My ma
Snapped Dacca Town1930
Introduction
Sudha my mother covers
almost all the Chapters
written as my maiden
family biography –
‘Dispersion’ in two parts
in

http://www.arnab.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk
2
Introduction
Here 164 slides 10 seconds apart show
excerpts from the original web page
of Arnab, Sudha’s IX grand son and
my eldest son.
Sujata
3
Few lines

Born & brought up in rural
Bengal Sudha Chatterjee grew
up with her one elder & four
younger brothers, four sisters
& her motherless p-she Kashi
as an elder sis than an Aunt.
4
Few lines

Sandwiched between qualified
brothers Sudha loved reading
books and was aware of
matters going on in the outer
world! Part II reflects Sudha
as a loving Sister!
5
Few lines

As a teenager after marriage
Sudha gained wings moving
from Padma river rich Bengal
to Sindhu river rich west
Indian states and eventually
almost all main Indian cities.
6
Few lines

The following pages as Part I
give some glimpses of her life
as a responsible Sister- in- law.
 Daughter Sujata
 B 14/168 Kalyani
 July 2004
7
Part I: excerpts
Sudha
 as
a
 Sister- in- law

8
My ma
(Chapter III: page14)
Sudha was married to
Chitta Ranjan eldest son of
Mahamaya &
Manindra Nath Mukhotee,
when he passed his second
entrance examination.

9
My ma
(Chapter III: page 14)

C R continued his B Sc with
Astronomy in Calcutta
University and Sudha stayed
with C R’s two younger
brothers and four sisters at
parent in-laws in Chitagang &
Dacca.
10
My ma
(Chapter III: page 14)

Manindra Nath Mukhotee a
graduate of Dacca University
of 1906 died as a Sub
Inspector just after C R ‘s
graduation from Calcutta
University in 1933.
11
My ma
(Chapter III: page 14)

In between Manindra Nath
Mukhotee just could marry
Anupama, the eldest of his
four daughters to Kalipada
Banerjee as marriage of a
daughter was considered the
first duty of parents .
12
My ma
(Chapter III: page 14)

The responsibility of widowed
grandma Mahamaya with Kaka
Nashu & Manu, P-She Bulbuli,
Tultuli & Kutti became that of
like C R’s daughters Meera &
baby Sabita to Sudha.
13
My ma
(Chapter III: page 14)

With all of them Sudha
shifted to Canning after C R had taken up a job!

14
My ma
(Chapter III: page 14)

Tultuli P-she recalls the
days even today in 2004 of
Sudha’s wise management
of Kitchen handed over by
widowed grand-ma who
now had a separate Kitchen
for her!
15
My ma
(Chapter III: page 19)

Sudha had a purple colored
heavy gold threaded
expensive Benarashi sari
from grand-ma, a gift to
grand-ma by her Guru-ma.
16
My ma
(Chapter III: page 19)

Guru-ma had it from the
Maharani of Kashi, who
passed on the sari to grandma as divine blessings!
17
My ma

Like the gold threaded Sari
Sudha adored all of
widowed grand-ma’s and
the entire family moved
together!
18
My ma

They moved from Canning
to Pakur to Mahishadal to
Tamluk to Kashim Bazar to
all the places as C R moved!
19
My ma

Then as C R joined RIAF
during WWII they all once
again returned back to
Pashchimpara , Vikrampur
with Kaka Noshu carrying
on his studies in Calcutta!
20
My ma

After the War Sudha joined
C R at Allahabad, Kaka
Nashu taking the rest of the
family to Tollygunj as a S I
in the Excise department!
21
My ma

Then Sudha with C R & her
three daughters and a son
traveled from Allahabad to
Ambala to Lahore spending a
year at each place!
22
My ma

From Lahore to Bombay &
then at Agra Sudha took up
grand-ma’s responsibility
once again after Kaka
Nashu’s accidental death at
Calcutta as S I.
23
My ma

1950 at Agra P-She Bulbuli
was married to Santo Dhan
Banerjee of Shaharanpur and
Sudha with the new born child
had efficiently managed all as
P-She Tultuli recalls even
today in year 2004!
24
My ma

As Kaka Manu took the charge of
S I soon after Sudha took up
grand-ma’s responsibility of
marrying P-She Tultuli to Suraj
Nath Chatterjee of Allahabad but
at Tollygunj Calcutta in 1951
25
My ma
At Tollygunj, Calcutta
C R’s youngest sis Kutti was
married in 1952 to
Shobhanlal Banerjee of
Calcutta.

