My father would sometimes take me out with him , when
I was growing up . Perhaps in earlier times this was a common practice . However these are
‘digital times’ where emotions have been kept in backburner. What was the reason for him to do so ? Maybe to show the world
outside or just an outing , I cannot say . But, I remember my father in many
ways and one such is when I accompanied him holding his fingers!
My earliest memory is when he took me to Lansdowne on vacation from Allahabad. I had spent my childhood in Lansdowne . It was a happy childhood with
my brother and the large family . My Grandfather edited a newspaper from there
and his mother ( my great grand mother) was alive and active then . We brothers
received so much of love from her and
from our grandfather , uncles and aunts, neighbours, our memories are full of
joyful days of that period. We have plenty of photos in our album of those
times in ‘Subedar Mohalla’ which gives
happiness still. Therefore my visit called back those times and I could relate to that place- The Church
which housed a school where I studied , the park which was my favourite place ,
the bazaar and chocolate burfi of Kanhaiyalal
. Since then we brothers go
regularly to Lansdowne to look at our rented house opposite the park in the small and calm cantonment town.
My father had plenty of tales to tell about Jim
Corbett and his hunting expeditions . These formed part of the bedtime stories
and he would relate the story with much action and the roar of the tiger etc .
I took from him and would tell the stories to my children in a similar manner. In the sixties he manged a van and took us
to Corbett National Park and the sight of an elephant herd chasing our dark
grey van still excites me . Later, I
would read books by Corbett and found him to be a wonderful writer – ‘The Man
eating leopard of Rudraprayag’ is among his
best works. Corbett National Park has remained my favourite sojourn and retreat
much to the reluctance of my wife and
children , who insist on exploring new
sanctuaries. Though I have not yet
sighted a tiger , but I prevail that
where in India you would find such tall trees , thick forest , a river flowing
and the largest number of Tigers!
Allahabad was a city of Intellectuals , writers,
leaders and Lawyers. It also boasts of some of the finest bungalows of the
colonial era . Civil lines area with broad parallel roads and sprawling
residences was created by the British after the ‘First war of Independence’ of 1857 by
perishing five villages. My first
experience of visiting one such bungalow was with my father who took me to the
residence of one Mr Tiwari , senior Advocate near Thornhill Road. A well kept
lawn and garden with wide variety of plants and flowers and two German Shephard
dogs ! This was in the late sixties and the multi-storey ingress was lurking in the corner! I could experience
some satisfaction when I stayed in a bungalow in Katari Bagh , Wellington
island Kochi during my Navy days!
My father would every year order a box ( peti )
of apples from Chobatia near Ranikhet ,
Kumaon which the family looked forward and relished . He would also distribute
some to his friends and associates and I would often accompany him . The
happiness on his face as he handed over the fruits mentioning with pride about quality
of the fruits from the hills makes me smile still. Fruit culture is prevalent
in hills and often we would take fruits with us to gift to friends instead of
sweets .
Train journeys in older times were enjoyable ; getting
down at remote stations and looking for vendors for tea and local snacks. Some
stations are famous still for their unique items such as ‘Sandile ke laddu’ and
‘Shankargarh ka Peda’. The
reading culture was much prevalent and before boarding the train one would buy
the latest magazines and newspapers from the country wide present ‘Wheelers
book shop’ . These were exchanged with the fellow passengers and on occasions
some interesting discussion would also take place . I
recollect one such journey when I purchased among other publications the latest
copy of the ‘Blitz’ weekly newspaper edited by the legendary editor Rusi
Karanjia who was among the earliest to
carry out ‘ investigative stories’. The
last page of the paper was always written by the famous writer and film maker
Khwaja Ahmad Abbas. My father would read many newspapers and he had told me
that he improved his English by reading the English dailies aloud . I too would
do the same and during vacations would
read to my grandfather who was surrounded by newspapers, magazines and
periodicals. That edition of ‘ Blitz’ carried the cover story from ‘cover to
cover’ , was a special edition on Independence Day . It carried in detail various
ideas to make our country ‘Great’ and consisted of numerous micro and macro
suggestions. My father first quickly read the paper and then I read the same and we agreed that it was a good article and I
clarified some aspects from father . As
was the practice we kept the copy for many days to be shared with other family members and friends . Father possessed a small library from his student days and
books with titles-‘Light Of Asia by Edvin Arnold ’, ‘ Inqilab by K A Abbas’ ‘
Glimpses of World History ‘ by Nehru are retained in me. We brothers too
maintain our libraries !
Once I
accompanied my father to ‘Institute of Gandhian Thought and Peace ‘ near
Allahabad University . There was some discussion and Z A Ahmad the famous
leftist leader and Rajya Sabha member was also expected . I was among the youngest in the meeting and
among others was Mr Mulla the famous senior advocate of Allahabad High Court
and Zia Ul Haq the local communist party leader . Though Dr Z A Ahmad did not
arrive but there was a lively discussion and repartee and Mr Mulla was highly
critical of the new policy of the Government
regarding ‘Adult education’ he said that how does one expect a poor
Rickshaw Walla to attend classes after a hard days work! Participating in discussions was much sober
in those times ! When I joined university along with my friends we joined the
weekly club ‘Elysium’ headed by the genial Dutta Sahab the Editor of Northern
India Patrika for many years .His nephew Ranjit Dutta was my friend . The meetings were held in ‘Barnetts Hotel’ in
civil lines run by the Dutta family and
we were served tea. Many eminent
personalities would visit our meetings
and talk to us among them were the famous Justice Markandeya Katju who was a
Lawyer at that time and was very popular among students .
There are some
people whom we cherish life long and one such person was Dr V S Narvane
Professor of Philosophy at the Allahabad University and later visiting
professor in US universities . He had taught my father and formed a lifelong
association with him and our family. My father took me to him and I was
immensely impressed by his thinking , knowledge and the beautiful house
adjacent to circuit house which he built . His study consisted of wide variety
of books and I would borrow them sometimes . He wrote in simple lucid style
reminding me of the style of Hemingway and Nehru. He wrote books on philosophy
, culture and Literature . Once he lectured us in the ‘Elysium’ on ‘Indian and
Western Art’ and there was an overwhelming
response in the manner and fluidity of his narration from all of us .
Holding my father’s fingers unwittingly I imbibed so
much that I could face the world confidently. Sadly he left us so suddenly and
early depriving me of my duty to hold
his hand in old age!
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