Dewan House – Rampur

Dewan House…..Down the Memory Lane

- Tailpiece—By Ravish Bahadur (Tare Sahib)
I was inspired by the letter from Anita to recount what I had heard about Rampur , Dewan House and as, I thought, saw them during my times there. Today if anybody looks back on those days or even people of my generation it will look more of a fiction than reality. Imagine so many people living together with only three dry latrines, one for the ladies inside the house and two outside, one being very small and note with no doors. Nobody ever did mind and all lived in harmony. And the bathrooms, one for gents outside with a cloakroom and the ladies one had no roof. Can you imagine this today? In seventies Viren Sahib (Shri Virendra Bahadur son of Shri Shamsher Bahadur) had sent two flush latrines for fixing. Only thing in abundance was happiness may be because we all lived in `present` and not worried about what we did not have. Modern times had not hit us inspite of education.
Another important blessing of those times was bonding between relatives and even among the people of Rampur of those days. It was not that we were causal. We did our best given the meager resources at that times. Even all sports were fought with all seriousness even the though the courtyard was not big. Even Table Tennis was play on a `takhat` or wooden table. Raja Sahib ( my younger brother Shri Brij Raj Bahadur) was the best player, which even my class fellow Mr. I. U. Khan now a leading criminal laywer in Delhi and himself also a good TT player once told me in Delhi.

I remember Raja Sahib used to keep a record of his wins over Sat Pal son of our tenant Dr. Behl and take his signatures with date. I remember when Suresh Sahib ( Shri Suresh Bahadur Satyawakta son of Shr Shiam Bahadur `BP`) himself a good player of Badminton was transferred to we used to play at the indoor court in Sheesh Mahal, Rampur Qila (Fort) where regular tournaments were played.
I would give some more examples of bonding;
Once Bhukku Sahib ( my elder brother Shri Vijai Bahadur) told me that while he and bhabi were waiting at the NY airport for the shuttle to change the terminal a Limousine Taxi stopped in front of them and the driver offered in Hindustani to drop them at the terminal free. He said that he was from Pakistan and insisted on them. They accepted the offer. He asked them which part of India they were from. When he told him he is from Rampur UP. The taxi driver was stunned and said that his mother migrated to Pakistan in 1947 when she was six years old and has always been telling him that whenever he gets any passenger from Rampur he should bring him to meet her. He give his mobile no. and said that he will come to receive him when he comes next. Once I met Yash Pal son of Dr. Behl our tenant in nineties after three decades. He was with me for half an hour but talked about DH and Rampur for twenty five minutes. When I was looking for a tenant for my daughter Radhika`s flat in Gurgaon near Delhi one gentleman Nadeem came to me desperately looking for a flat but the matter was immediately settled when he said he was from Rampur and he is there for the last four last four years. I cannot help mentioning here about Shri Laxminarain son of famous Shri Cauuamal the famous sweets seller of Rampur. Whenever he came to Delhi for some work Achchey Mian was his constant companion taking him wherever he had work although his brother-in-law was MS of Bara Hindu Rao Hospital, a big man. Such was the bonding.
I hope more and more people post their experiences to supplement the efforts of Yogesh who has set up this website and taken upon himself this time consuming job in addition to his business. I will do my bit in future also.

However if anybody is not getting time or hesitant to write can contact me in Delhi after a week or so at my mobile no. 09818429449.

Dewan House  -  Down  the  Memory Lane

Achchey Mian  and  others. – by Tare Sahab

From Acche Miyan

Any description or narration about events and people connected with Dewan House would be incomplete without mentioning of Achchey Mian mainly. Achchey Mian (AM) was a pal or a very friendly person of everybody from  relatives or relative`s relative, friends of the family or even visitors, of the age of 2 years to 80 years male or female. It is said that AM  came in contact with DH as  a youngster and became friendly with all and in particular with his age group and over a period of time became a part of DH due to his sense of humour, repartees, good nature and getting involved with everybody`s problems, very helpful nature and all most selflessly. On account of this he was most sought after, admired  and welcome person by everybody connected with DH. He always tried to help everybody through his connections and linkages particularly problems of parents of marrigeable daughters in our society and missed no opportunities, even used to go to long distances to help them. Two such instances come to my mind. He used to go to Nagda (MP) where Pyare Sahib ( Shri Brish Bahadur) my elder brother was working quite often. There he met two such parent during his visits there and helped in  fixing up the marriges at different times, one with my close friend Shri Satish Mathur Delhi and the other with the friend of Rai Sahib ( Shri Rai Bahadur) my youngest brother (Shri Sushil Agarwal owners of famous Caltex Petrol Pump Essresso Coffee Bar at Pul Begum Meerut (UP) on highway to Hardwar.

