My Mom, BiJi

Youngest of the six children, my Mom Savitri Devi was born in 1926, hence being the favorite of her Dad Lala Kanwar Bhan. She was in a way pampered too. She would drink a 'Soda Bottle' everyday a luxury in those days. There was no man made manufactured ice available commercially to cool the marble-necked-bottle filled with carbonated sweet drinks which were kept in cold water stored in a big jumbo size earthen pot. She was ever proud of the same and often told the delicious taste to her kids. 

She graduated from a middle school proudly and even knew many English words. Her dad was proud of this fact. Where as he complained that all his four son-in-laws had little knoweldge of English language and were educated not beyond 'TataPur', a railway station falling next to Multan Junction. Being fluent English speaking himself and having served with English officers of the British Indian Army, he was all too dominating. On important occassions, he will dress himself up in full Army uniform with all his accredited medals properly decorated on his front pocket. 

He married off his daughters to the families whose social status was lower than that of his own, so that he could keep all his son-in-laws under his thumb. That's the way it was, as there were more boys than the girls in the close knit family and he did it well to pick the grooms of his liking, as the weddings will be arranged among the family only. bThe women in his house had a big say and it was well known to the entire neighborhood of family.

Lala Kanwar Bhan brought a German built Harmonium (Petti) on his return from the World War. He taught  her youngest daughter how to play the same by pumping it with feet while simultaneously playing with both hands. She learnt to play and sing at a very young age. My other uncle, much older to my  mom,  Sunder Lal Kapoor often used to say that Savitri was his teacher who taught him how to play Harmonium. But I oftenly saw uncle Sunder Lal Kapoor who was much adept in playing his hand driven Harmonium while his own kids and other family kids singing to his tunes. But Savitri Devi was  fluent and played the harmonium incredibly. Appropriately, she was gifted the Harmonium in her  wedding dawry.

Her dad also got her a baby deer which she often rememberd and told the kids how cute, cuddling and playful the little animal was. She had a gala fun time in her parents house. 

Finally after the long court battle for a couple of decades between his uncle and cousins, the verdict of case my was announced in favor of my father family. Lala kanwar Bhan went to My grandma Karam Devi to offer the hand of my Mom for her older son Vasdev Singh, my Dad. Grandma jumped upon the idea and the  wedding  took place in 1941 when Mom was 15 years of age and Dad was 22.

The things did not go smoothly for a long time. Savitri Devi was the youngest and pampered child, while my grand mother was a boasting mother supported by two young sons. In mean time Lala Kanwar Bhan's health was detoriating and had worsened his eye sight due to Cataract. He felt alone and would request my grandma to send Savitri Devi for a visit to her parents. To which Grandma invariably refused. I am told Atam Narayan Singh who was of my mom's age and a nephew to her would be sent to bring her to her parents house. This often led to triffles. Grandma will call  Atam Narayan Singh a 'Kaashid' who was to help her walk to her parents. 

The marriage was in such a sad state of affairs. In a fit of rage, my Mom came back to stay with her parents for about two years. After many swerely faught trifles between the two families, she finally settled down to stay with her in laws. It looks she was a like a goat who would be tied to a peg, the place of which was decided by the owner. Unfortunately at the times she had no say of her won. She would often accuse my Dad for all the irrational  decisions he took to side with his mother. This factor had always troubled my Mom who will never forgive my Dad for the mental torture he had conflicted on her in her early wedding days

Lala Kanwar Bhan will daily go to Gurdwara and sing "Asa Ki War' in the morning. After the 'Ardaas', on the way he shall always pass through Savitri Devi's In law's house and enquire about her welfare. One Saturday morning on 29th July 1944, as he was on his way to his home, he saw some hectic activities in Savitri devi's inlaws house. He was informed that a boy has been blessed to Savitri Devi at around 7.00 AM. He also informed that both the son and his mother Savitri Devi was perfectly normal and healthy. This is how I came into this world.

Lala Kanwar Bhan went back to Gurdwara instead and and did his thanksgiving 'Ardaas' for this greatest gift the God had bestowed on him. My mom told me later that Lala lKanwar Bhan was very happy as the God gave him the news of the birth of a son suddenly, he did not have to listen the pains(labor) of his little daughter when he was busy praying for her welfare while singing "Asa-Ki-War'. And at the same time, he was not himself as active and healthy to be of any help at this stage of his life. Never in his life he had felt so week. He was extremely happy now, the God had filled his lap with enormous wealth of jewels with utmost ease.

There was happy time all arround. My dad was happy, so was my grandmothers on bothside. My uncle Sh Inder Jit Singh's joy was overwhelmingly errupting. The sweets were distributed among the near and dear. A date was fixed with the consent of all to do "akhand path' and announce an appropriate name to the newly, born child. My uncle Jai Singh's  brother-in-law was visiting Multan from London.  A first word of the 'Guru's Order was picked up to guide the name as per Sikh rites. Our Aunty's (Jaswant Kaur) brother suggested to my father the name of the newely born Child as 'Preet Mohan Singh' . The suggstion was accepted by all and an annoucement with a loud 'Jaikara' was given, the little infant from now onwards would be known as Preet Mohan Singh. The family affectionately called him 'Preetu'.  

After the partition, my Dad got a Rationing Inspector Job and settled down in Panipat. After initial tough living, soon the comfort zone arrived we had grown up to a big family with five kids of different ages. On one occasion when we had a good crops income from our lands, my Dad presented a Harmonium costing Rs 100.00. 

My mom was an excellent singer herself and also could play Harmonium with both hands. I shall repeatedly pump the harmonium and she will play and sing mostly the songs of KL Sehgal, Srriya and Lata Mangeshkar. She was a leading lady in the ladies sangeet in the Gurdwara at Khail Bazar Panipat every Thursday. She was also adept on 'Dholak'. Without her the weekly program will not be successful. Thus she made lots of friends in the community and was always known hilarious among her friends. 

Oh yes, she was very fond of Movies. On every Tuesday, a special show for ladies will be played and she participated it whole heatedly. It cost only 25 paisa (four Aanaas) each show at the only Movie theater called 'Naval Talkies' in the city of Panipat. Many time she will take my sisters also. Her friends will tease her often that the film show could not run without her participating. She was such a regular. She enjoyed the cinema even in Multan. She told me many times the evolution of cinema and how the Talkies came into existence. Prior to the Talkies, only the moving pictures were shown. She had the privilege of witnessing the first Talkie 'Alam Ara' in Multan. The earlier theaters, therefore, were known as talkies.

We, the kids in early years, were allowed to see one movie each year, that being the award for getting through the final exams. My dad some times will take us to the Theater and after showing the bill boards etc and bring us back. He will, however, get a wrath of my Mom for not showing the movie to the kids and will often complain to her sisters in her next trip to Delhi. Occassionally my Dad had the privilege of free Passes for the movies, at that juncture full family will go and enjoy the movie. I remember to have seen 'Jhansi Ki Raani' on my first such occasion.