Recreations continues....


Gauri Shah and Ganga Shah of Shahpur Kandi were also well known men in the District. Chamba had several leading Mahajan families. Diwan Bahadur Madho Ram and Rai Bahadur Sohan Lal were two outstanding figures. Rich Mahajan families from Chhamal and Sukhochak did prosperous business there. Many of these big families are gone due to the policy of the British against moneylenders and the policy of Sir Chhotu Ram. Some are completely ruined, but those who took to commerce and industry and settled in towns are still maintaining their old status. Most of the men of my generation are now dead, leaving behind their sons and grandsons. Some are lawyers, others industrialists and some in services. The Behrampur Mahajans started a High School. and so did the Dorangla Mahajans. Jammu Mahajans built a Mahajan hall. Most of these Mahajan sahukars were my clients and were helpful and friendly.

Father had a very good clientele in the tea planters in Kangra District. The Ballard brothers lived in great style and the whole country salaamed them. One brother managed the Bundla Tea Estate and the other managed the Holta and Gopalpur Tea Estates. Old man Bernard was the owner of the Bahl Tea Estate. We used to get plenty of choice tea from him for ourselves. All these gentlemen when they came for their cases to father brought first class tea as present. Father did not take tea and hated the habit. I don’t remember a single occasion when I had tea in my father’s lifetime. I have inherited his distaste for tea. Even in England and the continent I took chocolate instead of tea. The European tea planters were great people in the valley. They lived in grand style and went about on fine horses. People were afraid of them. All that is now past history.

A word about some other interesting personalities I came in contact during this period of my life.

to be continued...

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