MEMORIES OF CALCUTTA & CALCUTTA MEDICAL COLLEGE
BY
DR MAURICE GUBBAY
THE DR KAMAL PANJA MEMORIAL LECTURE
DELIVERED AT THE 28th ANNUAL REUNION OF
THE CALCUTTA MEDICAL COLLEGE EX-STUDENTS ASSOCIATION
ON 23rd JULY 2005
IN THE HOLIDAY INN, RUNCORN
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MEMORIES OF CALCUTTA & CALCUTTA MEDICAL COLLEGE
THE ABILITY TO RECALL THE DISTANT PAST IN MINUTE DETAIL IS A WONDERFUL ATTRIBUTE OF THE MIND. THIS CAN OFTEN BE A SOURCE OF MUCH COMFORT IN TIMES OF TRIBULATION. REMINISCING ABOUT CALCUTTA HAS BEEN ONE OF MY FAVOURITE PASTIMES, I WAS THEREFORE DELIGHTED TO BE ASKED TO TALK ABOUT THIS SUBJECT.
AS IT WOULD NOT BE POSSIBLE FOR ME TO SEPARATE MY MEMORIES FROM THE LIFE OF THE JEWISH COMMUNITY OF CALCUTTA TO WHICH I BELONGED, I WILL SAY A FEW WORDS ABOUT THIS SMALL GROUP OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE LIVED IN CALCUTTA FOR THE PAST TWO HUNDRED YEARS, AND WHO HAVE BEEN AND WILL ALWAYS BE ETERNALLY GRATEFUL TO THE GOVERNMENT AND PEOPLE OF CALCUTTA FOR ALLOWING US TO LIVE IN TOTAL RELIGIOUS AND SOCIAL FREEDOM. THIS WAS NOT AVAILABLE IN ANY OTHER COUNTRY IN THE WORLD.
THE MAIN INFLUX OF JEWISH IMMIGRANTS TO CALCUTTA CAME FROM BAGHDAD BETWEEN THE YEARS 1790 AND 1934. BAGHDAD WAS UNDER CONTROL OF THE OTTOMAN TURKS AND THERE WAS ECONOMIC HARDSHIP THERE.THE BRITISH CONQUERED THIS TERRITORY FROM TURKEY DURING WORLD WAR ONE AND CREATED IRAQ AND KUWAIT.
UNTIL 1911 CALCUTTA WAS THE CAPITAL OF INDIA AND THE STAR CITY OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE. THE IMMIGRANTS, WORKED HARD AND DEVELOPED LARGE BUSINESSES IN JUTE, BONEMEAL AND TOBACCO. ONE FAMILY, THE EZRAS, WENT INTO PROPERTY AND OWNED, AMONG OTHERS, ESPLANADE MANSIONS, A MOST BEAUTIFUL BUILDING OPPOSITE GOVERNMENT HOUSE, AND CHOWRINGHEE MANSIONS, AT THE HEAD OF PARK STREET.
MOST OF THE SECOND GENERATION, INCLUDING MYSELF, WAS BORN IN THE EDEN HOSPITAL AND, IN FACT, CALCUTTA MEDICAL COLLEGE WAS THE LOCAL HOSPITAL FOR THE COMMUNITY. ONLY A FEW WEALTHY PEOPLE COULD AFFORD PRIVATE DOCTORS AND NURSING HOMES.
IN 1886, FOR THE PURPOSE OF PROVIDING KOSHER FOOD, PRIVATE NURSING AND FACILITIES FOR THE RELIGIOUS RITUALS FOR THE DEAD, THE EZRA FAMILY BUILT THE EZRA HOSPITAL IN THE COMPOUND OF THE MEDICAL COLLEGE.THEY RAN IT THEMSELVES UNTIL 1926 AND THEN HANDED IT OVER TO THE GOVERNMENT. HOWEVER, IT WAS NOT FULLY USED AND, IN SPITE OF THE LARGE TRUST FUNDS, WAS ALLOWED TO GRADUALLY DETERIORATE. IT IS NOW USED AS A STORAGE FACILITY.
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RABINDRA NATH TAGORE WAS A GOOD FRIEND OF OUR COMMUNITY, A STAUNCH SUPPORTER OF ZIONISM. HE TRAVELLED TO JERUSALEM IN 1924 AND DELIVERED A LECTURE AT THE INAUGURATION OF THE HEBREW UNIVERSITY. A STREET IN TEL AVIV IS NAMED AFTER HIM.
THE AUTHORITIES GRANTED US SOME SPECIAL PRIVILEGES, WAIVING THE NEED FOR POST MORTEMS, EVEN IN CASES OF SUICIDE AND MURDER AND CHANGING THE MEATLESS DAY SO THAT WE COULD HAVE MEAT ON THE SABBATH.
FROM A MAXIMUM, OF FIVE THOUSAND IN 1944, ONLY 30 PEOPLE REMAIN IN CALCUTTA. WE HAVE NOT BEEN FORGOTTEN. A FEW YEARS AGO, MR JYOTI BASU VISITED ISRAEL AND EXPRESSED A DESIRE TO MEET THE JEWS FROM CALCUTTA NOW LIVING THERE. THE INDIAN AMBASSADOR ARRANGED A RECEPTION AT HIS RESIDENCE, TO WHICH WE WERE ALL INVITED. MR BASU WAS SOMEWHAT FRAIL AND REMAINED SEATED ON A COUCH.WE TOOK TURNS TO SIT NEXT TO HIM AND INTRODUCE OURSELVES. I INFORMED HIM THAT I HAD TRAINED AT CALCUTTA MEDICAL COLLEGE AND HE RESPONDED BY INVITING ME TO CONTACT HIM WHEN I VISITED CALCUTTA.UNFORTUNATELY HE SUFFERED A HEART ATTACK ON HIS RETURN AND RETIRED AS CHIEF MINISTER.
