Mothers death, Fathers transfer to Calcutta

In our house we had a photograph of father in uniform with boots and ‘putties’ along with two Gurkha soldiers on his flanks. It was taken whilst Father was Assistant Settlement Officer in 1916. The photograph used to fascinate me and I often asked him when he would again become a Police Officer! At that age, I was under the impression that Father’s next promotion from Munsif would be Superintendent of Police and my only desire was to see him again in uniform. My brother used to tease me for asking such silly question.

Whilst we were in Sadip. Mother went to Assam to attend our uncle’s marriage along with Baity and Eileen. Mother was expecting a child but due to anemic condition her condition started deteriorating fast. It was our Summer Vacation. Father took us all and rushed to Jorhat. She gave birth to a still born child and her condition took a turn to worse. In her last moment she called each one of us by her bedside, touched our head with tears rolling down her cheek. After desperate struggle she breathed her last in June 1931 at Cinnamara in presence of all her children and dear one. She was buried at Jorhat (she was) only 31 years old.

A few days after her death we along with Father returned to Sandip to an almost empty home. Father was a lonely man and took the extra burden of looking after us – his very young motherless children. Our youngest brother Reza who was then hardly a year old cold not be looked after well. He was neglected by the maid servant and died of double pneumonia in November 1931. In a way it was good that he died so young and was buried in Sandip.

In 1932 Farther was promoted as Sub-Ordinate Judge and posted to Howrah. We moved to Calcutta and lived in a house in Kareya Road. Later we shifted to Momin Manzil, 39 New Theater Road in Park Circus. We got our admission in Kareya High School. Father used to attend his Court in Howrah and travel by tram daily. He encouraged us to join the Cub Movement. On King’s Birthday he used to take is to the Maidan to see the military parade. The brisk movements, discipline and smart colourful turn out impressed me very much. I took more interest as a Cub and got some proficiency badges. In one of our Camp fire the then Bengal Governor Sir John Anderson joined us. We attended some camps outside Calcutta where we learnt cooking, self reliance, resourcefulness and leadership. I became so fond of Cubs and Scouts movements that whenever we went for shopping at Wachel Molla, Dharamtola Street my favourite request used to be Khaki shirt and half pant. This request used to amuse my elders, not realizing that I shall wear khaki for the rest of my life as a soldier.