Witness to the Partition: India and Pakistan 1947-48. The Letters of Sir Fulque Agnew of Lochnaw Bt

Sir Fulque Agnew of Lochnaw was an idealist who decided in 1947 to seek work in India as the sub-continent made its transition to independence. Shortly before her death in 2000, his widow, known in academic circles as the historical geographer Swanzie Agnew, invited me to edit the letters he wrote to her during his travels. The edition was published by Edinburgh University's Centre for South Asian Studies and the text is reproduced here by permission of the copyright holder, Sir Crispin Agnew of Lochnaw Bt, whose support for the project throughout is gratefully acknowledged.

 

The Letters of Sir Fulque Agnew of Lochnaw Bt - Section A
Section A includes a Foreword by Sir Crispin Agnew of Lochnaw, an Introduction detailing Agnew's career and selections from the letters he wrote from the last days of the British Raj.
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The Letters of Sir Fulque Agnew of Lochnaw Bt - Section B
Section B covers the chaos of Partition and follows Agnew to Pakistan where his health broke down. He was unable to find the job he sought, but work for voluntary agencies brought him into contact with Gandhi. In 1948 he and his wife settled in South Africa, whence they were deported in 1959 for anti-apartheid activities.
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