WE WILL LEAVE BEHIND IN CALCUTTA TWO OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL SYNAGOGUES IN THE WORLD: THE MAGHEN DAVID IN CANNING STREET AND THE BETHEL IN POLLOCK STREET. TWO FLOURISHING SCHOOLS, THE TALMUD TORAH SCHOOL FOR BOYS IN BOWBAZAR STREET AND THE JEWISH GIRLS’ SCHOOL IN PARK STREET. A CEMETERY IN NARKELDANGA. THE EZRA HOSPITAL, AND THE MONKEY HOUSE IN ALIPORE ZOO WHICH BEARS MY FAMILY NAME.
OUR MOST FAMOUS LIVING MEMBER IS GENERAL JACOB. HE COMMANDED THE VICTORIOUS INDIAN ARMY IN THE WAR WITH PAKISTAN THAT LED TO THE CREATION OF BANGLADESH. HE SUBSEQUENTLY BECAME GOVERNOR OF GOA.
SEVERAL BOOKS HAVE BEEN WRITTEN ABOUT US, MOST RECENTLY BY DR DALIA RAY, THE DAUGHTER OF THE LATE JUSTICE BANKIM CHANDRA RAY.THIS WAS PUBLISHED IN CALCUTTA IN 1991 AND REPRINTED THIS YEAR.
THE CALCUTTA THAT I REMEMBER WAS A CLEAN AND QUIET CITY. ONLY THE ULTRA RICH HAD CARS. TRAMS, HORSE-CARRIAGES AND RICKSHAWS DID NOT PRODUCE POLLUTION. THE BUSES DID BELLOW OUT BLACK SMOKE BUT THERE WERE NOT MANY OF THEM. THE TAXIS WERE LARGE AMERICAN CARS, WELL MAINTAINED AND DRIVEN BY SIKHS.
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IN THOSE DAYS OUR LIVES WERE SIMPLE AND THE PACE WAS SLOW.
WITH A BUDGET OF 300 RUPPEES A MONTH WE RENTED AN APARTMENT WITH 2 BEDROOMS EACH WITH AN ENSUITE BATHROOM, A DINING ROOM, A SITTING ROOM AND A TERRACE WITH POTTED PLANTS. WE HAD A COOK CUM BEARER, A SWEEPER WHO CAME TWICE A DAY TO CLEAN THE FLOORS AND THE BATHROOMS, AS WELL AS A GARDENER WHO CAME DAILY TO TEND TO THE PLANTS ON THE TERRACE.
THERE WERE NO LUXURIES. NO RADIO OR TELEPHONE AND AN ICE BOX SUBSTITUTING FOR A REFRIGERATOR.
OUR MEALS WERE DELICIOUS AND NUTRITIOUS. INDIAN SPICES WERE ADDED TO THE BLAND MIDDLE EASTERN FOOD CREATING A NEW EXCLUSIVE CUISINE. RICE LENTILS AND ALL THE AVAILABLE VEGETABLES WERE USED. HILSA FISH AT LEAST TWICE A WEEK AND CHICKEN ON FRIDAYS AND SATURDAYS IN HONOUR OF THE SABBATH.THERE WAS A HUGE VARIETY OF FRUIT NOT TO BE FOUND ANYWHERE ELSE IN THE WORLD, ESPECIALLY IN THE SUMMER MONTHS. APART FROM THE WELL-KNOWN MANGO, PAPAYA, LYCHEE, MELON,WATERMELON AND CUSTARD APPLE WHICH ARE NOW AVAILABLE EVERYWHERE, THERE WAS SAFEDA, SAFEDJAM, KALAJAM, TARSA, NARCOOLIBEL, CATTAL, COOL AND THE BEHL FRUIT FROM WHOSE PULP WE USED TO MAKE THE MOST DELICIOUS THIRST QUENCHING SHARBAT. THE CHICKENS HAD TO BE SLAUGHTERED IN A SPECIAL WAY BY A TRAINED PERSON CALLED A SHOHETH. HE HAD A STALL IN THE POULTRY SECTION OF THE NEW MARKET. HE WAS ALSO THE MOHEL WHO PERFORMED RITUAL CIRCUMCISION ON EVERY EIGHT-DAY OLD MALE INFANT IN OUR COMMUNITY. I HASTEN TO SAY THAT HE USED A DIFFERENT RAZOR.
THERE WERE MANY BEAUTIFUL RECREATIONAL AREAS ALL FREE OF CHARGE. CURZON PARK OPPOSITE GOVERNMENT HOUSE, WITH ITS PRISTINE FLOWER BEDS, AND LAWNS, OF COURSE BEFORE IT WAS SPOILT BY THE TRAM LINES RUNNING THROUGH IT. THE EDEN GARDENS, WITH ITS PAGODA, BAND STAND, AND LAKE ON WHICH WE USED TO ROW BOATS. THE STRAND ALONG THE RIVER, WHERE HORSE CARRIAGE RIDES WERE POPULAR.
