Harbans Kaur 1900-1967
Our Dad had two older step sisters ... Kaur and Harbans Kaur. Our revered Harbans Kaur Bhua Ji was supposed to have born around 1900. Being born into a rich family was married away in prominent family to Chief Engineer S. Chattar Singh working in an industry owned by Pannu family.
Her elder sister, was married to SDO S. Ram Singh the elder brother of S. Chattar Singh, had two sons named S Amir Singh and Avtar Singh. While S. Avtar Singh died in an accident, Amir Singh was charged for embezzlement of Government funds declared fugitive who had joined Indian Army as a col on fraud documents. And one fine day eloped along with his family and kids to some where. I remember when even the police came to ask about him from Dad as being his close relative. Later some body told us that he had fled to Assam along with his family . There is no where about of Amir Singh or his family.
S Chattar Singh died before the partition leaving his estate and lots of wealth in cash to Harbans Kaur Bhua Ji. I remember She had the possession of a branded German Radio even after partition. Once She visited us for a few days and even brought her Radio along with her other luggage.
She preferred to stay single in Gurdaspur. She often visited Pannu Family in Chandigarh and Sujan Singh Park New Delhi and boasted of her links to rich Industrial families. I heard from her that S Chattar Singh was a highly capable Industrial Engineer and very much sought after. Unfortunately he died at an early age. My Dad remembered to have been treated royally whenever he and his brother Inderjit Singh visited them.
After a few years when her finances crippled, my Dad and Uncle used to send her monthly money which was barely to survive. It was then decided to keep her for six months in Chandigarh and six months with us in Panipat. It did not work well with Chachi ji who refused to accomodate her in Chandigarh. So it was finally decided to move her with us in Panipat along with her left over jewelry and other belongings.
So in early 1960s, she became a part of our extended family in our household at number 391/12 ward, Kalandar Chowk, Panipat. After a few days, a separate kitchenette was arranged and a small room allotted to her. My dad with his influence and help of Dr Bahadur Chand a local city counselor got her awarded an old age pension of Rs 25/ month. That was a big help and her left over was invested to get a monthly income of another 50/ month. So that was reversion to Princy times.
On the day of Pension day, she would celebrate with cooking sweats in her kitchenette. She loved my Dad and Uncle both with respect although she was of my Dad’s mother age. She will cook her vegetarian Dish quiet early in the morning by 7.30 am so that she could hurry the same for my father who used to leave for catching train for his job in District and Session courts Karnal. She would curse the day when she could not feed him the fresh Dish. Her swiftness and focus to cook in time and feed was amazing though she was physically a little old age lame. She would keep shouting to my mom to hold him so that her Dish was cooked properly. She will wait for his comments till he tasted her freshly cooked food. There was a great sigh of relief and pleasure on her face having seen his step brother eating and enjoying her dish. Being her sons age, she will always address my Dad as ‘Bhara ji’.
When our revered Bhua Ji passed away on Dec 21, 1967. All near and dear in the family were informed and most of her side of relations attended the 'Uthala' ceremony. After the Uthala, when the relatives started leaving our house, My dad gave every one of them Rs 15 -20 each to most of near relatives from the left over money. One of the relative was adamant not to have that gift of money. At that time I saw my Dad to get emotional and even tears started flowing from his ears, the relative finally agreed and bade farewell after touching my Dad's feet. It all happened in the middle of Bazar where me and dad had gone to see him off.
That was the teary farewell to the departed soul who left us for good!
Guluband
Kanthi
After her death, my Dad went to the Jeweler (Diwan's Dad) and her antique gold jewelry was got evaluated. My Dad then asked his brother and gave a first priority if he wanted to buy that jewelry. My Uncle S Inderjit Singh showed no interest at all and told my Dad to dispose off the way he might like. After discussing with my Mom, he bought both pieces of Jewelry Kanthi and a Guluband @ Rs 102.50 for about Rs 1000 or so. My Dad made a trip to Amritsar and donated this money along with left over of personal money totaling to about Rs 2500.to Pingalwara. The above jewelry is more than 100 years old and under my possession
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