26
My ma

Thus C R & Sudha could give
peace in certain amount to a
grieving widowed grand-ma
Mahamaya though she was
not so happy as all were in
active Aviation!
27
My ma

And finally an early widowed
grand-ma Mahamaya was set
free of her duty after Kaka
Manu’s marriage with Manju
Chakroborty at Tollygunj,
Calcutta.
28
My ma

All the four P-She had
taken active initiative in
this act to assist Sudha of
grand-ma Mahamaya’s
responsibility.
29
My ma
(Chapter IV: page 25)

While in Madras she with
sisters and Sudha with her
ladies club members had
gone to the beach for a
moonlit picnic.
30
My ma
(Chapter IV: page 25)

Eyes closed, she can still see
the star filled night sky
with the moon reflecting on
blue sea with white foams
of dashing waves.
31
My ma
(Chapter IV: page 30)

In Later years while at Tollygunj
in Calcutta grandma took her to
the nearby buriganga (Aadi ganga)
in the early morning for her daily
holy dip and fetching sacred water
for dada's rituals of thread
ceremony.
32
My ma
( Chapter IV: page 30)

Leaving home in the early
mornings, before Sunrise,
grandma first visited the
nearby burning ghat. Grandma passed on the small jute
bag and asked her to stand at a
distance from the pyres.
33
My ma
( Chapter IV: page 30)

She then bowed her head to
the pyres where ladies feet
where painted red.
34
My ma
(Chapter IV: page 30)
After that grand-ma asked
not to touch her and
went straight in the
water taking dip after
dip till the Sun was
visible in the horizon!
35
My ma
(Chapter IV: page 30)

Grand-ma with folded
hands came out chanting
mantra’s (prayer in
Sanskrit), changed clothes,
collected holy water and
holding her hand walked
towards a temple.
36
My ma
(Chapter IV: page 30)

she could see two feet,
bordered red and decorated
with flowers, hibiscus, that
too red. Grand-ma sat near
the feet, touched them with
tears..
37
My ma
(Chapter IV: page 30)
Before entering the house
she whispered in her ear,“
ma Kay ko-ish Na“ (don't
let Sudha know this).
 She understood.

38
My ma
(Chapter IV: page 30)
That was in year 1957!
 But that she understands
now in year 2004 is
totally different!

39
My ma
(Chapter IV: page 30)

Grand-ma daughter of Shastro
Shiromoni Tirtha-lankar
(leading honor of Sanskrit
school) Ananto Chakrobarty
was left with nothing to
follow what she had learned!
40
My ma
(Chapter IV: page 30)

And to perform a ritual out
of Status is not a happy
event!
41
My ma
(Chapter IV: page 30)
Grand-ma with her previous
Status never imagined of
performing a grand son’s
thread ceremony the way
she did..
 ………..That for her tears!

42
My ma
(Chapter IV: page 30)

Grand-ma’s rest act was of
wanting to get rid of
herself, a sinner she might
had thought of her fate!
43
My ma
(Chapter IV: page 30)
She did not let anyone
know that!
 ………..That for don’t
tell Sudha what you kid do
not follow!

44
My ma
(Chapter VI: page 52)

The visit of C R’s brother
in law S D Banerjee in New
Delhi reflects Sudha’s
bondage with P-She Bulbuli
45
My ma
(Chapter VI: page 52)

The Republic day
morning in New Delhi
suddenly turned warm
in 1959.
46
My ma
(Chapter VI: page 52)
The chill of the early hours
at Raj path and India gate
was forgotten soon as
P-Shay came with sweets,
letters and snaps from
P-She.

47
My ma
(Chapter VI: page 52)

It appeared, P-Shay
was a sort of close
friend to C R
48
My ma
(Chapter VI: page 52)

P-Shay talked about the
Saved Air crash with a
dignitary for that P-Shay
was awarded on that
day!
49
My ma
(Chapter VI: page 52)
Sudha expressed her
blessings.
 P-Shay left for his unit at
Bangalore with a letter
from Sudha for P-She.