DALHOUSIE SQUARE WITH ITS BEAUTIFUL LAKE WITH THE REFLECTION OF THE SILVER DOME OF THE MAIN POST OFFICE SHIMMERING IN THE WATER. BEAUTIFUL COLOURED FISH USED TO SWIM RIGHT ONTO THE LOWER STEPS LEADING TO THE LAKE MAKING A LOVELY SIGHT. OF COURSE, ALL THIS WAS BEFORE THE TRAM LINES, THE UNDERGROUND STATION AND THE TELEPHONE EXCHANGE RUINED IT.
THE AUTHORITIES GRANTED US SOME SPECIAL PRIVILEGES, WAIVING THE NEED FOR POST MORTEMS, EVEN IN CASES OF SUICIDE AND MURDER AND CHANGING THE MEATLESS DAY SO THAT WE COULD HAVE MEAT ON THE SABBATH.
FROM A MAXIMUM, OF FIVE THOUSAND IN 1944, ONLY 30 PEOPLE REMAIN IN CALCUTTA. WE HAVE NOT BEEN FORGOTTEN. A FEW YEARS AGO, MR JYOTI BASU VISITED ISRAEL AND EXPRESSED A DESIRE TO MEET THE JEWS FROM CALCUTTA NOW LIVING THERE. THE INDIAN AMBASSADOR ARRANGED A RECEPTION AT HIS RESIDENCE, TO WHICH WE WERE ALL INVITED. MR BASU WAS SOMEWHAT FRAIL AND REMAINED SEATED ON A COUCH.WE TOOK TURNS TO SIT NEXT TO HIM AND INTRODUCE OURSELVES. I INFORMED HIM THAT I HAD TRAINED AT CALCUTTA MEDICAL COLLEGE AND HE RESPONDED BY INVITING ME TO CONTACT HIM WHEN I VISITED CALCUTTA.UNFORTUNATELY HE SUFFERED A HEART ATTACK ON HIS RETURN AND RETIRED AS CHIEF MINISTER.
WE WILL LEAVE BEHIND IN CALCUTTA TWO OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL SYNAGOGUES IN THE WORLD: THE MAGHEN DAVID IN CANNING STREET AND THE BETHEL IN POLLOCK STREET. TWO FLOURISHING SCHOOLS, THE TALMUD TORAH SCHOOL FOR BOYS IN BOWBAZAR STREET AND THE JEWISH GIRLS’ SCHOOL IN PARK STREET. A CEMETERY IN NARKELDANGA. THE EZRA HOSPITAL, AND THE MONKEY HOUSE IN ALIPORE ZOO WHICH BEARS MY FAMILY NAME.
OUR MOST FAMOUS LIVING MEMBER IS GENERAL JACOB. HE COMMANDED THE VICTORIOUS INDIAN ARMY IN THE WAR WITH PAKISTAN THAT LED TO THE CREATION OF BANGLADESH. HE SUBSEQUENTLY BECAME GOVERNOR OF GOA.
SEVERAL BOOKS HAVE BEEN WRITTEN ABOUT US, MOST RECENTLY BY DR DALIA RAY, THE DAUGHTER OF THE LATE JUSTICE BANKIM CHANDRA RAY.THIS WAS PUBLISHED IN CALCUTTA IN 1991 AND REPRINTED THIS YEAR.
THE CALCUTTA THAT I REMEMBER WAS A CLEAN AND QUIET CITY. ONLY THE ULTRA RICH HAD CARS. TRAMS, HORSE-CARRIAGES AND RICKSHAWS DID NOT PRODUCE POLLUTION. THE BUSES DID BELLOW OUT BLACK SMOKE BUT THERE WERE NOT MANY OF THEM. THE TAXIS WERE LARGE AMERICAN CARS, WELL MAINTAINED AND DRIVEN BY SIKHS.
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A FAVOURITE VENUE FOR PICNICS WAS THE BOTANICAL GARDENS WITH ITS FAMOUS BANYAN TREE. WE EITHER WENT THERE BY BOAT FROM OUTRAM GHATS OR BY BUS FROM HOWRAH.
THE VICTORIA MEMORIAL WITH ITS HUGE GROUNDS AND BEAUTIFUL PAINTINGS AND SCULPTURES INSIDE. OPPOSITE WAS THE MAIDAN. HERE WE ENJOYED EATING PUTCHKAS, THAT LIGHT CRISPY SHELL ALSO KNOWN AS PANIPURI OR GOLGUPPA FILLED WITH SPICY BOILED POTATO AND CHICK PEAS AND IMMERSED IN A FIERY SOLUTION OF TAMARIND WATER AND RED CHILLY POWDER.THIS NEVER TASTED AS GOOD WHEN EATEN IN AN ELEGANT RESTAURANT.
FOOTBALL WAS A POPULAR SPORT. AN AMAZING SIGHT AROUND THE GROUNDS OF THE CALCUTTA FOOTBALL CLUB WAS THE LARGE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WATCHING THE GAME FROM OUTSIDE WITH HOMEMADE PERISCOPES. EVEN IN THOSE DAYS THERE WAS SOME HOOLIGANISM, IN THE FORM OF STONE THROWING BY THE FANS OF THE LOSING SIDE.
THE RACECOURSE OPERATED MAINLY ON SATURDAYS AND THEREFORE ONLY A FEW MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY COULD ATTEND. BUT IT WAS A FAVOURITE PASTIME FOR THOUSANDS, PARTICULARLY THE GAMBLING FRATERNITY.
CRICKET WAS ANOTHER IMPORTANT SPORT AND IN THE WINTER MONTHS FOREIGN TEAMS CAME ON A REGULAR BASIS.
