B. G. Holdsworth
Encyclopedia
Benjamin George Holdsworth CIE
(31 July 1892 - 24 February 1949) was an Indian civil servant and administrator who served as the Diwan
of Pudukkottai state
from 1931 to 1933.
and Brasenose College, Oxford
and entered the Indian Civil Service in 1916.
During the First World War, Holdsworth served in Mesapotamia and Palestine
with the 1/155 Pioneers.
, Kistna and Godavari districts. He was Secretary in the Board of Revenue, Madras Presidency
, from 1927 to 1930 and Joint Secretary at the First Indian Round Table Conference.
Holdsworth was relieved in 1934 and succeeded by Alexander Tottenham
, of whom, Holdsworth remarked that the people of Pudukkottai state were fortunate to get as Diwan.
In 1941, Holdsworth was made a Companion of the Order of the Indian Empire
.
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...
(31 July 1892 - 24 February 1949) was an Indian civil servant and administrator who served as the Diwan
Diwan
Dewan, Diwan or Divan may refer to:*The Arabic/Persian word Dewan or Divan , with a range of meanings:**"book"*** The Diwan or Girgam, a record of the Kanem Empire...
of Pudukkottai state
Pudukkottai state
Pudukkottai was a princely state in the Madras Presidency which existed from 1680 to 1948. It was one of the five princely states that were under political control of the Government of Madras.- Location :...
from 1931 to 1933.
Early life
Holdsworth was born on 31 July 1892 to Rev. J. Forrester Holdsworth. He had his education at Bristol Grammar SchoolBristol Grammar School
Bristol Grammar School is a co-educational independent school in Clifton, Bristol, England. The school was founded in 1532 by two brothers, Robert and Nicholas Thorne....
and Brasenose College, Oxford
Brasenose College, Oxford
Brasenose College, originally Brazen Nose College , is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom. As of 2006, it has an estimated financial endowment of £98m...
and entered the Indian Civil Service in 1916.
During the First World War, Holdsworth served in Mesapotamia and Palestine
Palestine
Palestine is a conventional name, among others, used to describe the geographic region between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River, and various adjoining lands....
with the 1/155 Pioneers.
In India
From 1920 to 1927, Holdsworth served as a settlement officer in the TanjoreTanjore District (Madras Presidency)
Tanjore district was one of the districts in the erstwhile Madras Presidency of British India. It covered the area of the present-day districts of Thanjavur, Tiruvarur and Nagapattinam and the Aranthangi taluk of Pudukkottai district in Tamil Nadu...
, Kistna and Godavari districts. He was Secretary in the Board of Revenue, Madras Presidency
Madras Presidency
The Madras Presidency , officially the Presidency of Fort St. George and also known as Madras Province, was an administrative subdivision of British India...
, from 1927 to 1930 and Joint Secretary at the First Indian Round Table Conference.
Pudukkottai
In November 1931, Holdsworth was appointed Diwan of Pudukkottai and he served from 1931 to 1934. Holdsworth was responsible for the creation of the Holdsworth Dam in Pudukkottai which is named after him.The Holdsworth Park in the princely state is also named after Holdsworth.Holdsworth was relieved in 1934 and succeeded by Alexander Tottenham
Alexander Tottenham
Sir Alexander Robert Loftus Tottenham CIE was a British civil servant and administrator who served as the Diwan of Pudukkottai state from 1934 to 1946.- Early life :...
, of whom, Holdsworth remarked that the people of Pudukkottai state were fortunate to get as Diwan.
Later life and honours
In 1942, Holdsworth was appointed Secretary to the Indian Food Department and served till his death. Holdsworth died on 24 February 1949 at the age of fifty-six.In 1941, Holdsworth was made a Companion of the Order of the Indian Empire
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...
.