenger names. Happy hunting! -- Dave Barnett Keep GMT all year

G'day Charles, I was present, with my mother and brother in Madurai, South India, in 1962 when my father passed away. At the time I lived in Penang in Malaysia. My wife in Penang woke up and saw my father walk in through the bedroom door and around the bed where he looked into the crib of our new baby daughter. He then walked out. When I returned to Penang my wife told me about it and we were able to work out that this occurred exactly at the time he passed away. ooroo If you don't hear the knock of opportunity - build a door. Anon.

Loreto rechristened Southfield, state takes over administration Mrinalini Sharma DARJEELING, June 16: Loreto College, Darjeeling has been rechristened as Southfield College. The name came to effect on Saturday after the state government took over the administration of the college from the Loreto sisters. “The handover procedure took place formally on Saturday afternoon under the guidance of the Darjeeling DM who is the ex- officio president of our governing body,” informed Mrs Ringi Wangdi, who assumed the role of the teacher-in-charge of the college. Established in 1961 the college held the Loreto hallmark although it functioned under the rules of the state government. “We have always been a government sponsored college and follow the North Bengal University rules. As such, there is no real change in the functioning of the college except the honourary post held by a Loreto nun has been removed,” Mrs Wangdi said. Determined to carry on with the Loreto legacy forward the staff takes this development as a challenge. “Loreto owes its credit solely to Mother Damian, the former principal of the college. The vacuum came after she left us in 2001”, said Dr Indira Lama, lecturer of Geography. The change of guard holds a promising future since the staff is determined to bring about good changes in the college. “We intend to upgrade the infrastructure and will also undertake beautification of the college. There will also be a study centre and renowned academicians will be invited to lecture our students”, Mrs Wangdi said. ooroo If you don't hear the knock of opportunity - build a door. Anon.

Bill, maybe it's because of their Indian heritage and upbringing? Indians seem to be hooked on the same sort of thing, don't they? Cheers, Lynne. :)) ----- Original Message ----- From: "Bill Stabler" <tundas@optusnet.com.au> To: <india-british-raj@rootsweb.com> Sent: Tuesday, June 17, 2008 11:38 AM Subject: [INDIA-BRITISH-RAJ] .....and things that go bump in the night. >I wonder what it was that made so many of the British Raj - especially the >ladies - dabble in the fringes of occultism. My mother and grandmother both >claimed to the personification of clairvoyance. Certainly my mother was >most convincing to the degree that she made my teenage down to earth hair >stand on end!...........Billllll...........! > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > INDIA-BRITISH-RAJ-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without > the quotes in the subject and the body of the message > > > -- > No virus found in this incoming message. > Checked by AVG. > Version: 7.5.524 / Virus Database: 270.3.0/1505 - Release Date: 6/16/2008 > 7:20 AM > >

I wonder what it was that made so many of the British Raj - especially the ladies - dabble in the fringes of occultism. My mother and grandmother both claimed to the personification of clairvoyance. Certainly my mother was most convincing to the degree that she made my teenage down to earth hair stand on end!...........Billllll...........!

Bill Stabler wrote: > I wonder what it was that made so many of the British Raj - especially the ladies - dabble in the fringes of occultism. My mother and grandmother both claimed to the personification of clairvoyance. Certainly my mother was most convincing to the degree that she made my teenage down to earth hair stand on end!. Bill - Two quick points. It was not only in India that there was a surge of interest in the occult and related subjects during Victorian and Edwardian times. India has had a long association with such matters, which led to two threads amongst Westerners. There were those like Capt. Edward Sellon who, having studied it during his service in India, introduced certain aspects to the underground spiritual world of Britain. (Check Google - if you do not mind a mention of pornography). In adition there were also echoes of Indian spiritualism that were taken aboard by certain Western groups and beliefs, such as Theosophy. Strangely, a seperate twig of Sellons were very much bound up with Theosophy which is still very much a force for good, including one becoming their international treasurer, based in India, during the 1920/30s. In fact these Sellons were resident on the east coast of the USA. Yours Aye Andrew Sellon In routing out a nest of consecrated cobblers, and in bringing to light such a perilous heap of trash as we were obliged to work through in our articles upon the Methodists and Missionaries, we are generally conceived to have rendered an useful service to the cause of rational religion. Rev. Sydney Smith 1717-1854, Canon of St. Paul's.

Dear Listers, All of us are Google addicts in various degrees. You will enjoy reading this article that appeared in today's 'Globe and Mail' here in Toronto. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20080617.COWENT17/TPStory/?query=wente Arvind Kolhatkar, Toronto, June 17, 2008.

I remember experiences from my childhood. Mum woke us all up at night, weeping, saying that she her mother was calling her. We lived in Karachi, and Mum had not seen her parents who lived in Bangalore, for at least fifteen years. After a few hours, we received a telegram that her mother had passed away. The same thing happened a few years later, when her father passed away. To this day, there is absolutely no explanation. Charles Dique in Honolulu Bill, maybe it's because of their Indian heritage and upbringing? Indians seem to be hooked on the same sort of thing, don't they? Cheers, Lynne. :)) **************Gas prices getting you down? Search AOL Autos for fuel-efficient used cars. (http://autos.aol.com/used?ncid=aolaut00050000000007)

I am currently reading a book of essays entitled ''Ghosts of Memory- Essays on Remembrance and Relatedness'', edited by Janet Carsten. (First published 2007 by Blackwell Publishing.) It contains the following essay: Ruins and Ghosts: The Domestic Uncanny and the Materialization of Anglo-Indian Genealogies in Kharagpur, written by Laura Bear. I quote the introductory paragraphs -- ''This chapter explores the difficulties Anglo-Indian families in the railway colony at Kharagpur in West Bengal have in materializing continuities in their family histories and genealogies. Their inability to fashion their selves according to the principles of jati and desh (commonly translated as caste and village) constituted in the history of railway labor that underpin many of their fellow Indian railway workers' family histories has a curious effect. It leads to Anglo-Indians experiencing a dematerialization of their memories, histories, and family inheritances. In tandem with this, the physical space of the railway colony appears to be a place of ruins. Unable to assert continuities between the past and the present, Anglo-Indians are left with a sense of the invisibility of their own selves and of the chaotic degeneration of their community. However, they rematerialize connections between generations and to the place of Kharagpur through unexpected mediums and tales of domestic ghosts and experiences of haunting. These uncanny tales are linked to a particular vision of Catholicism held by Anglo-Indians.'' Unquote --- Harshawardhan_Bosham Nimkhedkar Nagpur, India

A well-researched paper with multiple references to India during the Raj period: Paper Trails: Cultural Imperialism from the late 19th Century as seen through Documents, Literature and Photographs by Marc Jason Gilbert, North Georgia College and State University http://www.historycooperative.org/journals/whc/3.1/gilbert.html --- Harshawardhan_Bosham Nimkhedkar Nagpur, India

An Indian connection. http://tinyurl.com/57yma7 ooroo If you don't hear the knock of opportunity - build a door. Anon.