KITE FLYING WAS ALSO A FAVOURITE PASTIME. I USED TO MAKE MY OWN MANJA WITH POWDERED GLASS AND FLOUR, AND WAS QUITE A CHAMPION IN CUTTING AND RETRIEVING (THE CORRECT WORD IS LUBJOUING) OTHER KITES.
THE CINEMA WAS A MAJOR SOURCE OF ENTERTAINMENT. THERE WERE SIX SHOWING WESTERN FILMS, METRO, LIGHTHOUSE, NEW EMPIRE, GLOBE, ELITE TIGER AND REGAL, AND MANY MORE SHOWING INDIAN FILMS. IT WAS ALMOST A RITUAL TO GO ONCE A WEEK. SOME WENT TO ENJOY THE LUXURIOUS AIR CONDITIONING.
CALCUTTA ALSO MAINTAINED A HIGH STANDARD IN WESTERN CLASSICAL MUSIC. DURING THE WINTER MONTHS THE CALCUTTA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA PERFORMED REGULARLY IN THE NEW EMPIRE THEATRE. SOME FAMOUS SOLOISTS VISITED CALCUTTA. YEHUDI MENUHIN PERFORMED ON TWO OCCASIONS. HIS FAMOUS STRADIVARIAS VIOLIN OPENED UP DUE TO THE HUMIDITY, A VIOLIN MAKER IN CHITPORE ROAD WAS ABLE TO REPAIR IT IN TIME FOR THE CONCERT. HE REQUESTED AND OBTAINED FROM MENUHIN A CERTIFICATE OF COMMENDATION WHICH WAS HUNG IN HIS SHOP.
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THE VIOLINIST ISAAC STERN ALSO PERFORMED IN CALCUTTA. THERE WAS CONSIDERABLE LOCAL TALENT AND ARTISTS WOULD COME FROM BOMBAY, THE MOST FAMOUS BEING THE VIOLINIST MEHLI MEHTA THE FATHER OF THE CONDUCTOR ZUBIN MEHTA. IN THE SUMMER THE CALCUTTA SCHOOL OF MUSIC ORGANISED CHAMBER MUSIC CONCERTS AT LORETO CONVENT IN MIDDLETON ROW. DURING THE PUJAS THE CITY BECAME REALLY CROWDED AND VERY NOISY. EVERYONE CELEBRATED DIVALI AND DURING HOLI WE MADE EVERY EFFORT NOT TO GET SPRAYED.
CHRISTMAS WAS ALSO CELEBRATED BY EVERYONE. NEW YEARS EVE WAS ALSO A TIME FOR FESTIVITES. AT MIDNIGHT ALL THE SHIPS IN THE DOCKS LET OFF THEIR SIRENS, HOTELS AND CLUBS HAD MIDNIGHT PARTIES. OUR JEWISH FESTVALS MAINLY TOOK PLACE IN A 4-WEEK PERIOD IN SEPTEMBER AND OCTOBER.THE PASSOVER FESTIVAL COINCIDING WITH EASTER TOOK PLACE IN MARCH OR APRIL.
WORLD WAR TWO DESCENDED ON US. INITIALLY THERE WAS NOT TOO MUCH OF AN EFFECT BECAUSE OF THE DISTANCE OF THE HOSTILITES. THE POLICE IN THEIR BLACK MARIAS WITH SIRENS SCREAMING RACED AROUND THE CITY ARRESTING ALL THE GERMAN CITIZENS.THEY WERE TAKEN TO INTERNMENT CAMPS FOR THE DURATION OF THE WAR.
WHEN JAPAN JOINED THE WAR AND MOVED RAPIDLY THROUGH THE FAR EAST, THE SITUATION BECOME SERIOUS. AIR RAID PRECAUTIONS HAD TO BE PUT INTO OPERATION. WE HAD TO COVER THE GLASS IN OUR WINDOWS WITH STICKY PAPER, BLACKOUTS WERE IN FORCE, AND SOON THERE WAS RATIONING OF ESSENTIAL ITEMS INCLUDING FOOD ITEMS LIKE BREAD AND RICE. I REMEMBER STANDING FOR SEVERAL HOURS IN A QUEUE TO BUY TWO LOAVES OF BREAD FROM EITHER FIRPOS OR THE GREAT EASTERN HOTEL. GOOD QUALITY RICE WENT INTO THE BLACK MARKET AND WAS ONLY AVAILABLE TO THE RICH.WHEN BURMA WAS OVERUN MANY JEWISH REFUGEES CAME TO CALCUTTA BY BOAT; WE WENT TO OUTRAM GHATS TO WELCOME THEM.
THE DAY AKYAB SURRENDERED TO THE JAPANESE, WE WERE WARNED THAT AN AIR RAID WAS IMMINENT.WE WERE ADVISED TO SLEEP IN THE STAIR WELL OF THE BUILDING AS THIS AREA WAS THOUGHT TO CAPABLE OF SURVIVING A BLAST. THAT NIGHT THERE WAS A RAID. THE TARGETS WERE HOWRAH BRIDGE AND GOVERNMENT HOUSE. THE RAF CHASED OFF THE ENEMY. TO LIGHTEN THEIR LOAD, THE JAPANESE DROPPED THEIR BOMBS AT RANDOM. ONE FELL IN BENTINCK STREET NEAR MISSION ROW EXTENSION. SOME MEMBERS OF THE JEWISH COMMUNITY WERE INJURED.
