[Assam] A Grandfather's Story

[Ram Sarangapani]

Thanks C'da for sharing this with us, and thank you Mukul da for writing
such a nice description of those times.

As I was reading, I felt I was right there with you, in Calcutta, and the
Assam Mail of yore. I am sure Grant would have felt the same. He should
cherish this forever.

--Ram


On 10/3/06, Chan Mahanta <cmahanta at charter.net> wrote:
>
>  The following was sent by my brother Mukul Mahant, to his second grandson
> Grant Robert Mahant of Kenosha Wisconsin. I am posting it without seeking
> his permission :-), thinking netters might find it interesting.
>
>
> And I will also post a Granduncles story next :-).
>
>
> cm
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> At 7:02 PM +0530 10/3/06, mc mahant wrote:
>
> For  My  Dear Grant's Collection of* Memorable Events in the Family*
>
> * *
>
> *The World War II  was over. The special Trains carrying American Soldiers
> stopped  plying either way at our Namtiali railroad station. We had nothing
> interesting happening here.*
>
> *It was in 1946 –May, I think.*
>
> *I was walking back home ,  alone  from school 2 miles away.*
>
> * *
>
> *I was remembering a few things from our English textbook "Our India"
> which I had to read out loud at class today.*
>
> * *
>
> *The lesson I read was "Calcutta –the city of palaces".*
>
> * *
>
> *About the Victoria Memorial, the Fort William, Howrah Bridge, the Trams….
> *
>
> *Exciting visions of strange things, ships unloading automobiles,
> policemen on horses .. kept passing through my mind as I was passing a small
> wooded bend on the road.*
>
> * *
>
> *Wouldn't it be nice for me  to visit such an exciting place – I
> thought---but how?*
>
> * *
>
> *As I passed the bend, I saw  a senior relation of mine  coming my way.*
>
> * *
>
> *We used to call him Mohan Koka  - he was a distant uncle of my father. He
> used to manage a small tea garden  and visited home in our village only
> some Sunday.*
>
> *He recognized me and was glad to talk to me. He told me he was going to
> Calcutta in a few days  – on business  matters.  Owner of the tea garden
> that he managed lived in Calcutta.*
>
>
>
> *Something made me ask him " Koka, Can you  please take me along-I shall
> not be a bother-I promise".*
>
> * *
>
> *He laughed  and almost said ' First Grow up - little boy!'*
>
> *But no! –he said   "On my way back from the station, I shall talk to your
> Father".*
>
> *I ran home to tell my Mother. I was  only scared - my Father may not
> agree.*
>
> * *
>
> *Mohan Koka did turn up  and had a long chat with my Father . But I  did
> not get an answer from anybody. I was sad.  I lost hope.*
>
> *But a few days later my Father told me to get ready to travel to Calcutta
> –and that I should  always stick to Koka and never venture into the busy
> streets of the big city alone. He went to our school and convinced our Head
> master to let me be absent for a few days.*
>
> * *
>
> *The day I left home with Koka – my dear Mother wept and prayed for my
> safe return from the far away city. Nobody from our village had  ever been
> there-  so far away.*
>
> *We traveled by Assam Mail- the only fast train. In Assam trains ran on a
> 1 meter –gauge  rail system. We crossed the River  Brahmaputra in a ferry
> and took another train which took us to Parbatipur Junction – in present day
> North Bangladesh. There we had to change to another bigger train. From here
> onward the trains ran on Broad Gauge Rail Tracks all the way to Calcutta.
> *
>
> *We passed over endless flat rice lands   and crossed the River Ganges
> over a newly  completed  Bridge which was named after  Lord Hardinge ,the
> Viceroy. Next morning we reached Sealdah station which looked like London
> Rail stations I saw  12 years later.*
>
> * *
>
> *I kept my promise to my parents-stuck to the Koka wherever he went – even
> to offices-business houses- everywhere. He took me one day to the Zoo. That
> was exciting. And once to a circus.*
>
> * *
>
> *But in a week Koka told me that he will need to stay  another 2 weeks –
> his work is not  done.  At that time I became anxious to get back to
> school—my lessons are lost! I told Koka: "Please send me home and school".
> This was a crisis for him. There was nothing which would persuade me to stay
> on- I must go back! He had to relent. He took me to Sealdah. Looked around
> for a passenger in the Assam-bound train who will take care of me. He found
> a big Sikh gentleman who was going to sell Auto spares in Shillong. He
> would leave me at Gauhati-can I handle the rest? I said Yes.*
>
> * *
>
> *Let us cut it short. That is a scaring story even for me today. But  I
> made it alone  from Gauhati to  Mariani.  Even went to the Dining Car ,
> ordered a meal and  first time in life tried Knife and fork in company of
> Europeans -who were the  only dining car customers. Waited for the next
> slow train some hours later , and look ,I was at Namti back home –alone
> –from Calcutta. My parents were dumbfounded but happy.*
>
>
>
>
> *The rest is History!*
>
> * *
>
> *  Many years later, Calcutta, the City of Palaces  became your Dad's
> home . And   he did  grow up  in a palace -like Bungalow with lush greenery,
> gardeners,chauffer,cook and many servants.  May be these are not good
> things. May be self-help is better.*
>
> *  *
>
> *We love you so- Dear Grant! May you  three brothers grow up to be gentle,
> kind, hardworking citizens of the world.*
>
> * *
>
> *Your Koka*
>
>
>
>
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>
>
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