Ms.S. Mehrotra Tandon from Karachi
D.O.B: 13th April, 1930
Education:
Hardevi School, Karachi, now Pakistan
Banaras Hindu University, entered 1946
Parents:
Father : Lalji Mehrotra
Mother : Saroj ?
Siblings: One older brother and one younger sister
Family Life and Early Years:
My father was a Congress man and freedom fighter. My mother a housewife but one who helped my father in his cause.
Maulana Azad, Sardar Patel, Vijaylakshmi Pandit and Pandit Nehru would come and stay with us in Karachi. They would be closeted in the drawing room discussing. People would come to visit them as they were trying to make a Congress Ministry.
Sardar Patel was a very sober and serious person. He used to ignore us children. His daughter Mani Ben would however pat our cheeks. He would ask my mother "Is your shop never closed?" as food and tea were always being served, even up to 10pm.
My younger sister, Asha, 4 years at that time, was a favourite of Maulana Azad. She would sit in his lap wrapped up in his shawl. One day we asked to eat with him. Asha sat on cushions next to him. He would eat 7 rotis and all had to be served piled up together. That day he made a special effort to eat slowly to spend more time with us! He was very fond of tea and had almost 30 cups a day. Even at night the tea arrangements had to be kept in his room. He slept very little, only about 3 hours a night.
One day, I had to pour tea and cut fruit for Pandit Nehru. I did not peel the apples. He asked "Cheel kyon nahi rahi ho?" ( why are you not peeling the apples?) I said that all the vitamins are in the peels. He replied, that in that case, I should eat the peels and give him the apple!
My father was loved by all these leaders. One day Vijay Lakshmi Pandit was coming back to Karachi after addressing the UN General Assembly. Another gentleman in town who was jealous of my father announced that she would stay with him. At the airport she asked for Lalji and said that " Main apni jagah nahi badalti" ( I do not change my place)
My father was arrested in 1932. He was working on getting the Congress magazine cyclostyled and distributed . There was a warrant out against him. He had to go into hiding. He even grew a beard. Then my mother was arrested and sentenced for 2 years. I was 2 &1/2 years old and went with her to jail for 10 months. My brother was sent to our grandmother. I remember asking "Jailor Mama" for a biscuit everyday. My paternal grandfather was very upset with my father and disowned him. He was angry that his daughter-in-law was in jail. He paid Rs.500 as bail and we were released. A telegram was sent to my father announcing this and that is how he got caught. He was imprisoned in Naini jail in Allahbad. My brothers "mundan" ( head shaving ceremony) was done there. He was arrested a total of 4 times. Once Gandhiji gave an undertaking and he was released. Other times compromises were made. My father was made mayor of Karachi in 1942. During his tenure he made sure he was not arrested! He said he had a duty towards the city.
What was the atmosphere like prior to 1947?
In 1942 the non- cooperation movement started. A group of us youngsters went marching with a national flag. We hoisted the flag in the place where Gandhiji used to stay in Karachi.( a marble plaque was installed later at this place) I carried the flag as I was the youngest. We were all arrested. I was let off as I was only 12years old. My brother was kept in jail and later sent to a remand home. There was a case against him. They wanted him to apologise. He refused to. After 4 days he was let off.
Those days the atmosphere was charged. There were Prabhat Pheris (Early morning processions)
I only wore Khadi. My mother would even later buy our stock of khadi for the entire year during the Khadi sale from 2nd October to November 6th. I even knew how to use the Charkha (Spinning Wheel) too. In fact my trousseau was all khadi, even my wedding clothes.
What was the attitude towards the British?
We disliked them; Felt anger towards them. We were sent to a Convent school as there was no other good school for girls. My brother went to an Indian school. He would come home and change immediately as his uniform was not Khadi. There was a contradiction in my life- My father in jail and me going to a convent school!
When Independence actually took place what was your reaction?
We were very aware. Banaras Hindu University was very active politically. That night we all sat up to hear the speech by Pundit Nehru . We cried and cheered.
Partition and how it affected you
We were moved out of Karachi to Allahbad before partition. My father could sense the trouble to come. He used to say “ Jab suraj nikalta hai, toh pehele kya Lali nahi dikhai deti? “ ( Before sunrise the horizon appears red) was in Banaras Hindu University at that time. That summer we were sent to Almora. My father moved us but he stayed on to sort things out. No one expected that they would have to move out completely. In fact months before partition my father had bought a house in Clifton area. We children did not even get a chance to live there. When the Nawab of Junagadh left for , it was this house that his begum wanted. We had to sell it at a nominal price.
We lost our home, our base. Our family was uprooted from where we had been from 1921 onwards. Even though we did not have much family there, we had many friends. My father sold his other properties and factory to his Muslim friends.
We had very good Muslim friends in Karachi. About 10 years ago my brother, sister and I went back to Karachi and met our childhood friend. He came to the hotel to pick us up. After a few minutes of niceties we regressed to our childhood days. He then drove us to our old home. The house looked the same. The elderly lady there had come from Kanpur. She was nostalgic about it. And Asha and I were so excited about our old home.