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RED ROAD WAS USED AS A RUNWAY AND THE PLANES WERE KEPT IN CAMOUFLAGE UNDER THE TREES ON THE ADJOINING MAIDAN.
THE UNITED STATES ARMY HAD ITS HEADQUARTERS IN HINDUSTAN BUILDINGS ON CHITTARANJAN AVENUE WHICH WAS OPPOSITE TO WHERE I LIVED. IT WAS HEAVILY GUARDED. FORT WILLIAM WAS ALSO AN AREA OF HIGH SECURITY.
THE END OF THE WAR BROUGHT MUCH RELIEF TO ALL OF US. WE GRIEVED FOR OUR BRETHREN WHO HAD PERISHED IN EUROPE.
US ARMY SURPLUS GOODS SOON FLOODED THE MARKETS AND STREET HAWKERS BY THE HUNDREDS WERE SELLING LOTS OF GOODIES NEVER SEEN BEFORE IN CALCUTTA. PARACHUTES WERE BEING SOLD AND MADE EXCELLENT NYLON DRIP DRY SHIRTS.
THEN CAME A PROLONGED PERIOD OF UNREST, CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE, AND RIOTS IN THE FIGHT FOR INDEPENDENCE.
THE FIRST INDEPENDENCE DAY WAS A MAJOR EVENT. IN THE RUN UP TO IT WE WERE VERY BUSY LEARNING THE NATIONAL ANTHEM AND REHEARSING FOR THE PARADES. ON THE DAY ITSELF THE EXHILARATION WAS EVIDENT EVERYWHERE. IN THE EVENING THE ILLUMINATIONS AND GLORIOUS FIREWORKS MADE A MEMORABLE ENDING.
THE HINDU MUSLIM RIOTS BROUGHT MUCH SADNESS TO OUR CITY. THE DAILY SCENES OF PEOPLE BEING BEATEN AND KILLED.THE POLICE ACTION WITH TEAR GAS LATHI CHARGES AND SOME SHOOTING
WAS A HARROWING EXPERIENCE. I WELL REMEMBER SEEING BODIES ON THE ROAD WHEN WALKING TO SCHOOL AND THE CURFEWS IMPOSED DISRUPTED OUR LIVES. IT WAS A RELIEF WHEN PEACE EVENTUALLY OCCURRED.
WE HAD SOME ELEGANT DEPARTMENT STORES IN THOSE DAYS. WHITEAWAY LAIDLAW AND COMPANY ON CHOWRINGHEE NEXT TO THE METRO CINEMA WAS THE LARGEST AND MOST EXPENSIVE. THEIR CLIENTELE WAS MAINLY THE ENGLISH POPULATION OF CALCUTTA. THERE WAS ALSO HALL AND ANDERSON IN PARK STREET AND ARMY AND NAVY STORES FURTHER ON IN CHOWRINGHEE NEAR THEATRE ROAD. WE USED TO VISIT THESE STORES ONLY TO LOOK BUT COULD NOT AFFORD TO BUY ANYTHING.
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OUR MAIN VENUE FOR SHOPPING WAS THE SIR STUART HOGG NEW MARKET, THE LARGEST MARKET UNDER ONE ROOF IN ALL OF ASIA. A VISIT THERE WAS A WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE. EVERYTHING UNDER THE SUN COULD BE OBTAINED. THE ART OF BARGAINING COULD BE PRACTISED TO PERFECTION. I AM HAPPY TO SAY THAT IT REMAINS THE SAME EVEN NOW. AN EVEN CHEAPER MARKET WAS CHANDNI CHOWK. THERE WAS DHARAMTALLA WITH CHEAP JAPANESE GOODS. FOR FRUIT AND VEGETABLES WE SHOPPED AT TARATTA BAZAAR OFF CHITPORE ROAD, CLOSE TO LAL BAZAAR. FOR INDIAN SWEETMEATS THE TRUSTED VENDOR WAS K.C.DAS AND FOR OUR MIDDLE EASTERN JEWISH DELICACIES THE FAMOUS NAHOUM AND SONS SITUATED IN THE NEW MARKET. BENTINCK STREET WAS FULL OF CHINESE SHOE SHOPS.FOR 30 RUPPEES YOU COULD GET A PAIR OF CUSTOM MADE KID LEATHER SHOES.
THERE WAS AN EXCELLENT HEALTH SYSTEM. EVERY PHARMACY HAD A VISITING DOCTOR, WHO MADE NO CHARGE. ONE ONLY PAID FOR THE MEDICATION. FOR THOSE WHO COULD NOT AFFORD THIS, THERE WAS THE OUTPATIENTS AT MEDICAL COLLEGE WHERE I HAD OCCASION TO TAKE MY RELATIVES. A MAN SITTING IN A KIOSK LISTENED TO YOUR SYMPTOMS, GAVE YOU A NOTE DIRECTING YOU TO A SPECIFIC CLINIC.YOU SAT AND WAITED SOMETIMES MANY HOURS BUT YOU WERE ALWAYS SEEN BY A DOCTOR, A FACILITY NOT SO READILY AVAILABLE THESE DAYS IN THE ADVANCED WEST.
THERE WERE OF COURSE MANY INDIAN AND EUROPEAN SPECIALISTS IN PRIVATE PRACTICE FOR THOSE WHO COULD AFFORD THEM.
