Francis Mudie facts for kids

Sir Robert Francis Mudie (August 24, 1890 – September 15, 1976) was an important British official. He worked in the Indian Civil Service during the time when Britain ruled India. He was the last British Governor of Sind. After India and Pakistan became separate countries in 1947, he continued to serve as the first Governor of West Punjab.

Early Life and School

Sir Robert Francis Mudie was born in Broughty Ferry, Scotland. He went to Seafield House school, where he met future colleagues George Cunningham and Rob Lockhart.

College and Early Jobs

He earned a scholarship to Fettes College in Edinburgh. Later, he received another scholarship to King's College, Cambridge, where he studied math. In 1911, he graduated as a "wrangler," which means he was one of the top math students.

After college, he briefly taught at Clifton College and Eton College. However, he soon realized teaching wasn't for him. He then decided to try for the Indian Civil Service (ICS). This was a special group of officials who helped govern British India.

Serving During World War I

Robert Francis Mudie started his ICS exams just before World War I began in August 1914. He had been a sergeant in a training group at Cambridge, so he quickly joined the army. He was allowed to finish his exams first.

Many successful ICS candidates joined the army. The government decided that those who passed their exams should go to India as soldiers. They could join the ICS later if they passed health, riding, and language tests. Mudie was told to learn Bengali.

He was sent to India with a military battalion in early 1915. He moved between different army units and locations in India. He also met Charles Innes, who later became Governor of Burma. By 1917, he was a Captain and worked as a musketry instructor until the war ended.

Joining the Indian Civil Service

To officially join the ICS, Mudie needed to pass a medical exam, learn Bengali, and show he could ride a horse. He passed the riding test by saying "no" when asked if he would jump a cactus hedge, as there were no horses available!

He initially failed his medical exam. But after writing to a senior official, he was re-examined and passed. He also hadn't learned Bengali. Instead, he learned Urdu, which was useful for the army. Even though it seemed impossible, he managed to get transferred to the United Provinces, where he began his ICS career.

Working in Districts

From 1919 to 1930, Mudie worked in various roles across different districts in India. He became known for being energetic and sensible. Some of his roles included:

• Assistant Magistrate in Jhansi
• Income Tax Officer in Dehra Dun
• Collector in Farrukhabad

Important Meetings in London

While on leave, Mudie was chosen to be a secretary for the first Indian Round Table Conference in London (1930-1931). These meetings discussed India's future.

Key Roles in India

After the conference, Mudie returned to India. He became the Collector in Allahabad, where the Congress party had its headquarters. Jawaharlal Nehru, a famous Indian leader, lived nearby.

In 1932, Mudie became the Collector in Cownpore, a position he held for four years. Later, he worked with the Government of India to help set up the Railway Board. In 1937, he became Joint Secretary to the Home Department. In 1938, he was appointed Revenue Secretary for the United Provinces Government.

Governor of Bihar and Sind

From 1943 to 1944, Mudie served as the acting Governor of Bihar. Then, from January 1946 to August 1947, he was the third and last British Governor of Sind.

Supporting Pakistan

Sir Francis Mudie was one of the few British officials who supported the idea of creating Pakistan. He understood the challenges faced by Muslims in India.

Naseer Ahmad Faruqui, another ICS officer and Mudie's close friend, shared a story about this. In 1946, Mudie was Governor of Sind. He often discussed his support for Pakistan with Faruqui. The Hindu press even jokingly called him "Fateh Muhammad" (meaning "Victor of Muhammad") because of his strong support for Muslims. They sent complaints about him to the Viceroy, but Mudie was not afraid.

In 1946, a British cabinet mission visited India to discuss independence. After they left Karachi, Mudie told Faruqui, "They are not going to give us Pakistan." This showed his deep understanding of the political situation.

First Governor of West Punjab

When India and Pakistan became separate countries in August 1947, Sir Robert Francis Mudie was chosen by Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the founder of Pakistan, to be the first Governor of West Punjab. He served in this role until August 1949.

He was one of the few European officials who stayed to help the new country of Pakistan. He continued to support Pakistan and even warned about a lack of support from Britain and other countries.

After His Time in India

After leaving his role as Governor in 1949, Sir Robert Francis Mudie returned to Britain. He remained active in international affairs.

From 1951 to 1954, he led the British Economic Mission to Yugoslavia. He also chaired several important investigations and commissions, including:

• An inquiry into the Rubber Industry of Malaya in 1954.
• A commission on Desert Locust Control in 1955.
• The British Caribbean Federal Capital Commission in 1956.

In the 1960s, he was president of the Abertay Historical Society. He also helped write a book called "Mains Castle and the Grahams of Fintry."

Personal Life

Sir Robert Francis Mudie was married twice. His first wife was Mary Spencer, whom he married in 1919. They had one daughter, Mary Mudie. After his first wife passed away in 1960, he married Mary Elizabeth Abercromby in the same year.