Norman Marjoribanks

Sir Norman Edward Marjoribanks
KCIE CSI
Governor of Madras (acting)
In office
29 June 1929 – 11 November 1929
Governor General George Goschen, 2nd Viscount Goschen
Preceded by George Goschen, 2nd Viscount Goschen
Succeeded by George Frederick Stanley
Member of the Executive Council of the Governor of Madras
Premier Raja of Panagal,
P. Subbarayan
Governor George Goschen, 2nd Viscount Goschen
Personal details
Born (1872-10-16)16 October 1872
Died 1939 (age 67)
Kent, United Kingdom
Nationality British
Alma mater Trinity College, Cambridge
Religion Christian

Sir Norman Edward Marjoribanks KCIE, CSI (16 October 1872 – 1939) was an Indian magistrate and civil servant of British origin who served as the acting Governor of Madras from 29 June 1929 to 11 November 1929.

Marjoribanks was born in 1872 into a Scottish family and was educated in India and the United Kingdom. In 1891, he passed the Indian Civil Service exam and was allocated to the Madras Presidency. He served as the home member of the Governor's executive council in the 1920s and as the acting Governor of Madras until the arrival of Governor-designate, George Frederick Stanley from England. Marjoribanks also served in the committee which investigated the problems of Tamil indentured labourers in Sri Lanka.

Early life

Norman Marjoribanks was born in India on 16 October 1872[1][2][3] and received his early education at Bishop Cotton's School and College, Bangalore. He received his higher education from Belfast Royal Academy, Royal University of Ireland and Trinity College, Cambridge.[4] He passed his Indian Civil Service examinations in 1891 and was appointed as Assistant Collector and magistrate.

In the Civil Service

Marjoribanks served in Madras as Assistant Collector and Magistrate from 29 October 1893 to July 1901. In March 1900, he was appointed Officiating Under-Secretary of the Revenue Department. He served as a member on the Board of Revue and the Commissioner of Salt and Excise, Madras. He also served as the Home member in the executive council of the Governor of Madras, under George Goschen, 2nd Viscount Goschen. When Goschen's tenure came to an end, Marjoribanks was appointed acting Governor until the arrival of George Frederick Stanley.

Commission on the situation of Plantation Tamils of Ceylon

Following protests against indentured labour by activists of the Indian independence movement, the Government of India aPpointed a commission under Charles George Todhunter to investigate the condition of the plantation Tamils of Ceylon.[5] On 22 October 1916, the Government of Madras overruled the decision of the Indian Government and replaced Todhunter with Marjoribanks.[5][6] C. E. Low, the Secretary of the Department of Commerce and Industry, Government of India, complained to Sir George Barnes over the "bad behaviour" of the Madras Government.[5] He suspected the abilities of Marjoribanks, saying "he is not quite class enough, socially and from the point of personality, to do us well".[5] Barnes then conveyed his strong opposition to the India Office. However, the Governor of Madras, Lord Pentland gave Marjoribanks his full support:

He is careful, generally well-informed, and will be thoroughly master of his subject. He is eminently of cool temperament and sound judgement: and to a keen and critical intellect and the giver of clear and concise expression he adds the advantage of a long Secretariat experience[7]

The Emigration Bench examined his service record and approved his candidature saying that "his record looks as if he is a pretty good man".[7] Eventually, a delegation comprising Marjoribanks and A. K. G. Ahmad Thambi Marakkayar[7] left for Ceylon on 19 November 1916 and spent six months gathering information from the planters and the Government of Ceylon.[8] The team prepared a report which was submitted at a conference held at London in May 1917.[8] In the final report, the team pointed out the defects of the existing kangani system.[8] But strangely, the report did not examine indentured labour on the whole.[8] As a result, when the report was made public, it was criticized by Indian nationalists.[8]

As Acting Governor of Madras

Marjoribanks served as the Home member in the Executive Council of Governor George Goschen. When Goschen's term came to an end in July 1929, Marjoribanks was appointed as acting Governor of Madras until the arrival of governor-designate, George Frederick Stanley from England.[2][3] Marjoribanks served as Acting Governor of Madras from 29 June 1929 to 11 November 1929.[2][3]

Later life

On the expiry of his term, Marjoribanks returned to England. He died in 1939 in Kent at the age of 67.[2][3]

Honours

Marjoribanks was made a Companion of the Order of the Indian Empire in 1919 and later promoted to a Knight Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire.[1] He was made a Companion of the Order of the Star of India in 1922.[1]

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 The Times of India Directory and Year Book, Including Who's who. Bennett, Coleman & Co. 1984. p. 822.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Colonial administrators and post-independence leaders in India (1616–2000)". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
  3. 1 2 3 4 "Provinces of British India". World Statesmen.
  4. ↑ "Marjoribanks, Norman Edward (MRJS891NE)". A Cambridge Alumni Database. University of Cambridge.
  5. 1 2 3 4 Plantation Tamils of Ceylon, Pg 111
  6. ↑ Plantation Tamils of Ceylon, Pg 110
  7. 1 2 3 Plantation Tamils of Ceylon, Pg 112
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 Plantation Tamils of Ceylon, Pg 113

References

Preceded by
 Home Member of the Executive Council of the Governor of Madras Succeeded by
Preceded by
Lord Goschen		 Governor of Madras
(acting)
29 June 1929 – 11 November 1929 		Succeeded by
George Frederick Stanley
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