THEY CHARGED 32 RUPPEES FOR THE FIRST CONSULTATION, AND 16 SUBSEQUENTLY. A MAJOR OPERATION COST 1000 RUPPEES. A NUMBER OF WELL APPOINTED NURSING HOMES WERE OPENED,
SOME BEING OWNED BY DOCTORS.
ANOTHER FACILITY CHARGING REASONABLE FEES WAS THE PRESIDENCY GENERAL HOSPITAL SITUATED OPPOSITE THE REAR OF THE VICTORIA MEMORIAL. I WAS ADMITTED THERE TWICE WITH MALARIA.
CALCUTTA MEDICAL COLLEGE WAS THE MOST PRESTIGIOUS MEDICAL ESTABLISHMENT.ONE ONLY HAD TO SAY MEDICAL COLLEGE AND EVERYONE KNEW TO WHAT YOU WERE REFERRING, AS IF THE OTHER THREE COLLEGES DID NOT EXIST. TO THE COMMON MAN ON THE STREET IT WAS MATIA CALLIS. TO BE ACCEPTED FOR TRAINING THERE WAS A PRIVELEGE, AND WHEN YOU SAW YOUR NAME ON THE ACCEPTANCE LIST THE ELATION CANNOT BE DESCRIBED WITH SIMPLE WORDS.
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THE FIRST DAY WAS A MEMORABLE AND EXCITING ONE. WE WERE TOLD ABOUT THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF BEING MEDICAL STUDENTS AND NOTHING COULD BE TAKEN LIGHTLY. THE TUITION FEE WAS ONLY 16 RUPPEES A MONTH, PAYABLE EVERY TWO MONTHS, BUT THE TEXTBOOKS WERE ANOTHER MATTER. GRAY’S ANATOMY WAS 90 RUPPEES, A FORMIDABLE SUM IN THOSE DAYS. THERE WERE BOOKSELLERS WHO STOOD IN THE COVERED CORRIDORS NEAR THE CANTEEN. ONE OF THEM SAID TO ME, WHY DO YOU NEED THE LATEST EDITION? NOTHING CHANGES IN ANATOMY AND A SECONDHAND ONE WILL HAVE THE BENEFIT OF THE PREVIOUS OWNERS’ COMMENTS AND MARKINGS. I TOOK HIS ADVICE.
THERE WERE SOME OF US WHO WERE INFLUENCED BY THE SUPERSTITIONS AND TABOOS CONNECTED WITH THE DEAD. THIS MADE THE DISSECTION SESSIONS A FORMIDABLE PROBLEM. BUT WE MANAGED TO OVERCOME THESE AND SOON GOT INTO FULL SWING.
MANY BUDDING SURGEONS EXCELLED THEMSELVES. JEWS ARE FORBIDDEN TO HAVE ANY DEAD HUMAN REMAINS IN THE HOUSE. I HAD TO TELL MY PARENTS THAT THE SET OF BONES I HAD BROUGHT HOME WERE ARTIFICIAL. FORTUNATELY THEY BELIEVED ME. SOME OF MY CLASSMATES WERE AWARE OF THIS, AND ONE DAY WHILE BENDING OVER THE PART I WAS DISSECTING, ONE OF THEM PUSHED A LARGE PIECE OF FLESH DOWN THE BACK OF MY SHIRT. I WAS IN A TERRIBLE STATE AND RUSHED HOME TO TAKE A SHOWER AND GET RID OF THE CLOTHES. SUBSEQUENTLY I WAS ABLE TO LAUGH ABOUT THE INCIDENT.
THERE WAS WONDERFUL COMRADESHIP AMONG THE STUDENTS. WHEN THE EXAMS DREW NEAR THOSE LIVING IN HOSTELS IN OR NEAR THE COLLEGE ALLOWED THOSE WHO WERE FAR AWAY TO STAY IN THEIR ROOMS TO STUDY IN ORDER TO SAVE THE TRAVELLING TIME FOR LATE EVENING LECTURES.
THERE WAS A TRADITION ON THE EVENING BEFORE THE ANATOMY AND PATHOLOGY ORAL EXAMS TO VISIT THE HOSPITALS WHERE THEY WERE GOING TO BE HELD AND LOOK TO SEE WHAT SPECIMENS WERE NOT IN THEIR ALLOTED PLACES. THESE WERE THE ONES SELECTED FOR THE EXAMINATION. WE THEN WENT HOME AND MADE AN EXTRA STUDY OF THOSE SUBJECTS.
THE FIRST MBBS EXAMINATIONS WERE NOW OVER AND WE MOVED TO THE CLINICAL PERIOD WITH IMMENSE EXCITEMENT. AT LONG LAST WE WERE GOING TO GET CLOSE TO PATIENTS. WE LOST NO TIME BUYING A STETHOSCOPE, TORCH AND HAMMER. IT BECAME COMMON PRACTICE TO MAKE SURE THAT THE EARPIECE WOULD ALWAYS STICK OUT OF OUR POCKETS.THIS GAVE US A SENSE OF PRIDE AND IMPORTANCE BUT, NEVER OF ARROGANCE.
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A SPECIAL CONCERT WAS HELD THAT YEAR IN A MARQUEE IN FRONT OF THE ADMIN BUILDING. A CHINESE STUDENT AND I, WHO HAPPENED TO HAVE THE SAME VIOLIN TEACHER, VOLUNTEERED TO PLAY A VIOLIN DUET. OUR CHOICE OF MUSIC WAS A DISASTER. BACH’S DOUBLE VIOLIN CONCERTO DID NOT GO WELL WITH OUR AUDIENCE. NO ONE PAID ATTENTION, SO WE RACED THROUGH THE WORK AND RAN OFF THE PLATFORM.WE KEPT OUT OF SIGHT FOR A FEW DAYS.
