At midnight today, the India Office ceases to be even a relic of the past — it simply, yet completely, disappears - perhaps unwept, unhonoured, and unsung. So closes down without ceremony or fuss, what was a citadel of authority over India. This political institution, which has been for three generations the target of barbed shafts of criticism from India, has wound up its affairs, and tomorrow the last Secretary of State will proceed to Balmoral to hand over the seals of office to the King. Lord Listowel will still remain the Secretary of State for Burma, but most of his staff, including the Publicity Adviser, Mr. Joyce will go to the Department of Commonwealth Relations. The actual building, elegantly furnished and replete with almost priceless paintings and other relics of India, will pass on to the possession of the Foreign Office, the staff of which have been there already as “squatters” on the first floor for the past few weeks. Lord Listowel met this evening Indian correspondents informally at tea and bade them farewell. —F.O.C
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Leaf through the pages and experience history in the making as our readers experienced it that day.
On the occassion of the 69th Independence Day, The Hindu presents to you the historic day of India's liberation from imperial rule through our edition dated August 15, 1947. You can leaf through the pages and experience history in the making as our readers experienced it that day. We have extracted select articles by the likes of V.K. Krishna Menon, T.T. Krishnamachari and C.V. Raman for you to read into the thoughts of the great minds of that era. You can click on the red marker on highlighted articles and proceed to the full story.
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