G. T. Boag
Encyclopedia
Sir George Townsend Boag KCIE
CSI
(1884-1969) was a British Indian civil servant, statistician and administrator who served as the Acting Governor of Orissa from August 11, 1938 to December 8, 1938.
of Winster
in Westmorland
. He gained admission to Westminster School on January 21, 1897 and studied at the school from 1897 to 1903. He was a Mure Scholar for the year 1901. He obtained his baccalaureate
and master's degrees from the University of Cambridge
. In 1907, he passed the Indian Civil Service examinations and was allotted to the Madras Presidency.
, Sir John Austen Hubback proceeded on a leave. Boag was appointed Acting Governor of Orissa in his stead and served from August 11, 1938 to December 8, 1938. As the Acting Governor of Orissa, he inaugurated the opening session of the Orissa Legislative Assembly
on August 29, 1938.
On September 12, 1938, severe agitations broke out in the princely state of Dhenkanal demanding the abolition of stringent taxes. The situation turned violent as the agitations intensified. The Eastern States Agency
, a federation of princely states of which Dhenkanal formed a part, resorted to police action. Large scale arrests were carried out and there was police firing in some areas. As a result of the disturbances in the neighbouring Dhenkanal, a large number of refugees poured into Orissa. Boag kept the Viceroy of India regularly updated with the events at Dhenkanal. The influx of refugees reached such alarming proportions that refugee camps had to be established along the border towns.
On December 8, 1938, Sir John Austen Hubback returned from leave and resumed his duties as Governor of Orissa. Boag was transferred back to Madras Presidency where he served as a member of the Special Advisory Council during Governor's rule and was given charge of the public, finance and revenue departments. He served in the Council from 1939 to 1943. On 1943, he was appointed Diwan of Cochin and served from 1943 to 1944.
in 1928 and a Companion of the Star of India
in 1936. He was made a Knight Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire in 1941.
. The street in which it was situated was named Boag Road in his honour. The house was later purchased by Kurma Venkata Reddy Naidu
. In 1959, it was bought by Tamil film actor Sivaji Ganesan
who renamed it Annai Illam. Today, the house is owned by the actor's family who continue to reside here.
Order of the Indian Empire
The Most Eminent Order of the Indian Empire is an order of chivalry founded by Queen Victoria in 1878. The Order includes members of three classes:#Knight Grand Commander #Knight Commander #Companion...
CSI
Order of the Star of India
The Most Exalted Order of the Star of India is an order of chivalry founded by Queen Victoria in 1861. The Order includes members of three classes:# Knight Grand Commander # Knight Commander # Companion...
(1884-1969) was a British Indian civil servant, statistician and administrator who served as the Acting Governor of Orissa from August 11, 1938 to December 8, 1938.
Early life
George Townsend Boag was born on November 12, 1884 to Rev. George Boag, the VicarVicar
In the broadest sense, a vicar is a representative, deputy or substitute; anyone acting "in the person of" or agent for a superior . In this sense, the title is comparable to lieutenant...
of Winster
Winster
Winster is a former lead-mining village in the Derbyshire Dales about from Matlock and from Bakewell at an altitude of approx . The village, which lies within the Peak District National Park, has a large number of listed buildings, including the Market House open daily as a National Trust...
in Westmorland
Westmorland
Westmorland is an area of North West England and one of the 39 historic counties of England. It formed an administrative county from 1889 to 1974, after which the entirety of the county was absorbed into the new county of Cumbria.-Early history:...
. He gained admission to Westminster School on January 21, 1897 and studied at the school from 1897 to 1903. He was a Mure Scholar for the year 1901. He obtained his baccalaureate
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
and master's degrees from the University of Cambridge
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
. In 1907, he passed the Indian Civil Service examinations and was allotted to the Madras Presidency.
