The Landlord's Noble Gesture
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By Madhurendra Varma
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Back in 2002 during one of our usual visits to our son at Bombay, my wife and I decided to go to Poona on a journey down the memory lane.
One Ms Meenal Gopujikar (Prabha to us right from her childhood) had insisted on hosting us there. During dinner at her place, her sister, brother and children also joined us, and we went on and on for a couple of hours reminiscing about the good old days we had to gather way back in the early 1950s when my wife, our two children and I had stayed as tenants in Prabha's father's home in Poona. Among others, they reminded me about Tatya's (Prabha's father)visit at my flat in Samundra Mahal in 1979 in Bombay.They pointed out that Tatya had intended to ask me to help him secure some assignments(contract, etc.)with Philips India Limited or some other organisations in Poona because he was facing acute financial difficulties those days, but he simply could not bring himself up to articulating such request-- the fiercely self -respecting man that he was!
I was stunned at learning this, and filled with agony and regret that I was denied the only chance to repay-- however partially-- Tatya's invaluable debt and gratitude that I had owed him since way back in mid 1950! That kept me restless for days to gather:and I continue to regret even now that providence did not allow me to do my humble bit for that great soul!
On the other hand, this revelation added a new edge and dimension to the gratitude I owe to him-I feel so proud of him!
Flashback to 1950's
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I was posted as a civilian labour officer in an army (electrical and mechanical repairs)workshop at Kirkee near Poona. Mr S R Ambeker (Prabha'sfather) a paint merchant in Poona, had just completed in 1953 the extension of his newly built house on Ferguson college road in Shivajinagar. He agreed to let me occupy one of the flats in his house, and I along with my wife and two children stayed there for about two and a half years. Within a month or so our families began living and feeling like one family: and we thoroughly enjoyed the quality of our life there. His children addressed Prema, my wife, as Mousi (mother's sister) and me as 'Babuji'(father) and we affectionately addressed Mrs Ambekar as 'Tai' (sister- in- law) and Mr Ambekar as 'Tatya' (elder brother). till now, Ambekar's children continue to address us same way and give us a lot of respect and warm effect ion.
In Septembers 1954, I received confirmation from U. S.educational foundation in India that I had been selected for higher studies in USA at Carnell University as a Fulbright and Smith-Mundt scholar. The Ambeker family and tatya in particular, greeted this news as a matter of distinction for their family! besides throwing a couple of celebration parties, tatya kept narrating to his friends and relatives with pride that I had brought distinction to his home!
At my work place, However, I had to contend with numerous difficulties determinedly created by the ministry of labour(my Principal employer) and ministry of defence ( My host employer). not only did they not grant my request for paid or unpaid study -leave, they officially asked me to to explain why disciplinary action should not be taken against me for appearing for interview before the US Educational foundation without obtaining their prior permission to do so! Any way to cut the story short, the matter dragged on till the first week of June 1955 when my unconditional resignation from my job was finally accepted by the government of India. but that left less than two weeks to complete all formalities and catch the ship that was to sail for USA on June 21. I, therefore rushed to the passport officer at Bombay for obtaining my passport. but more ironical and trying situations were waiting for me in the wings: I was asked by the passport officer to furnish a financial guarantee for Rs 10000/- a prerequirement those days for passports i knew nothing about. the only person i could approach for such a guarantee was my father at my native place, motihari in bihar, some 1800 miles from Bombay/Poona. But it was impossible for me to afford the time and expenses for travelling to motihari and back to Bombay, and obtaining the passport in time. thus i simply felt beaten.
When Tatya happened to make his routine enquiry about the progress, he could immediately sense that I was totally shattered. on his persistant enquiry, I had reveal the hopeless predicament that I would not only not go to the USA but I had also lost my job, which in those lean employment days was considered to be a 'disaster'.
His response was immediate and spontaneous. He said he would furnish the required guarantee. I protested that I could not possibly tie him down to such commitment. He scolded me affectionately, and asked me to take the afternoon off the next day so that he could complete the formalities about the guarantee. I agreed despite my reservation, mainly because I had no alternative.
The next afternoon, 'Tatya' was ready with some documents, and had already arranged for a Tanga (a horse-driven two-wheeler, commonly used in Poona those days). As we we proceeded towards the Tanga, he reminded me to put on a cap to cover my head, which was considered to be a requirement on the eve of accomplishing an auspicious task, and I promptly did that.
I was however, bit surprised that 'Tai' and prema had also been invited by 'Tatya' to join us on the trip! i wondered as to why the ladies should accompany us when all were going to do was to complete some formalities, possibly at 'Tatya's bank. but I did not question it, believing that this too was perhaps a ritual he believed in.
I began wondering that the Tanga was not proceeding towards where the banks were:and the next, bigger, surprise hit me soon when I found that we had, instead, arrived at the civil court premises!
when I insisted on knowing what was going on, I was told that 'Tantya' had come to the court for mortgaging his new, and only house for providing the guarantee required by me. And Tai had come because she, as the proprietor of the property, was the one who had to sign all the legal documents!
I was speechless and overwhelmed!
With that silent gesture, 'Tatya' and 'Tai' did something that perhaps only one in thousands of people would do. Besides, they honoured me with an unimaginably precious gift of trust and love which I shall cherish and feel proud of till my dying day and which I shall never tire of narrating to my children and grand children and to the people at large all my life.
On my return to India from USA, I worked in Calcutta for 12 years and then moved to Bombay to work as director personnel, Philips India limited. I was staying in duplex flat at the famous Samundra Mahal in Worli: that is where 'Tatya' had visited me with intention of asking for my help and was unable to articulate such a request-- thus keeping me unaware about his difficulties and denying me the only chance to do my humble bit for him! Of course, I kept visiting him in his home at Poona every time my work took me on tour to Poona.'Tatya' died in late 1990 when i and all my family members visited his family at Poona to condole his death.
This is the background which lends such poignancy to the opening part of this narrative of mine. It has placed 'Tatya' on a lofty and ennobling pedestal-- not easy for others to match. This noble act based on his large heartedness,selflessness, self-respect and his innate spirit of integration of human being--no matter where they came from--can, in my view, continue to serve as a lesson and inspiration for all times and for all people throughout the world.
( Writer has very good skill of writing. He was a Director, personnel, Philips India Limited)
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posted by BHARAT DESAI @ 10:38 PM
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