50
My ma
(Chapter VI: page 55)

Years after at Purulia, this
P-She talked of Sudha with
tears; with what difficulty
Sudha had managed the
situation with all of them
from collapsing down.
51
My ma
(Chapter VI: page 55)

How P-She had teased
Sudha as a girl and Sudha
tolerated. How P-She had
used Sudha's silk sari’s to
decorate her dolls.
52
My ma
(Chapter VI: page 55)
All these childish confessions
P-She made in tears as a token
of affection and gratitude
towards Sudha, for securing
firm settlement in her life.

53
My ma
(Chapter VII: page 75)

Sudha was equally tolerable
& helpful to neighbors as was
reflected when few met again
& again after years as all
stayed in military camps that
surely proves that the earth is
Round!
54
My ma
(Chapter VII: page 75)

A Delhi Walk-I Aunt was very close
to Sudha. It was her duty to bring
flowers and durba and bel-pata and
tulsi from INA market for Aunt’s
Thursday ritual of worshipping the
goddess lakshmi that with for Sudha,
though Aunt had those made of copper
metal.
55
My ma
(Chapter VII: page 75)

Aunt did not talk to her much but
the conversations which she had
with Sudha revealed the previous
identity and even at that age she
thought that Aunt was different
but surely great.
56
My ma
(Chapter VII: page 81)

A sweet relationship existed
with Sudha & P-She, C R’s
sister Tultuli married to S N
Chatterjee from Allahabad
but maternally related to
Tagore’s family at JoraSanko,
Calcutta!
57
My ma
(Chapter VII: page 81)

SNC P-Shay remembered
Sudha at Avadi. He was the
one whom C R had urgently
called from Tambaram at
St.Thomas mount hospital_
Sudha fighting for her life.
58
My ma
(Chapter VII: page 81)

SNC P-Shay had always
maintained the
respectable distance from
Sudha, as was usual
then!
59
My ma
(Chapter VII: page 82)

Tultuli P-She was the
favorite of Sudha. She
looked sober even now she
was straight, just as if she
was one of her elder sister
and not C R's younger one.
60
My ma
(Chapter VII: page 82)

Unfortunately Bulbuli was in
Purulia, Tultuli in Bangalore,
Kutti in pilgrimage and Kaka
Manu was in Birbhum when
Sudha left for her heavenly
abode.
61
My ma
(Chapter VII: page 82)

None of them were
near C R to make
him feel at home
without Sudha!
62
My ma
(Chapter VIII: page 89)






Paternal Grand-pa
Manindra Nath Mukhotee
Paternal Grand-ma
Mahamaya Chakravartee
Pa : Chitta Ranjan Mukhotee
Ma: Sudha Chatterjee
63
Sudha as a Sister-in-law
End of part I
64
Sudha as a Sister
part II
65
My ma
(Chapter IX: page 05)


Ma is like ……
………..following the Ganges,
through spectacular Scenery past
the origin which is the awe
inspiring Gangotri glacier, the
source of the river itself to the end
where it surrenders in the lap of
Sea, the Ganga Sagar!
66
My ma
(Chapter IX: page 06)


Or ma is like ……
…….. Kanya Kumari where the
Arabian Sea & Bay of Bengal
makes visible appearance together
as Indian Ocean from the
Vivekananda rocks!
67
My ma
(Chapter IX: page 06)

Or ma is like ……
.….. Viewing the spectacular soft pearl
border parting the emerald landscape
and sky blue horizon at the coast with
the wide sea stretching towads
Sunderbans all together from the
window at a height of 30,000 ft!
68
My ma
(Chapter IX: page 07)

Sudha loved reading books,
stitching clothes, knitting
wools, cooking and making
country sweets, various
pithay with payesh and
even plain cakes.
69
My ma
(Chapter IX: page 07)

Sudha’s best handicraft is
in white with blue Sindhi
stitch , crème colored
embroidered in blue English tablecloth and
laced works but none in her
possession!
70
My ma
(Chapter IX: page 08)
Sudha had been a silent sufferer of
difficult adverse situation throughout
her life.
Anything pleasing reminds me of

My ma
Cheerfully & Instantly!
71
My ma
(Chapter X: page 11)
This chapter is about Sudha &
Deepali with Mani, the last
but one younger brother of
Sudha
Fourth in line of Sudha’s eight
younger brothers and sisters!
72
My ma
(Chapter X: page 11)
While at New Delhi
once in the brother’s
day she saw Mama to
speak and not chat
with Sudha
73
My ma
(Chapter X: page 11)
Sudha overwhelmed to
see the younger brother
on that special day
with Deepali & Tuni
& Munu as tiny tots
& obviously gifts!
74
My ma
(Chapter X: page 11)