THE DIRECTOR OF MEDICINE AT THAT TIME WAS A DR GANGULY. HE WAS A FASCINATING MAN.HE WAS ABLE TO MAKE AN ACCURATE DIAGNOSIS FROM THE HISTORY ALONE AND DIRECTED OTHERS TO MAKE SPECIFIC EXAMINATION OF THE PATIENT TO CONFIRM THIS.
HE HAD A FLOURISHING PRIVATE PRACTICE AND WAS IN GREAT DEMAND. ANOTHER FASCINATING CHARACTER WAS AN HONORARY VISITING PHYSICIAN DR DHAR. HE WAS THE YOUNGEST MRCP OF HIS TIME AND WOULD HAVE HELD HIGH OFFICE BUT FOR HIS INVOLVEMENT IN THE PAKUR MURDER CASE. A PRINCELY FAMILY WAS INVOLVED IN AN INHERITANCE DISPUTE. ONE BROTHER HIRED AN ASSASIN TO INJECT HIS ELDER BROTHER WITH PLAGUE BACILLUS AS HE STEPPED OFF A TRAIN IN HOWRAH STATION. HE DEVELOPED THE DISEASE AND DIED AND, AS THERE WAS AN EPIDEMIC AT THE TIME, THE MATTER WOULD HAVE ENDED THERE. AN ASTUTE FORENSIC PATHOLOGIST LOOKING AT THE SLIDES REALISED THAT THE STRAIN HE WAS SEEING WAS UNUSUAL AND FURTHER INVESTIGATON REVEALED IT TO BE AN EXPERIMENTAL STRAIN ONLY TO BE FOUND IN THE TROPICAL HOSPITAL.
OUR DR DHAR WAS WORKING IN THAT LAB AT THE TIME AND SUSPICION FELL ON HIM. NO CASE COULD BE PROVEN BUT HIS REPUTATION WAS DESTROYED AND ALL CHANCES OF A POSITION IN THE COLLEGE WERE LOST. HOWEVER, BECAUSE OF HIS BRILLIANCE AND INFLUENCE HE WAS APPOINTED AS AN HONORARY PHYSICIAN. HE WROTE SOME POPULAR MEDICAL TEXTBOOKS, WHICH HE USED TO PLUG DURING HIS WARD ROUNDS. HE COULD ANSWER ANY QUESTION PUT TO HIM WITHOUT HESITATION, CRACKED JOKES FREQUENTLY AND WE WERE ALL VERY FOND OF HIM. AFTER THE FINAL EXAMS I CAME TO KNOW THAT HE WOULD TELL YOU THE RESULTS WELL IN ADVANCE OF THE OFFICIAL DATE IF YOU PRESENTED HIM WITH ONE OF HIS FAVOURITE DISHES. I ASKED HIS REGISTRAR WHO SAID HIS FAVOURITE WAS ALOO MAKALA, A MOST DELICIOUS FORM OF ROAST POTATO, EXCLUSIVE TO THE CALCUTTA JEWISH COMMUNITY. MY MOTHER PREPARED A LARGE POT WHICH I TOOK TO HIS HOUSE. HE RECEIVED ME WITH A SMILING FACE SO I KNEW THAT I HAD PASSED.
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IT WAS NOT UNCOMMON FOR YOUNG MEN EITHER DUE TO FAILURE IN EXAMS OR UNREQUITED LOVE TO COMMIT SUICIDE BY DRINKING ACID (IN THOSE DAYS EVERY HOUSEHOLD HAD A BOTTLE OF ACID WHICH WAS USED TO CLEAN THE CAST IRON BATHTUB). THE RESULTING DAMAGE TO THE OESOPHAGUS WAS LIFE THREATENING. AN HONORARY VISITING SURGEON, DR BANERJI, DEVELOPED A NEW MULTISTAGE OPERATION TO USE A LOOP OF SMALL INTESTINE TO RECONSTRUCT THE OESOPHAGUS IN ADDITION TO THE INTERNAL INJURY, THE FRONT OF THE NECK WAS SCARRED DUE TO THE ACID BURN. DR BANERJI PICKED UP HIS SCALPEL TO START THE OPERATION, PAUSED AND SAID I AM NOW ABOUT TO ENTER A MINEFIELD.WE ALL MARVELLED AT HIS SKILL AND STAMINA.
DURING THE PERIOD OF BEING IN HIS FIRM WE WITNESSED TWO SUCH PROCEDURES.
ANOTHER SURGEON, DR ANIL ROY, WHO HAD WORKED AS A SENIOR REGISTRAR IN THE SEAMANS HOSPITAL IN GREENWICH, EXHIBITED AMAZING VERSATILE SKILLS. HE WAS AS ADEPT REMOVING A GALL BLADDER ONE DAY AND DOING A HIP OPERATION THE NEXT.
HE HAD A VERY BAD TEMPER. IF AN INCORRECT INSTRUMENT WAS HANDED TO HIM DURING AN OPERATION HE WOULD FLING IT ACROSS TO THE FAR END OF THE THEATRE. HE WAS ALSO AN EXCELLENT TEACHER.
