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1 year ago in Data Archives , Historical Methods By Niranjan Singh
Are there statistics on overseas personnel in colonial India in the late nineteenth century?
I'm surveying available quantitative datasets for the colonial period and have hit a gap. Before I proceed with primary archive work, I wanted to see if compiled statistics on overseas personnel already exist in a digestible form. Knowing what's available helps me frame my data-collection methodology efficiently.
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By Nithin Rao Answered 7 months ago
I'm surveying available quantitative datasets for the colonial period and have hit a gap. Before I proceed with primary archive work, I wanted to see if compiled statistics on overseas personnel already exist in a digestible form. Knowing what's available helps me frame my data-collection methodology efficiently.
I've navigated this exact archival challenge. The best compiled source is the "Statistical Abstract for British India," published annually from 1868 onward. Tables on "Civil Establishment" break down employees by origin and department. I would also recommend the "Imperial Gazetteer of India" volumes, which contain dedicated statistical chapters. For nuanced analysis, however, be prepared to visit the British Library's India Office Records, as the published abstracts often aggregate data in ways that can obscure specific job categories.
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