And Sudha
possessed a soft
corner for mami
Deepali too!
75
My ma
(Chapter X: page 11)

She respectfully called
Ma’m instead of
mami for praising her
sense of this and that!
76
My ma
(Chapter X: page 14)

And when they finally
anchored at Calcutta she
found Sudha missing from
a similarly laid down lunch
table years back but at
Delhi!
77
My ma
(Chapter X: page 14)

Sudha was
exceptionally adored
by this younger brother
who had just two elder
sisters to call Didi!
78
My ma
(Chapter X: page 14)

Both of them had last
seen Sudha at CMH
few days before Sudha
left for her heavenly
abode!
79
My ma
(Chapter X: page 24)

Sudha was a muchwanted person in her near
& far neighborhood,
especially among couples
with small children.
80
My ma
(Chapter X: page 24)

She has seen Sudha, while
warming up in the winter
afternoon Sun,
communicating and
providing necessary
information to just arrived
neighbors…..,
81
My ma
(Chapter X: page 24)
….. from places at south &
west coastal areas.
 Also from the villages
along river Brahamaputra
and Ganges.

82
My ma
(Chapter X: page 24)

It was amusing to see how
they talked and listened to
each other with expressions,
smiles and stray words from
English, Hindi, Ashomiya,
Telegu and off course
Bengali.
83
My ma
(Chapter X: page 27)

Sudha was born and brought
up in a highly conservative
family.

84
My ma
(Chapter X: page 27)

She wondered how Sudha
gradually learned languages,
the communication Skills
decently without words!
85
My ma
(Chapter X: page 28)

She saw Sudha-seeing guests
from Bengal, practically
through out the year while in
New Delhi.
86
My ma
(Chapter X :page 28)
Sudha was destined to
disperse out of Bengal but
had a constant touch with
Bengal through child hood
folks, indeed her friends in
need!
87
My ma
(Chapter XI: page 33)

Sudha's parent Dadu &
Didima lived at Arjunpur left
of the VIP road, near the city
Airport after they had
migrated from their ancestral
home at Dacca.
88
My ma
(Chapter XI: page 33)

The large kitchen was the
magnetic net thrown by Didima,
like a fisher man's net holding the
rope tightly in her small hand, the
lean and tall figured Dadu
alarmingly standing behind to
hold, in case Didima toppled.
89
My ma
(Chapter XI: page 37)

M mama Sudha’s immediate
younger brother Poltu recalled,
while in the prison as Detainee
with B-mama, the eldest of all, for
supporting Swadeshi movements,
he had the permission of writing
five letters to his home!
90
My ma
(Chapter XI: page 37)

And all the five he wrote to
his Didi as brother Poltu.
M-mama still had the
letters which Sudha wrote
back to him.
91
My ma
(Chapter XI: page 37)

Sudha in her first letter had
consoled Poltu for his personal
freeing through ‘Aiysa –din –
nahi- rahega’ unaware of the
implication & consequences
the words may do!
92
My ma
(Chapter XI: page 37)


Sandhya-mashe repents they
knew no language than
Bangla & the intellectual
words were a copy & paste for
that what innocent Poltu had
suffered!
93
My ma
(Chapter XI: page 37)

M-mama declared that among
brothers he loved his Didi most
and Didi was Poltu’s Didi all
alone!
94
My ma
(Chapter XI: page 37)

Possibly M mama was right in his
thought as Sudha’s sis Shova
shared the post of Didi for the
other three brothers Gosain, Mani
& Mintu!
95
My ma
(Chapter XI: page 37)

She thought about the big note book,
Sudha’s name written in red/blue
pencil, decorated by flowers, drawn
with the same pencil, in which Sudha
had some time written about the Nobel
prize winner poet possibly at the time
when those events had taken place.
96
My ma
(Chapter XI: page 37)

The rest write-ups were noted
down from books or
newspapers at Sudha’s leisure
hours those impressed Sudha’s
thoughts and feelings!
97
My ma
(Chapter XI: page 37)

She remembered Sudha speaking
about the knee long 22carat gold
chain, contributing to Swadeshi
fund through Narayan Chatterjee,
B-mama and telling Didima that
she lost it while bathing in the
pond!
98
My ma
(Chapter XI: page 37)