AM was very self-respecting person. He would do much more than needed of him on his own but cannot be made to do things against his will for any allurement or when he felt that he is being taken for a ride. He was free bird and his own master. He would stay at somebody`s as long as he was welcome but would leave if he felt otherwise. In addition to delightful company, he was very good in looking after you if you fell sick, a very good cook and very good in striking good friendship. In late fifties when we had just moved to Delhi staying near Ajmal Khan Road (Shri Bijendra Bahadur`s house my eldest brother) which was under construction AM had developed very good personal relations with all prominent shopkeepers who, off course,are very big now.  In DH in those days meat was cooked only in courtyard out- side the living quarters AM used to cook delicious dishes more so when Shri Surrender Bahadur ( Shambhu Sahib) used to come, an occasion for all to enjoy. In those days you were not allowed to enter kitchen with your shoes. Once Vinod Pandey, a friend of my youngest brother Shri Rai Bahadur and Pyare Sahib`s (my elder brother Shri Brish Bahadur) junior at Nagda fell from the bus while travelling to Delhi from Meerut and had a fracture of leg. Rai Sahib brought him to my house and he stayed with us for a week of ten days. AM nursed him day and night and Neera (my wife ), we had just then set up our house after marriage, looked after him inspite of her job. After a week or so his brother came from Nainital to take him. When we met Pandey recently after two decades or more he gratefully  remembered those times gratefully. AM  used to get involved with other with ease. When he was travelling with me om motorbike or car to Meerut, it was his habit to stop at every accident which were in plenty in those days, examine the site , talk to people nearby and enquire about the victims. Then he would discuss the probable cause and careless party of the accident and this used to remain in the back of your mind while driving. AM had great presence of mind. Twice while travelling to Delhi from Meerut by the last bus, communal riots broke out once following the speech of Sheikh Abdullah. It was quite harrowing experience for me. Jan Sanghis,BJP of those times, were going around in groups looking for muslims and assaulting them. AM was wearing achkan as usual. I suggested him that we run back home about 1 km away, he said that it will be risky. Then we went to a bus parked in a corner of the bus station in dim light. There AM made a bundle of his achkan and pushed under the seat and started talking to few other passengers in Punjabi ( he could speak many languages). Late in the night bus for Delhi was announced and we moved over to that bus and by then the things were under control. It was the most harrowing incident for me. The second time it was not so harrowing. In those days  mainly sixties AM spent a lot of time with my younger brother Raja Sahib (Shri Brij Raj Bahadur) at Mohan Nagar Ghaziabad, youngest brother Rai Sahib (Shri Rai Bahadur) at Meerut and elder brother Pyare Sahib ( Shri Brish Bahadur) at Nagda and all their friend and friend`s relatives were equally well known to him and enquire of him because he used to get involved himself with their problems and welfare. Anney Dada`s (my eldest brother Shri Bijendra Bahadur) house on Pusa Road was off course,his base. He was at home with all the members of DH wherever they were and welcome to their their home was his home.

As said earlier AM knew more about our extended family than many of us. Once AM,  Amma (Smt Shyam Devi) and myself went to Bhopal to see a match for my elder brother ( Shri Krishna Bahadur ). When we reached there and had settled down at the retiring room, AM as per his habit, went out for a shave and some other shops hoping to some known faces as many people from Rampur were settled there and returned after more than an hour and a half. On return he said that he has talked to Shri Lakshimi Narainji, manjhili bua`s son-in-law, who is DySP and posted here. He send us his jeep after reaching office which we can keep and meet him in the evening. He also developed sciatica pain (chuk) and was walking half bent in his achkan, a sight to enjoy. We had a good time at Bhopal and caught the train in the night to go Nagda. The train was running six or seven hours late and we assumed it will not reach before 9AM.We all went to sleep. It was a passenger train stopping at all stations and AM getting down at all stations to have a cigeratte and striking a conversation with everybody. At daybreak he took a round of dimly-lit station with no one in sight and asked somebody at a distance the name of the station. The other man replied it was Nagda. He was stunned so I was. He shouted to me to take down Nai Chachi, as my mother was called by others, and then we threw all our beddings and suitcases from the moving train.  He made a count of everything and then smiled at me and said `my back pain is now gone` He was a good companion while travelling.