Madras Presidency
Boag arrived in India in 1908 and served as a special settlement officer from 1912 to 1918. He was appointed to the Indian Nutrition Board and served as the Collector of Transtuffs from 1912 to 1918. From 1920 to 1922, Boag served as Superintendent of Census Operations for the Presidency succeeding J. C. Molony. Boag served as the Municipal Commissioner for Madras from 1923 to 1925. He was the Chief Secretary of Madras Presidency from 1925 to 1928 and 1934 to 1938. Boag served as the District Collector of West Godavari in 1930 before being appointed the Superintendent of the Madras Presidency Archives succeeding A. V. Venkatarama Ayyar on August 19, 1930. Boag served as a member of the Indian Tariff Board from 1931 to 1933.Orissa
On August 11, 1938, the Governor of OrissaOrissa
Orissa , officially Odisha since Nov 2011, is a state of India, located on the east coast of India, by the Bay of Bengal. It is the modern name of the ancient nation of Kalinga, which was invaded by the Maurya Emperor Ashoka in 261 BC. The modern state of Orissa was established on 1 April...
, Sir John Austen Hubback proceeded on a leave. Boag was appointed Acting Governor of Orissa in his stead and served from August 11, 1938 to December 8, 1938. As the Acting Governor of Orissa, he inaugurated the opening session of the Orissa Legislative Assembly
Orissa Legislative Assembly
The Orissa Legislative Assembly is the unicameral state legislature of Orissa state in eastern India. The seat of the Legislative Assembly is at Bhubaneshwar, the capital of the state. The Legislative Assembly comprises 147 Members of Legislative Assembly....
on August 29, 1938.
On September 12, 1938, severe agitations broke out in the princely state of Dhenkanal demanding the abolition of stringent taxes. The situation turned violent as the agitations intensified. The Eastern States Agency
Eastern States Agency
The Eastern States Agency was a political office of the British Indian Empire, created on 1 April 1933. This agency dealt with forty-two princely states in eastern India, located in the present-day Indian states of Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Orissa, West Bengal, and Tripura...
, a federation of princely states of which Dhenkanal formed a part, resorted to police action. Large scale arrests were carried out and there was police firing in some areas. As a result of the disturbances in the neighbouring Dhenkanal, a large number of refugees poured into Orissa. Boag kept the Viceroy of India regularly updated with the events at Dhenkanal. The influx of refugees reached such alarming proportions that refugee camps had to be established along the border towns.
On December 8, 1938, Sir John Austen Hubback returned from leave and resumed his duties as Governor of Orissa. Boag was transferred back to Madras Presidency where he served as a member of the Special Advisory Council during Governor's rule and was given charge of the public, finance and revenue departments. He served in the Council from 1939 to 1943. On 1943, he was appointed Diwan of Cochin and served from 1943 to 1944.
Honours
George Townsend Boag was made a Companion of the Indian EmpireOrder of the Indian Empire
The Most Eminent Order of the Indian Empire is an order of chivalry founded by Queen Victoria in 1878. The Order includes members of three classes:#Knight Grand Commander #Knight Commander #Companion...
in 1928 and a Companion of the Star of India
Order of the Star of India
The Most Exalted Order of the Star of India is an order of chivalry founded by Queen Victoria in 1861. The Order includes members of three classes:# Knight Grand Commander # Knight Commander # Companion...
in 1936. He was made a Knight Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire in 1941.
Boag's Residence
Boag's official residence in Madras city was located at T. NagarT. Nagar
Theagaraya Nagar , popularly known by its abbreviated form T. Nagar, is a neighbourhood in the city of Chennai, India. Though originally conceived as a residential locality, it is presently one of the principal shopping districts of the city....
. The street in which it was situated was named Boag Road in his honour. The house was later purchased by Kurma Venkata Reddy Naidu
Kurma Venkata Reddy Naidu
Rao Bahadur Sir Kurma Venkata Reddy Naidu KCSI was an Indian lawyer, professor, politician and Justice Party leader who served as the Chief Minister of Madras Presidency from April 1, 1937 to July 14, 1937...
. In 1959, it was bought by Tamil film actor Sivaji Ganesan
Sivaji Ganesan
Viluppuram Chinnaiahpillai Ganesan Manrayar , commonly known by his stage name Sivaji Ganesan , was an Indian stage and film actor active during the latter half of the 20th century. He is one of the most respected film actors in India. He is well known for his versatility and acting skills with...
who renamed it Annai Illam. Today, the house is owned by the actor's family who continue to reside here.