Duplicate Passports

Duplicate passports sent to the India Office probably for security purposes but also for information on the bearer should this be required in Britain or in Europe. The passports are mainly for Asians but include some Europeans and Eurasians. The names of passport holders are given exactly as they appear in the passport. The passports contain much biographical detail which could be of use to the researcher, including full names, date and place of birth, description, national status, profession, address, caste, father's name, details of wife and children. Sometimes a signature or fingerprint is attached and in most cases, a good photograph of the bearer survives. Other details included are: number of passport, place of issue, places for which passport valid and endorsements. The passports are also useful for a wider social study of persons travelling from India to Europe, their professions, education, political activity and motivation for travel abroad. This series is in the process of being catalogued. The current catalogue reflects the sub-series of passports which have currently been completed. The series are not complete. Where passports have been transferred elsewhere, this has been noted.

The series was originally stored in one block, arranged by number, by year and in some cases by issuing office and entered in an annual departmental index (the same number written in pencil on the passport). The block of passports has now been divided up into sub-series, one for each year according to its original index number.

Unrestricted

Permission for Indian subjects to travel abroad was not organised in any particular way until the 20th century. The Public and Judicial Department of the Government of India was responsible for the issuing of passports, visas and certificates of identity at a number of designated offices in India. Duplicate identity certificates for natives of India proceeding to Europe were issued between 1900 and 1917. The certificates were replaced in 1917 by passports along the lines of the modern document.