Sometimes his where-abouts were not known for months and we used to make enquiries from likely sources. But on the days of marriges in our family, he always used to appear. On Bhukku Sahib`s  (Elder brother Shri Vijai Bahadur) marriage he appeared on the day of the departure of the barat and so on Kalu Ram Sahib`s (Elder brother Shri Krishna Bahadur) marriage. On Kalu Ram Sahib`s marriage the barat went from Meerut to Moradabad by bus. The driver stopped at the station to locate the place of `janwasa` the place of stay of barat. AM as usual went on to the platform to see some known people as Rampur was the next station and exchange pleasantries. He met nobody but when he was returning, he heard `Mian Salam`, he looked around he found Akhlas & Party qawwals well-known to DH in the compartment of the train sitting n the next platform. AM went there and asked them for their tickets to have a look. He then tore down the tickets and asked them to come and  sing at the wedding. It was possible in those days and taken in good spirit. BP and others had come from Rampur for the wedding. Akhlas  & party then asked for BP`s permission to start and asked for his choice or `farmaish`.  BP asked them to start with a `Natia` sort of bhajan and then sing  `sehra`. After the dinner we had a great sesson of qawwalies upto 4 AM. At about 6AM there was a big noises and shouting at the janwasa. We all who had just to sleep came out. There was a group of tall abd hefty enauchs or hijras creating all noises. While all were looking here and there AM took charge and asked them to sing and dance if they want `bakshish`. It was a great spectacle to watch AM dancing with tall and hefty enauchs with all his antics, he being only five and a half feet, it is still fresh in our memory. Even Cuckoo (Shri Gyanendra Bahadur, grandson of another brother of our grand father Shri Raj Bahadur) who was studying in Muzzafarnagar in those days and had come to the wedding with his friends, could not match with AM though in the marriage processon he was quite active. When my daughter Radhika was six days old, AM brought Akhlas & party who happened to be in Delhi to come and sing at my house. I cannot forget his affection.

AM was a great cook. AM helped Cuckoo (Shri Gyanendra Bahadur) a lot in setting up `Studd Beer Bar` at Khapoli on Bombay-Pune highway. It was very popular in those days and many films were shot there Many film personalities like Kaifi Azmi and others used to come there to enjoy the food cooked by AM. It was a very popular in those days.

AM had a sad end. After passing away of Anney Dada ( my eldest brother Shri Bijendra Bahadur) and AM being away to Khapoli for long he had moved in with the family of a big exporter from Rampur Shri Ahmad Jan Khan in Jama Masjid. He was suffering from TB of intestines and in the end shifted to RP Hospital of communicable diseases. I met his there twice but he did not allow me to sit there for long. Last time I went there Sahadat   people he was staying with, asked to tell AM not to eat so many eggs as he asked him for more though two days age he had sent him one dozen boiled eggs. AM asked me for bed pans and the one`s in the hospital were very dirty, I went to the market and got him new one`s then asked him not eat so many eggs. AM replied that he does not eat any eggs but the patients here are very poor and nobody visits them and he is distributing eggs among them. In a day or so afterwards he passed away.

A very lovable person and most of us at DH still remember him. Whatever I have written above were the normal way of life or a social life in those days well etched in our memories, it may look different to today`s generation.

Another very important, well learned and highly respected by all was our Priest or Pandit Ram Chandraji. Every ` Puranmashi` he used to come for `Satyanarainji` Katha or Puja. All horoscope matching for marriages was done by him. He was one person who could address BP by name and also pull him up.All senior even today remember the predictions made by him.  He was Raj Purohit to Nawab Raza Ali Khan who used to consult him and himself could read horoscope well.

