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Mady Martyn new article content Mady Martyn, (28 Sept. 1918 – 8 Mar. 1991) born Johanna Christine Hermine Helene Speck: became a dedicated social worker and environmentalist in Nothern India.

First marriage: 22 Nov 1935 – 9 Nov 1968 To Sardar Bahadur Uttam Singh, Chief Engineer, Public Works Dept. (PWD) Govt. of India. Second Marriage: 14 July 1969 – 29 June 1984 To J.A.K. Martyn, O.B.E., Padma Shri, former Headmaster, The Doon School.1

Nationality: Austrian/Indian

Organizations: Friends of the Doon. John Martyn Memorial Trust,

Bibliographic ref. Gateway India (German) by Dr. Margit Franz, Clio Verlag.

Biography – Early years – Evolution of an activist – Death and legacy

Early years:

Mady was Born in Vienna, on September 28th 1918; in the home of Robert and Helene, Speck (Novaragasse 26). Robert was a Catholic, and Helene (nee.Reiner) a Jewish lady. Robert Speck passed away in Vienna on 29th Dec. 1923. Helene Speck and her Daughter moved to Bad Hofgastein, a small Village in the Alps, South of Salzburg. Helene managed the Kurhaus Gastein. Sent to England for a short time to learn English; Mady was also sent to a dancing school of Isadora Duncan in Salzburg. Uttam Singh arrived to stay at the Grand Hotel opposite the Kurhaus Gastein. They soon met, and the couple managed to elope to London, and were married there on 22nd Nov 1935. Helene Speck travelled with the newlyweds, eventually to India in 1936.

Growing up in India: “When I came to India it was very difficult to get to know an Indian lady.” Uttam was stationed in Ajmer, Rajasthan as Executive Engineer, PWD. Mady made the transition from young girl to wife of a senior official very soon; being gregarious by nature, entertaining came naturally to her. She became a keen rider and gardener. In November 1943 she was blessed with a Son. After a number of other postings to Delhi and elsewhere, Uttam and Mady retired to an old Family home at Dehradun in the Himalayan foothills. One of her close friends and confidantes was Ellen Roy2 (Wife of M.N.Roy) who was a very politically active German-Jewish radical, writer and editor. After a number of years of failing health, Uttam passed away on the 9th of November 1968. Evolution of an activist. Mady began to write “opinion pieces” to the newspapers quite early in her Indian life. After her second marriage to John Marty3, retired Headmaster of the Doon School, she was supportive of him in his role as Chairman of the Ryder-Cheshire Homes Foundation4. As a founding member of the “Friends of the Doon”, she was active in her advocacy for environmental issues affecting the Doon Valley in particular. Most significantly, she was at the forefront of action to limit the unregulated Limestone Mining that was destroying the foothills and contaminating the Doon Valley. After her second Husband passed away, she was instrumental it the formation of the John Martyn Memorial Trust; an organization dedicated to the improvement of educational opportunities for low income families, and to environmental issues in the Doon Valley. While no concrete proof has come to light yet, it is highly probable that her murder on the night of 7th March 1991 was instigated by supporters of the Limestone lobby.

Death and Legacy Murder: Mady was found dead in her bed at 18 Nemi Road, Dehradun, on the morning of 8th March 1991. She had been suffocated with her pillow. The assailant appears to have entered through a skylight in the house. She was the sole occupant at the time – servants had their own residences on the property.

Nobody was accused of the crime, while it is most probable that the instigators were the “Limestone Mafia”.

Legacy: The Friends of the Doon continue to be a strong independent environmental lobby for the environmental protection of the Doon Valley5.

The John Martyn Memorial Trust continues to support Educational and Environmental initiatives in the Doon Valley. Most significantly the John Martyn Memorial School – providing highly subsidized, but high quality education to poor children in the valley6.

28th February 1986. Sir David Goodall7, High Commisioner for the U.K. laying the foundation stone for the John Martyn Memorial School. Mady Martyn – left center.

External links

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