Olaf Caroe facts for kids

Sir Olaf Kirkpatrick Kruuse Caroe (born November 15, 1892 – died November 23, 1981) was an important British official in British India. He worked for the Indian Civil Service and the Indian Political Service. During World War II, he was the Foreign Secretary for the Government of India. This meant he was in charge of India's relationships with other countries. Later, he became the Governor of the North-West Frontier Province (which was a border area with Afghanistan).

As Foreign Secretary, Caroe helped bring back the idea of the McMahon Line. This line marked the border between India and Tibet in the Himalayan mountains, including what is now Arunachal Pradesh. After he retired, Caroe became a thinker about big international strategies, especially concerning the Great Game (rivalry in Central Asia) and the Cold War near the Soviet Union. Many believe his ideas greatly influenced how Britain and the United States handled things after the war. A scholar named Peter Brobst called him a "master of the Great Game" and a top strategic thinker for British India before it became independent.

Early Life and Education

Olaf Caroe was born in London. His father, William Douglas Caroe, was a famous architect. Olaf went to Winchester College, a well-known school. Later, he studied classics at Magdalen College, Oxford starting in 1911.

When World War I began, he joined the Royal West Surrey Regiment. He became a captain. He spent the entire war in India. While there, he started learning Urdu and Pashto, which are languages spoken in the region. This experience made him want to return to India after the war ended.

Career in India

In 1919, Caroe joined the Indian Civil Service. Soon after, he moved to the Indian Political Service. This service focused on foreign affairs and relations with local rulers. He became very important in foreign policy. He rose to the position of Foreign Secretary for the Government of India. He held this important job throughout World War II.

The McMahon Line

Before becoming Foreign Secretary, Caroe was a deputy. He is known for helping to make the McMahon Line an official border. This line was first agreed upon by Henry McMahon and Tibet in 1914. It was part of the Simla Convention. The McMahon Line followed the top of the Himalayan mountains east of Bhutan. It placed what is now Arunachal Pradesh within India.

For different reasons, the Simla Convention was not fully used until 1935. Also, the official book of Indian treaties, Aitchison's Treaties, did not include it. Caroe got permission from the British government to update official Indian maps. These new maps showed the McMahon Line as the border. He also made sure the Simla Convention was added to a new version of Aitchison's Treaties. He did this "unobtrusively," meaning quietly. Caroe reissued the new book in 1938. However, he kept the original 1929 date on it. He also had the old books removed.

Training Indian Officials

Olaf Caroe was very interested in helping Indian officials join the foreign service. He also trained them in diplomacy. Two of his officers became very important after India gained independence. K. P. S. Menon became India's ambassador to China and the Soviet Union. He also became India's foreign secretary. A. S. B. Shah led Pakistan's Political Service. He later became Pakistan's ambassador to Egypt.

Governor of North-West Frontier Province

After World War II, Caroe was made Governor of the North-West Frontier Province (NWFP). This area was on the northwest border of India. It was next to Afghanistan and Russia. He served as governor from 1946 until just before the Partition of India in 1947. Some people accused him of being too close to the All-India Muslim League. He faced opposition from politicians in the Indian National Congress. Because of this, Rob Lockhart replaced him as governor in mid-1947.

Later Life and Writings

After returning to Britain in 1947, Caroe wrote many books. These books often focused on the history and politics of Central Asia and the Middle East. He became known as a strategic thinker.

Key Books by Olaf Caroe

• Wells of Power (1951)
• Soviet Empire: The Turks of Central Asia and Stalinism (1953)
• The Pathans 550 B.C.–A.D. 1957 (1958)
• From Nile to Indus: Economics and Security in the Middle East (1960)