Another visitor to DH I can remember was Shri Jagdamba Prasad a distant relative and an employee of Raza Sugar Factory, courtesy Babu ( my father shri Brij Bahadur). He used to visit DH everyday after his dinner. As none of the gents used to be in the house at that hour, he used to read news paper, talk of world war II, freedom movement etc to Bari Amma ( Smt Shiam Bahadur), Amma and another old lady in the house without realizing that they would not know anything beyond family matters, in between take a nap. We children used to study around them. His son Vijai was employed in UP Roadways courtesy Shabban Chacha ( Shri Satyendra Bahadur). He was famous for prefacing each of his sentences with `Baat eh hai ke…………( common abuse of those times). Once he said `baat eh hai ke…….shadi karna bhi ek toota (parrot) palna hai chaubees ghante ke tai tai` a great character. Another one was Janki Chacha a distant relative who was a seasonal employee in Raza Sugar Factory. He used to come and stay at DH during winters. He used to give all cock and bull story like `on Dadda`s order one tiger was killed everyday for him as hakim sahib had recommended tiger`s meat for him when he fell sick. When his father got sick of his wayward attitude and not seriously taking any vocation asked him `what he wants to do in life,he replied that he wants to become a ticket collector in the Railways. His father felt happy and asked how he can help him, he replied that he wants him to get a black coat to become a TC. His father got him one and JC became a much sought after person by relatives and friend who were planning to take barat by train with a request not forget to bring his coat. His son Arjun was a well known artist at AIR Lucknow. Those were the times which now look more like a story.

Another regular to DH was Shri Rafiquddin Khan probably a Peshkar or Munshi looking after court matters. He used to sit with BP for long hours. Two of his sons were employed in UP Roadways, again courtesy Shabban Chacha. Once he told BP that a Reader working with Judge Sahib wants a wrist watch with recoiless spring, sort of a spring pull out strap and we should give him as he has promised to help.It was agreed and a watch for Rs. 20/ or so was given. As was to happen the work was never done and BP pointed out this to him. He kept quiet and only said `not to worry`. On the next hearing he just called that gentleman out and when he extended his hand to shake hands he simply pulled out the watch and told him to go. Such were the times, justice was quick and undiplomatic and soon a matter of history.

Another gentleman who used to visit DH particularly when Shambu Sahib`s ( Shri Surrender Bahadur)stay was Shri Firasat Ali Khan popularly lnown as Lord Firasat now an honoured citizen of probably Ottawa in Canada. He was a man of very good personality, tall and little heavy. Whenever he visited, we youngster used to look and laugh at the tyres of his cycle which were almost touching the ground. He also used to play Badminton with Shambhu Sahib in the little courtyard outside the house both played good Badminton.

Once Munnawar, Nawab Raza Ali Khan`s barber came and started boasting about himself. AM was there and he started pulling his legs as usual and tried to cut him to size. He ultimately invited all of us to for mango feast at his farm. It was rainy season and a special variety of very delicious mangos called `samarbahisht`which grows only during rains. We all packed up in 3 or 4 cycle  Rikshaws with AM went to his farm. First he got a big lot of mangos and deposited the same in a big tub filled up well`s water and put 5or 6 knives. It was finished in no time, he got another big lot which was also finished then he got a big lot very small mango meant only for sucking. AM got all of us to stand and quit then threw a big smile at Munnawar.

Another notable person associate with DH was Vilayat Husain, tailor, permanently attached to DH for all types of stiching of suits, sherwanis,shirts and pants. He used to come for taking measurements at DH and he was a  master of trade and treated as equal at DH enjoying jokes at his or others expense. Last I met him was in seventies in old  Delhi near the Railway station. He was walking towards Jama Masjid. He immediately recognized and embraced me with tears in his eyes. He blessed me and said that he was returning from `Haj`. Bonding among the people of those era was very natural and pure. I will write about all this separately.

Another regular visitor to DH was Akbar the barber who used to come every Friday the weekly off to cut the hair of everybody. Our turn used to come after all elders had their hair cut.

I have talked about all that, I remember, came to DH. I will when I recollect more such persons.

Memories flood in when I remember of those times and it is difficult to chose the good ones as all are dear. Before that I may inform you that when the zamindari was abolished in early fifties, a compensation of 8%  of their total holding was given to the zamindars as compensation. Would you believe the compensation given to DH was  about 4500 acres (an input by Vivek Bahadur which he and my youngest brother Rai Bahadur Khare got collected through a friend posted at a senior position in Rampur), which is huge by any standards. But all of this was usurped by the tillers/crop sharers resulting in lot of  litigation and purchase of bonds at a discount  by them and others.

The following narration is solely my perception/interpretation of the events of those time and anybody does not agree or hurt,my unconditional apologies are offered.