Sudha had sometimes talked about
Narayan Chatterjee, B-mama, his
sufferings, not having support
from Dadu on what B-mama
wanted to do, but Sudha was
proud of B-mama & also was a
supporter & reflected respect
towards him.
99
My ma
(Chapter XI: page 37)

With Sudha’s other emotional
write ups the last page of the
big note book contained the
date, astrological time and
place of birth of seven
children!
100
My ma
(Chapter XI: page 37)

At places Nakalia daughter
Meera, Dhaka daughter Sabita,
Hanshail son Pranob, Bikrampur
daughter Aloka, RIAF camp
Lahore daughter Sujata, IAF
camp Agra son Pradip and IAF
camp Madras daughter Sumita.
101
My ma
(Chapter XI: page 38)

Sudha was an ardent reader. She
has noticed that while in Delhi.
She was not so used of reading
books written in her mother
tongue but Sudha read just
Bengali books.
102
My ma
(Chapter XI: page 39)

She tried some, especially those
which Sudha asked not to read.
She understood little, but still
remembers the fat book written by
Promath Nath Bishi named
Lalkella and few written by
Chanakya Sen mostly on foreign
diplomats!
103
My ma
(Chapter XI: page 47)


Sudha had been the Didi for a
good number of her cousins too!
Cousin, Shibu, Didima’s younger
sister's son, the favorite mama,
with a camera in his shoulder &
stories related to ghosts, was a
much-wanted person among kids!
104
My ma
(Chapter XI: page 47)
Shibu-mama took all the kids to
the museum to see the
Egyptian mummy & the
Exhibition at the Eden
gardens. C R being at Delhi
Sudha’s permission made it
possible for her to take part!
105
My ma
(Chapter XI: page 47)


In later years Shibu mama
with Sudha’s ma-she CDidima had dropped in to
New Delhi to see Sudha.

106
My ma
(Chapter XI: page 47)

Being the just one Didi of so
many bright youngsters Sudha
reighned over but with
creating envy to some people
no doubt!
107
My ma
(Chapter XI: page 47)

Nearly the same time C R’s three
cousin brothers from Asansol had
arrived after visiting Kashmir and
exchanged gifts and it appeared
they all knew each other since the
reception days some25 years back
at Vikrampur Dacca but as kids!
108
My ma
(Chapter XI: page 47)

Another cousin of Sudha,
Kanu-mama, Dadu’s sister,
Kashi didima's son was also
close to the children at that
time and gave some time-slots
to the children.
109
My ma
(Chapter XI: page 47)

Kashi didima's another
son, Dulu mama too came
to see Sudha while at
Chakeri, from
Chandigarh.
110
My ma
(Chapter XII: page 64)

Sandhya-mashe was very
attractive, with high
cheekbones, like a Greek
Goddess; very rare among
Bengalese and off course
had a fair untainted
complexion.
111
My ma
(Chapter XII: page 64)

Sandhya-mashe &
Chinmoy-mesho from
Maithon have visited
Sudha then at New
Delhi.
112
My ma
(Chapter XII: page 64)

C R never discriminated between
his sisters and Sudhaa's sisters.
C R was busy buying the best,
Sudha busy cooking the best and
all of them, she with her youngerbrother Pradip & sister Sumita &
the just arrived cousins playing
Traders/Snake ludo etc.
113
My ma
(Chapter XII: page 64)

Her ears open to Sandhya-mashe's
experience of Bhakra Nangal,
tamed for generating power and
the just started rock gardens there
at Chandigarh, where they stayed
for someday at Kashi- Didima's
place, Dulu mama managing the
Hindustan Machine and tools.
114
My ma
(Chapter XII: page 65)

Sudha & Sandhya-mashe
revived their memoirs of kashididima. It was a real fun
because Sandhya-mashe was
the solo visitor who brought
their children with them, the
two totters Samar , Tapan
with the tiny Bipul then!
115
My ma
(Chapter XII: page 65)

Chinmoy-mesho & C R
chatted mostly they
talked about the bygone
days & then when
Sandhya-mashe was a
kiddy girl.
116
My ma
(Chapter XII: page 65)
Sudha adored this younger
sister a lot more than the
other three Shobha, Ava
& Aroti!
117
My ma
(Chapter XIII: page 72)

