G. T. Boag

Sir George Townsend Boag KCIE CSI (1884–1969) was a British Indian civil servant, statistician and administrator who served as the Acting Governor of Odisha from 11 August 1938 to 8 December 1938.

Early life

George Townsend Boag was born on 12 November 1884 to Rev. George Boag, the Vicar of Winster in Westmorland. He gained admission to Westminster School on 21 January 1897 He was a Mure Scholar for the year 1901.

In India

Madras Presidency

Boag arrived in India in 1908 and served as a special settlement officer from 1912 to 1918. Boag served as the District Collector of West Godavari in 1930 Boag served as a member of the Indian Tariff Board from 1931 to 1933. Boag was appointed Acting Governor of Odisha in his stead and served from 11 August 1938 to 8 December 1938. As the Acting Governor of Odisha, he inaugurated the opening session of the Odisha Legislative Assembly on 29 August 1938.

On 12 September 1938 severe agitations broke out in the princely state of Dhenkanal demanding the abolition of stringent taxes. The situation turned violent as the agitations intensified. Boag kept the Viceroy of India regularly updated with the events at Dhenkanal.

On 8 December 1938 Sir John Austen Hubback returned from leave and resumed his duties as Governor of Odisha. Boag was transferred back to Madras Presidency where he served as a member of the Special Advisory Council during Governor's rule and was given charge of the public, finance and revenue departments. He served in the Council from 1939 to 1943. On 1943, he was appointed Diwan of Cochin and served from 1943 to 1944.

Honours

George Townsend Boag was made a Companion of the Indian Empire in 1928 and a Companion of the Star of India in 1936. The street in which it was situated was named Boag Road in his honour. The house was later purchased by Kurma Venkata Reddy Naidu. In 1959, it was bought by Tamil film actor Sivaji Ganesan who renamed it Annai Illam. Today, the house is owned by the actor's family who continue to reside here.

Works