Shri Shyam Bahadur popularly known as Diwanji and our respected Bare Papa was head of the clan after the demise of Dadi. His was the last word in all matters of the family and he had total respect from all of us. He followed a set routine everyday and brooked no interference; Morning snacks, read newspaperor or magazine in humming tone, lunch followed by a nap, come inside have tea or Bhel juice in summers, write letters, sit at the gate exchange greetings with passer-by and give them letters to post, get ready and have his supper and go to club very immaculately dressed. In the forenoon he used to meet people who came and sometimes in the afternoon also. This was his daily routine till I think up to `56 or so. Bare Papa and his brothers were not worldly-wise in today`s materialistic term, never bowed before anybody to ask for favors from anybody. We and all youngsters had the best of grooming under him on how to address and behave with elders and never missed any opportunity to pull us or anybody for any mistake.We had very good grooming under him. All festivals and religious functions like ear piercing etc. were observed with full gaiety and respect when all  uncles and other relation used to gather. A day before Holi was celebrated as Rang Bharni when colour was applied by BP on all by seniority. On Holi day BP used to wear a well starched white Angarkha (A long gown upto below knee well embroidered, what you see in movies worn by Kings and courtiers) and a cap of the same material and play Holi with long brass pichkaris with luke-warm Tesu (pink flower) water. BP used to reprimand if anybody came to play holi in dark coloured clothes and tell them to play it  in whites only. 3 or 4 groups of people from different  hindu localities of Rampur used to come one by one to play holi and enjoy holi snacks. We youngsters used to shower coloured waters with pichkaris and also pump on them. Thereafter holi was played inside the house with the ladies with jolly good exchange of words and repartees, it used to be real enjoyment. In the evening the on platfarm (chabutra) outside the verandah was covered ith durries and white sheets to receive guest for holi Milan, pan and sweets were offered. It was a social event. Akhlas and party, famous qawwals of Rampur told us in Delhi in sixties the he used to go to DH on holi days every year to sing and get the Bakhshish (money). We used to feel proud how all showed respect to BP. All festivals were celebrated with the same fervour. On Diwali Lakshmi puja was done with `Kauris`(dices) to know about the coming year. Please note that liquor was unheard by us in those days and you could not smoke before the olders.

In those days invitation for marriages used to come in a register where all invitees names were written and you were supposed to sign your acceptance. On such a day we all youngsters used to troop behind BP who was given a befitting place to sit on the floor and we all alongside him. Food was served on plates of leaves(pattals) and earthen glasses to drink water. Often BP used to call host and tell him that since he has invited us he should ensure that hot food is served. Only he could say and people used to listen. If any of us was eating to many `papars` he used to reprimand and tell that `don`t fill up your stomach with papars , they are only to keep busy till hot puris come. We all got best attentions when with him.

Once when BP was sitting at the in the evening Mehfooz Ali Khan, Advocate and neighbour and family friend passedby wearing a white closedcollar coat (bandhgala), he greeted BP and talked about the club where he was going to, BP asked him why he got this coat in white colour, it will get dirty fast and he should get it dyed, Mehfooz sheepishly said yes and went away. But the poor chap , whenever he wore that coat he used to take the lane beyond DH. Nobody could tell or retort  out of respect to him, such was his status in the family and the society and he must say what comes to his heart. There are too many incidents still fresh in my memory and I will keep on adding the same.

My father Shri Brij Bahadur (Babu) passed away in 1949 when I was only seven years but I do have memory of those years and also what I was told by others who have been associated with him. All had a good word to say about him, his discipline, upholding his convictions, never lose temper on somebody and instead stopping to talking to him which had a salutary effect, totally raising his hand on the child or anybody and for this reason he never sought tution from Maulvi sahib for his son and for this reason all his children well read and if I remember correctly he insisted on BP that Robi Sahib should not study under him who was legendry in using the ruler, very punctual and evening news from AIR was strictly no disturbance in the house etc.  He was very methodical and we still have registers where he recorded monthly expenses, noted down the birth time and date of each son and daughter. Our bunglow being near the station was always full of people and when others from DH used to come it was all laughter  and enjoyment. Every Friday weekly holiday we all used to go to DH to meet Dadi and others. Once Jiji (Sushila) asked to Babu to stay back on Friday, he replied that you stay with your mother and I will go to my mother. He got me admitted to the newly opened Montessori School in Fort with proper bus service and regularly come to the school but removed me after a few months and got me admitted to the factory school because the Head Mistress told him that I was not mixing up with other children. Babu was at a senior position in the Raza Sugar Factory, a seasonal factory when in operation required many temporary hand and  Babu got many distant relatives and others  known  recommended to him. One such person was Janki Prasad who used to stay DH and work there, a master story-teller. In eighties I met Mr. Nasir Khan City Congress Party President. He told me that Babu gave him his first employment in the factory and he was a man of few wordsbut everybody always remained scared of him and avoided to meet him face to face. Robi Sahib has already written one full article on him.

