Under the Old School Topee

This is the story of the British schools which grew up in India in  the latter half of the 19th century, first in the plains and later in the hills,  to provide an English public-school style  education for children from very mixed backgrounds of race, religion and economic  circumstances, from all corners of the Sub-Continent.

The account is enlivened with many reminiscences  of erstwhile pupils and teachers, collected diligently over a period of eight years by the author who herself was at a coeducational school in Darjeeling while her twin brother was at a neighbouring boys  school; so much inside knowledge!

These educational establishments with their strong English public-school ethos were a notable feature of 'Anglo-India' life pre-Independence and surprisingly continue largely unchanged to this day;  a significant legacy.

'Under The Old School Topee' was first published by BACSA in 1990.  This 1996 reprint published by the author contains information on ten more schools plus the reminiscences of ex-students, and includes up-to-date footnotes, two informative appendices and  a list of 'Useful Addresses.'

To obtain a copy of this unique book, write to Mrs. H. M. Craig, 3, Badgers Walk, Cedars Village, Dog Kennel Lane, Chorleywwood, Rickmansworth, Herts WD3 5GA, UK enclosing your cheque or postal order.
(She can also be contacted by email at Haztwin@aol.com)

Price £11.50 sterling (including p&p to addresses in the UK)

Price £12.50 sterling (including p& p to addresses abroad, surface mail)

Price £14.50 sterling (including p&p to addresses abroad, air mail)

                                                                                                                                                             Hazel (Innes) Craig

 What they say about Under The Old School Topee.

......makes fascinating reading and is written with professional skill ..... Mrs. Craig is to be congratulated on her extensive research into the rise of British schools in India and for having collected the reminiscences of so many surviving inmates of pre-independence British schools.  The extent to which, to this day, the major British Indian schools continue to play their part in forming the elite of independent India is the best tribute to the memory of their founders - ASIAN AFFAIRS.

.....offers a wealth of insight into Anglo-Indian society in its heyday ..... many good men and women feature in this charming study - DAILY TELEGRAPH.

..... an attractively produced and very readable piece of social history, all of it of general interest, and some of it decidedly relevant to an understanding of Kipling's India ..... lavishly and entertainingly illustrated ..... an added feature is a very useful Appendix A on the history of the sub-continent's "Eurasian" community and the prejudices they have attracted. - KIPLING JOURNAL.

..... a valuable and pleasantly achieved piece of social history - TOM STOPPARD *

* The eminent British playwright, Tom Stoppard, attended Mount Hermon School, Darjeeling, from 1943 - 1945 as did the author from 1940 - 1943.  The school was founded in 1895 under the auspices of the Methodist Episcopalian Church of America, its founder and first Principal Miss Emma Knowles, a missionary sent out to India with the Women's Foreign Missionary Society in 1881.