People everywhere said that we are the same on both sides of the border. The politicians and media have divided us. Some got very emotional. One gentleman even said “Yeh dono ladkiyan mayake aain hain” (These girls are visiting their parental home)
D.O.B: 13th April, 1930
Education:
Hardevi School, Karachi, now Pakistan
Banaras Hindu University, entered 1946
Parents:
Father : Lalji Mehrotra
Mother : Saroj ?
Siblings: One older brother and one younger sister
Family Life and Early Years:
My father was a Congress man and freedom fighter. My mother a housewife but one who helped my father in his cause.
Maulana Azad, Sardar Patel, Vijaylakshmi Pandit and Pandit Nehru would come and stay with us in Karachi. They would be closeted in the drawing room discussing. People would come to visit them as they were trying to make a Congress Ministry.
Sardar Patel was a very sober and serious person. He used to ignore us children. His daughter Mani Ben would however pat our cheeks. He would ask my mother "Is your shop never closed?" as food and tea were always being served, even up to 10pm.
My younger sister, Asha, 4 years at that time, was a favourite of Maulana Azad. She would sit in his lap wrapped up in his shawl. One day we asked to eat with him. Asha sat on cushions next to him. He would eat 7 rotis and all had to be served piled up together. That day he made a special effort to eat slowly to spend more time with us! He was very fond of tea and had almost 30 cups a day. Even at night the tea arrangements had to be kept in his room. He slept very little, only about 3 hours a night.
One day, I had to pour tea and cut fruit for Pandit Nehru. I did not peel the apples. He asked "Cheel kyon nahi rahi ho?" ( why are you not peeling the apples?) I said that all the vitamins are in the peels. He replied, that in that case, I should eat the peels and give him the apple!
My father was loved by all these leaders. One day Vijay Lakshmi Pandit was coming back to Karachi after addressing the UN General Assembly. Another gentleman in town who was jealous of my father announced that she would stay with him. At the airport she asked for Lalji and said that " Main apni jagah nahi badalti" ( I do not change my place)
My father was arrested in 1932. He was working on getting the Congress magazine cyclostyled and distributed . There was a warrant out against him. He had to go into hiding. He even grew a beard. Then my mother was arrested and sentenced for 2 years. I was 2 &1/2 years old and went with her to jail for 10 months. My brother was sent to our grandmother. I remember asking "Jailor Mama" for a biscuit everyday. My paternal grandfather was very upset with my father and disowned him. He was angry that his daughter-in-law was in jail. He paid Rs.500 as bail and we were released. A telegram was sent to my father announcing this and that is how he got caught. He was imprisoned in Naini jail in Allahbad. My brothers "mundan" ( head shaving ceremony) was done there. He was arrested a total of 4 times. Once Gandhiji gave an undertaking and he was released. Other times compromises were made. My father was made mayor of Karachi in 1942. During his tenure he made sure he was not arrested! He said he had a duty towards the city.
What was the atmosphere like prior to 1947?
In 1942 the non- cooperation movement started. A group of us youngsters went marching with a national flag. We hoisted the flag in the place where Gandhiji used to stay in Karachi.( a marble plaque was installed later at this place) I carried the flag as I was the youngest. We were all arrested. I was let off as I was only 12years old. My brother was kept in jail and later sent to a remand home. There was a case against him. They wanted him to apologise. He refused to. After 4 days he was let off.
Those days the atmosphere was charged. There were Prabhat Pheris (Early morning processions)
I only wore Khadi. My mother would even later buy our stock of khadi for the entire year during the Khadi sale from 2nd October to November 6th. I even knew how to use the Charkha (Spinning Wheel) too. In fact my trousseau was all khadi, even my wedding clothes.
What was the attitude towards the British?
We disliked them; Felt anger towards them. We were sent to a Convent school as there was no other good school for girls. My brother went to an Indian school. He would come home and change immediately as his uniform was not Khadi. There was a contradiction in my life- My father in jail and me going to a convent school!
When Independence actually took place what was your reaction?
We were very aware. Banaras Hindu University was very active politically. That night we all sat up to hear the speech by Pundit Nehru . We cried and cheered.
Partition and how it affected you
We were moved out of Karachi to Allahbad before partition. My father could sense the trouble to come. He used to say “ Jab suraj nikalta hai, toh pehele kya Lali nahi dikhai deti? “ ( Before sunrise the horizon appears red) was in Banaras Hindu University at that time. That summer we were sent to Almora. My father moved us but he stayed on to sort things out. No one expected that they would have to move out completely. In fact months before partition my father had bought a house in Clifton area. We children did not even get a chance to live there. When the Nawab of Junagadh left for , it was this house that his begum wanted. We had to sell it at a nominal price.
We lost our home, our base. Our family was uprooted from where we had been from 1921 onwards. Even though we did not have much family there, we had many friends. My father sold his other properties and factory to his Muslim friends.
We had very good Muslim friends in Karachi. About 10 years ago my brother, sister and I went back to Karachi and met our childhood friend. He came to the hotel to pick us up. After a few minutes of niceties we regressed to our childhood days. He then drove us to our old home. The house looked the same. The elderly lady there had come from Kanpur. She was nostalgic about it. And Asha and I were so excited about our old home.
People everywhere said that we are the same on both sides of the border. The politicians and media have divided us. Some got very emotional. One gentleman even said “Yeh dono ladkiyan mayake aain hain” (These girls are visiting their parental home)
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