Ava-mashe, she Considered
was the sister whom Sudha
has visited more, had Confided
more, in return Ava-mashe has
proved to be a dotting &
sincere younger sis to her.
118
My ma
(Chapter XIII: page 72)

This for the short period Sudha
lived in Calcutta, before the
CMH opened the gate of
Heavens for her, removing the
gallbladder stones counting
100 creaking old Dadu &
breaking Didima at Arjunpur!
119
My ma
(Chapter XIII: page 73)
It was Ava-mashe &
Anil-mesho’s place where
Sudha & C R 's evening walk
stretched from the eastern side
of the park circus maidan to
the western side, where they
lived.
120
My ma
(Chapter XIII: page 73)
It was Ava-mashe who last saw
Sudha at CMH, whom Sudha
had expressed willingness of
leaving this place for a
beautiful trouble free heaven
else where!
121
My ma
(Chapter XIII: page 74)

The first introduction of
Anil-mesho, as she saw,
was at their place at New
Delhi, passing on a gift
from Ava-mashe for Didi
Sudha.
122
My ma
(Chapter XIII: page 74)


A world fair was going on, some
times in 1959 or 1960
Anil-mesho had come there for
some official work from Calcutta.
He stayed for a day or two, but
they had visited the fair all
together!
123
My ma
(Chapter XIII: page 74)

The thing of which she can trace
back is the pebbled roads from one
pavilion to other, the big
illuminated red HERCULES
cycle over a pavilion and the huge
Russian pavilion made of inflated
circular tent displaying Sputnik
models.
124
My ma
(Chapter XIII: page 74)

Then and on Anil-mesho has
appeared to be an relaxed
person talking slowly, giving
pause in between, even after
13 years or so when she next
saw him at Ava –mashe’s
place in Park Circus,Calcutta!
125
My ma
(Chapter XIII: page 77)

Sudha had been through the
toughest period during WW II,
expecting the fourth child, with
early widowed grand ma's, at
Pashchimpara home, C R’s
whereabouts not known, may be
whether C R at Afganistan was
alive she did not know then.
126
My ma
(Chapter XIII: page 77)

Any mother would guess what
Sudha had been through that
situation with an early widowed
grandma and what Sudha might
be praying, leaving apart the other
war created problems and
shortfalls of running a household
with children.
127
My ma
(Chapter XIII: page 77)

Then Sudha had been through the
rumors of bombing scarce over
Bengal.

Then Sudha must have heard
rumors about the twin nuclear
explosions.
128
My ma
(Chapter XIII: page 78)

The war ended, with nearly no
bombing in Bengal, Sudha had
her fourth child in Vikrampur
where there were no roads but
water ways through canals
and country boats as vehicles
for movement!
129
My ma
(Chapter XIII: page 78)

Meera as a ten year girl
remembers Kutti P-She herself
rowing with grand-ma at mid
night to fetch the person
concerned needed then through
the private canal of
Pashchimpara household!
130
My ma
(Chapter XIII: page 78)

C R was back, and Sudha
might have regained her
faith, which ever idol
grandma worshipped among
the lot, at Pashchimpara
home.
131
My ma
(Chapter XIII: page 78)

During the period, 1945 to 1947
at last Sudha safely and securely
lived with C R in Royal Indian
Air force Camp Allahabad, Royal
Indian Air force Camps Ambala/
Lahore in Punjab, then in British
India!
132
My ma
(Chapter XIII: page 78)

Sudha had her children admitted
to Anglo Schools, let them dress
in uniforms following the custom
there, wearing long coats in
winter, those she had seen Didi's
wearing somewhere she can't
remember.
133
My ma
(Chapter XIII: page 78)
Though definitely not out of
riches, but Sudha had to use
Ghee (butter oil) to lit the
sacred lamp for worshipping
her god, because of not getting
mustard oil, as was sometimes
mentioned by Sudha.
134
My ma
(Chapter XIII: page 79)


Sudha took to making roti and
bharta with brinjal instead of
frying it with macher jhol and
bhat.
This is mentioned just to indicate
that Sudha adopted the situation
and changed.
135
My ma
(Chapter XIII: page 79)

For Ava-mashe's and others at
Dadu's place the situation was
different. During 1945 to 1947
they were going through different
sort of things, preparing mentally
for change & expecting violence
any moment!
136
My ma
(Chapter XIII: page 79)