Shri Partap Bahadur ( Nannhey Chacha) was a tall, heavy fair and smart person but he had a very soft heart and highly emotional. He worked in Buland Sugar Factory but his heart was in music, singing and drama. He was on first name basis will all great musicians of India luckily either born in Rampur or under employment of Nawab Raza Ali Khan. In those you name a famous musician and he must have linked to Rampur. I may mention here that this Nawab had passion to get the best in every field settled in Rampur, be it Khansamas, bakerers (he had sent the owner of Rainbow Bakery in Rampur to Switzerland to learn baking) even washermen from Kashmir. Rampur cuisine became one of top three cuisines of India, other two being Hydrabad and Patiala. For Zulfikar Ali Khan`s wedding reception he had 385 dishes prepared because Maharaja had offered 350 dishes for his son`s wedding reception. Rampur became second largest industrial town of U.P. after Kanpur during his times. Coming back to Nannhey Chacha, he was so soft hearted that whenever he listenedto film Anarkai`s song where she was whipped he used to really weep with pain on his face. Shakuntaljiji told us once that when he watching film Dosti in Lucknow he started throwing up while weeping and crying. He power of narrating a incidents was very dramatic and captivating even on simple incidents, like when he told us that during rains he visited one of the villge in one feet of water, poor nannhey not knowing whether a well or ravine is ahead, his sense of dramatizing was great. Once BP called one of tillers from some place who misbehaving and bullied his to sing some blank papers as per Advocates advice and called NC to sit with this man when he went inside as per his routine. When he returned after half- an hourthat man was missing. BP enquired about that man NC told him that he has gone away, then where are that papers?. NC replied that I give him the papers because he fell on my feet crying. In those days it was extremely humiliating to touch anybody`s feet except your older relatives and Panditji. Those were different times and people had different standards.

Shri Shamsher Bahadur Khare (Shamsher Chacha) was the tallest,perhaps 6`6` and heavy. For appearing in Intermediate exam (12^th class) he went to Moradabad. A maharaj and two servants went with him. He was at one time interest in body building also. He was in the service of Maharaja Scindia Gwalior and quite close to him. When Delhi Gymkhana was built in 1935 all Maharajas were offered membership. Scindia accepted the offer, paid the money but took membership for 5/6 more employees with robust personalities and always took all of them with him to the club so that other members made enquiry about him which will add to his status. These memberships are offered to one`s successors. So Mr. V.B. Khare became a member even though he could have become a member on his  own merits also after  after completing his MBA from Glasgow. Now the membership has come to Vivek.  Dadi had asked him to come back as Gwalior was about 150 miles or so away. Later on he joined Dabra Sugar Factory, near Gwalior a factory of J. K. Srivastava who owns Raza Textiles in Rampur.

Shri S B. Sinha (Shabban Chacha) was soft spoken and fond of technical subjects. In his house in Match factory you could find models made of cards mechanical toys, decoration pieces. He joined U.P. Roadways and had a Dodge Pickup at his disposal and we all had a ride in that many a times, cars were not common in those days. He got a lot of needy and not so well off relatives people employed in Roadways. In later years he settled down with his daughter Indu Krishna in Glasgow and survived by his daughter and grand-daughter.

Shri N. B. Satyawakta (Bhaiya Chacha) was the youngest and more easy to relate to. He would laugh gossip and give good company to everbody. In those days there were no telephones and in our neighbouhood only Seth Ram Rattan aand perhaps Capt. Wajid Ali Khan had the telephones.  Whenever Bhaiya Chacha had to convey any message to BP he used to send a handwritten note in urdu  through Munan( Raghuvansh Bahadur) who was studing in Hamid Inter College roughly 5/6 miles from his house. BP used to read the same and ask him to take the reply while going back. Life was so different from today`s cell phone culture where everything starts and ends with cells.

