Ethical Standards of 1940s. Due Diligence for writing Recommendation Letters: A Deputy Commissioner's refusal in 1943

I came across this 1943 letter from a Deputy Commissioner (DC) of Kumaon Division which shows the high ethical standards of that time. The DC refuses the request from a friend to provide recommendation for his son on the grounds that the DC has never met his son and does not know the son personally enough to evaluate and provide a recommendation. Contrast this with today when anyone is willing to write a recommendation for anyone whether known personally or not.

From: Deputy Commissioner I/O, Kumaun Division
Dated Camp via Haldwani, Feby. 21, 1943. 

My Dear Mr Shah Abdul Shakur Faridi,
Reference your letter of 14.2.43. 

I am afriad that it would be no use my recommending your grandson as I have never seen him and know nothing about him. 

Yours sincerely
Sd/

To: F. Shah Abdul Shakur Faridi, Farid Manzil, Manikpur. Dist. Purtabgarh 

I found this letter while sifting and organizing the treasure of old letters that have been handed down to me by my late parents. Mr. Shah Abdul Shakur Faridi is my mother's maternal grandfather. He belonged to the Hussami-Faridi silsala. He is buried in Mankipur near Farid Manzil and I understand there is a yearly urs at his tomb.

Family Letters Archival Project. 

This post provides a glimpse of the social history of the 1940s. This letter is a part of the compilation of Social History from my family's letters exchanged from the early 20th century till the advent of WhatsApp and internet calls that killed the social exchange through letter writing. This project is inspired by my experience of visiting the Harry Ransom Center during my studies at UT Austin and also Kar e Jehan Daraz Hai by Qurratul Ain Hyder and Shajra Compilation as described in the following posts: 

• Social History Archival Project of Family Documents and Letters: Heritage Detectives
• Lesser known dimensions of US Universities - Archives of history and literature
• Family Tree Shajra of Sadat e Nehtaur: A Case Study of Compilation of Social History
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See Also: 

Posts that describe my role models and their guidance:

Personal examples of strive for excellence from my father: 

• Pursuit of Excellence vs Guzara: How to teach excellence through everyday examples

How to teach love for language and culture:

• How Language Acquisition is Made Difficult for Children: Eight Lessons from an Urdu Acquisition Case Study

Guidance by my late mother (Huzabra Khatoon):

• Secret of Happiness: One Simple Rule
• How exploration of nature and role playing was encouraged: Of Jungles, Streams, Berries and Wild Pink Flowers -- Fragrant Memories of Islamabad that Was: Remembering the learning by doing environment enabled by our parents.

How to search for role models around you; my father, phuppa, uncle and mother:

• How was I guided: How to find a "buzurg" and "wali" of Allah

How my grandmother (nani) and others provided a taste of our traditions and culture:

• Of Achars, Chutneys and Halwas: A Lifestyle Getting Lost Through Branding and Mass Production

Learning interpersonal interactions and spreading happiness and laughter around:

• How to make people feel special and close: Rauf Mamoo
• How to Sprinkle Happiness Around You: Javed Bhai (Dr Zaeem Jafri) – A Jolly Good Fellow
• Ansari Sb: Khawajgan Chisht Ahle Bahisht

How to cherish memories and not to forget people you know:

• Remembering East Pakistan: We look before and after, And pine for what is not
• Hajj kay Saathi: Dekh mera Zauq o Shauq (Passion)

Strive for Excellence from my teacher

• Beauty is our Business: The Great Dijkstra and Mathematics
• Fairness in Grading: A Lesson by the Great Dijkstra