Though Sudha was from a remote
village seconded with language
barrier, but silently took part in
Baby shows, learnt tailoring,
sewing and lace works in the
ladies club from senior ladies,
joining children’s parties and
participating in musical chairs and
winning prizes too!
137
My ma
(Chapter XIII: page 79)

No doubt Sudha’s previous
attitude towards the British
had changed by the reunion
of the entire half submerged
family of grand-ma with
father!
138
My ma
(Chapter XIII: page 79)

The RIAF Camps gave the
security and Sudha might have
realized something not known
till then in just two years
expecting her fifth child in
August 1947 at an age around
30 then.
139
My ma
(Chapter XIII: page 80)
For the rest of Sudha's family
members, it had been a
deadly tough time of
celebrating independence,
giving birth to a new
nation, born out of hatred,
not faith.
140
My ma
(Chapter XIII: page 80)

Sudha under the safe and
strict vigilance of a British
Medical officer was asked not
to move, possibly not so aware
of rumors of what was going
on in the surroundings.
141
My ma
(Chapter XIII: page 80)
Then crossing the just
created border was with
the escorted retreating
British Soldiers
convoy….
142
My ma
(Chapter XIII: page 80)
With 18/19 Indian Air force
family, at the end of
August, to King's way circle
at Bombay, as the troop
took the sea voyage.
143
My ma
(Chapter XIII: page 81)

Personally for Sudha, as
compared to the WW II,
the event, partition merely
meant division of the Royal
Indian Air force ….
144
My ma
(Chapter XIII: page 81)

To Indian Air force and
Pakistan Air force,
visibly bringing no other
changes..
145
My ma
(Chapter XIII: page 81)

Sudha’s life style and
attitude changed after
the WW II, and
remained unaffected
by the partition!
146
My ma
(Chapter XIII: page 81)

Once Ava-mashe told,
sometimes after that,
about two months later,
they could contact Sudha,
when Dadu had come to
Calcutta with all of
147
My ma
(Chapter XIII: page 82)

The Mukhotee family union
took place at Tollygunge
where grand-ma lived with
Kaka-manu serving the
excise department as S I
148
My ma
(Chapter XIII: page 82)

As told by Tultuli PShe in year 2003
present then and there
years back!
149
My ma
(Chapter XIII: page 82)

And with the
Chatterjee family at
Beliaghata where
Dadu settled
temporarily.
150
My ma
(Chapter XIII: page 82)

Close to the place where
Shova, Sudha’s immediate
younger sis with her family
lived as told by Shova
mashe in year 2003 present
then & there years back!
151
My ma
(Chapter XIII: page 82)
Years back……
 That was the winter of the
year 1947!
152
My ma
(Chapter XIII: page 82)

In evidently what Sudha
heard from her sisters
made her speechless and
she chose to keep mum
about division of India.
153
My ma
(Chapter XIII: page 82)

Ava-mashe, Sandhyamashe & Choto-mashe
always remained very
close to Sudha’s eldest
daughter Mira..
154
My ma
(Chapter XIII: page 82)

She has not seen much of
Shova-mashe, though the
first cousin sis Bela from
Shova-mashe had been a
pen friend of her for quite
a long time.
155
My ma
(Chapter XIII: page 86)
After Sudha passed away, it
was Ava-mashe who
silently listened to C R of
his grievances, of his
loneliness, lessening his
burden and let opening his
heart.
156
My ma
(Chapter XIII: page 86)

It was at Ava-mashe's
place in park circus, she
with her elder & younger
sis & salty tears had
observed the fourth day
of Sudha's passing away.
157
My ma
(Chapter XIII: page 86)

The cousin sis Manu,
Jhunu, Ratna with their
friend Aloka helping
them and a calm Avamashe presiding over the
event.
158
My ma

C R lost Sudha in 1976, at
Command Military
Hospital, Alipore, Calcutta.
She had joined C R, crying
visibly for Sudha.
159
My ma

C R confessed the best time
they had together was at
Canning in South Bengal..
160
My ma

They spend long hours near
some river bank, at that very
moment possibly thinking of
Sudha turning to ashes at the
bank of river Ganges, at
Calcutta.
161
My ma
(Chapter XIV: page 87)


Dadu (JaduNath Chatterjee)
Didima (Shishoobala Mukhotee)
Ma Sudha Chatterjee
Chitta Ranjan Mukhotee


Pa
162
Original web page:
http://www.arnab.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk
Revised text 10 July 2004
163
My ma
The End
164