Culture was totally different in those days. Whenever ladies had to go out , a sheet was tied around the Tonga horse driven carriage , then ladies the ladies boarded and after that the driver appeared. You could not enter the kitchen without taking your shoe off and meat was cooked outside the house. Dadi used to follow Sanatam Dharma and Dadda was Arya SamajiP.

P.S. Rakesh informs me that Gandhiji came to DH in around 1933 so it must have been Nawab Raza Ali Khan., if my history is right. Nawab Hamid Ali Khan never went outside the State as he feared he would be arrest for being at loggerhead with Britishers. Nawab Raza Ali Khan always kept balance between Britishers and the Indian leaders and was the first Ruler to merge with the Indian Union.

In the next article I will be writing on my cousins and Merry-Making Years

From Ravish Bahadur

Ratna Raj (Asha bua’s daughter, Bhaiya Chacha’s grandaughter) on May 5th, 2010

Quote Edit

I haven’t seen the Dewan House but have heard so many stories about our family and the grand house we had. I keep telling my kids about our heritage . Just last week I was remembering the house our family had in Bareilly and was yearning that we should have sold it to somebody who would have preserved the grand house ( its hard to find a house like that nowadays). I would have proudly showed it off to my kids. I hope we can do something about “The Dewan House” and show it off to the world proudly!!
Anybody from our tree in US ? I would love to get connected!!
Ratna

——

Sunil B Satyawakta on May 11th, 2010:
Yogesh- Ratna is Asha bua’s daughter (Bhaiya chichcha sh.’s grand daughter)

—- Ratna: I recently found this photo in our album Circa 1965 – (Yogesh):

I fondly remember visiting the Bareilly house in 1970s:
Once while attending Usha Bua’s wedding and the second time your mama
- Arun’s wedding in Bareilly in the early 1970s.

(L to R) Asha, Mamta and Sneh Khare  From Mamta Bahadur

Thanks to Suresh Sahib, Madhuri bua, Chandrakant phoopha  and Sunil’s efforts, we have an update to this picture caption on the picasa album, but I thought it would be good to put it here in the post. Rakesh is about 6-months old – his birthday is Feb 14th, 1948 and this picture was taken on Diwali, there are two group of photos as some of the family was not there on the first day.  I have pasted the caption comments  below.

Contributions by Daddy (Suresh Sh.),  Madhuri bua and Chandrakant Phupha:

From RajeSahab_album

Center is Dadi, her left, Munni Bua (Srita Satyawakta’s Dadi, Dunni / Chunni Chacha’s mother), Brij Bahadur (Anne Tauji’s father, also known as Babu), Nanneh Chichcha ( Pratap bahadur father of Rajjan Chacha) . Dadis’s right, Bhagwati Bua, Bare papa (Shyam Bahadur), Shamsher Bahadur (father of Birender tauji, Prema Bua and Sarla Bua).

Standing behind from left – Shibban Chichcha ( Satyendra Bahadur), Neelam bua, Chhoti bua , Chhaprewali chachi (Birendra Tauji’s mother), Bhopalwali Chachi (Arun Chacha, Munan Chacha, and Asha Bua’s mother), Nai Chachi, Sandilewali chachi, Prema Bua, Bhaiyya Chichcha, Rajjan Sh., last row:standing from left: Kusum bua, Kaluram chacha. Madhuri bua, Bimla Bua, Krishna Bua, Birender tauhji, Shambhu Chacha, Bhukku Chacha
Sitting in front: Sushila bua, Shakuntala bua, Sarla bua, Robi Chacha, rest not known.

“sunil Apr 30, 2010 9:20 AM It has taken them entire evening to find out who’s who”

From RajeSahab_album

1948 Diwali Photo – Sheoraj Bahadur & Satyendar Bahadur Family -
( Front L to R) Children – Dinesh Bahadur, Vibha, Asha(Blurred), Arun
Seated: Chandrawati (Bhauji), Badi Amma, Dadi, Rakesh (baby), Manjhli Bua, Shakuntla (Bhopal wali Chachi)
Standing – Sheoraj Bahadur, Shashi, Indu Krishna (Baby Bua), Sneh (Anga), Satyender Bahadur (Shabban Chacha)