MOST OF THE MEDICAL AND SURGICAL EMERGENCIES CAME IN DURING THE LATE AFTERNOON, HAVING HAD TO TRAVEL CONSIDERABLE DISTANCES IN SLOW MOVING TRANSPORT. THE ONTAKE TEAM USED TO WAIT EAGERLY IN THE CASUALTY DEPARTMENT. MOST OF THE CASES WERE IN ADVANCED STAGES PROVIDING MANY CHALLENGES TO THE SURGEONS. THE EXPERIENCE GAINED LED TO AQUIRING THE FRCS FOR MANY QUITE EARLY IN THEIR CAREERS, PROVIDING OPPORTUNITY FOR RAPID ADVANCEMENT IN WORK AND MARRIAGE.
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A HARROWING CASE WHICH HAUNTED ME FOR MANY YEARS WAS THAT OF A YOUNG BRIDE WHO WAS BEING PERSECUTED BY HER MOTHER-IN-LAW OVER THE AMOUNT OF DOWRY WHICH SHE HAD BROUGHT WITH HER. UNABLE TO TOLERATE THE SITUATION ANY FURTHER, SHE DOWSED HERSELF WITH KEROSENE WHICH SHE SET ALIGHT. BECAUSE OF HER LONG HAIR, SHE SUSTAINED SEVERE BURNS TO HER BACK. I WAS DEPUTED TO DO HER DRESSINGS. SHE LAY ON HER FRONT, HER FACE WAS NOT VISIBLE TO ME AND THERE WAS HARDLY A WHIMPER FROM HER. PENICILLIN TULLE GRAS HAD JUST COME OUT AND WAS IN VERY SHORT SUPPLY. DOING HER DRESSINGS WAS OF COURSE A MOST PAINFUL PROCEDURE FOR HER, THE SMELL FROM THE WOUND WAS INTOLERABLE AND ON OCCASIONS THE DRESSINGS WERE NOT AVAILABLE MAKING IT EVEN MORE DIFFICULT TO REMOVE AFTER A GAP. ONE MORNING WHEN I CAME IN HER BED WAS OCCUPIED BY ANOTHER PATIENT. SHE HAD DIED IN THE NIGHT.
FOLLOWING ON FROM RIOTS WHICH USUALLY TOOK PLACE AFTER 3PM, MANY CASES WITH SCALPS SPLIT OPEN AS A RESULT OF A LATHI CHARGE BY THE POLICE, ARRIVED IN GROUPS. WE ALL BECAME EXPERTS IN SUTURING.
AT NIGHT SCORPION BITES WERE VERY COMMON.THE PATIENTS WOULD ARRIVE SCREAMING IN PAIN.WE INFILTRATED THE FINGER WEB WITH A LOCAL ANAESTHETIC. BEING A WEAK WATERY SOLUTION IT DID NOT LAST LONG AND THEY RETURNED AFTER A COUPLE OF HOURS. SOME NIGHTS THE POLICE WOULD ARRIVE WITH A NUMBER OF DRUNK AND DISORDERLY LADIES OF POOR REPUTE. THEY WOULD INSIST THAT STOMACH WASHOUTS HAD TO BE DONE IN SPITE OF THE PROTESTS OF THESE UNFORTUNATE PATIENTS. I ONCE QUESTIONED THE LEGALITY OF THIS BUT WAS TOLD THAT AS THEY HAD BEEN ARRESTED AND CHARGED WE HAD TO DO IT. IT WAS A TERRIBLE EXPERIENCE FOR THEM AND FOR US. WHEN I FIRST SAW THE WIDTH OF THE GASTRIC TUBE I COULD NOT BELIEVE THIS WOULD GO DOWN. HOWEVER, WE MANAGED TO DO SO WITH THE PATIENTS BEING HELD DOWN AND SCREAMING.
ANYONE HANDLING A GAS GANGRENE CASE WAS BARRED FROM THE OPERATING THEATRE FOR A WEEK. OFTEN REGISTRARS WOULD OFFER US BRIBES IN THE FORM OF ESCAPING NIGHT DUTY IF WE AGREED TO DO THE DRESSINGS FOR THEM.
THE EDEN HOSPITAL, WHERE WE HAD TO LIVE IN FOR 2 WEEKS, WAS A DIFFICULT PERIOD. THE DELIVERY ROOM WAS ALWAYS CROWDED, AND WOMEN USED TO SCREAM, BUT DELIVERING A BABY WAS A VERY GRATIFYING EXPERIENCE, AS WAS BATHING THE INFANT AFTERWARDS. THERE WAS AN INTERESTING PRACTICE IN FORCE
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A HARROWING CASE WHICH HAUNTED ME FOR MANY YEARS WAS THAT OF A YOUNG BRIDE WHO WAS BEING PERSECUTED BY HER MOTHER-IN-LAW OVER THE AMOUNT OF DOWRY WHICH SHE HAD BROUGHT WITH HER. UNABLE TO TOLERATE THE SITUATION ANY FURTHER, SHE DOWSED HERSELF WITH KEROSENE WHICH SHE SET ALIGHT. BECAUSE OF HER LONG HAIR, SHE SUSTAINED SEVERE BURNS TO HER BACK. I WAS DEPUTED TO DO HER DRESSINGS. SHE LAY ON HER FRONT, HER FACE WAS NOT VISIBLE TO ME AND THERE WAS HARDLY A WHIMPER FROM HER. PENICILLIN TULLE GRAS HAD JUST COME OUT AND WAS IN VERY SHORT SUPPLY. DOING HER DRESSINGS WAS OF COURSE A MOST PAINFUL PROCEDURE FOR HER, THE SMELL FROM THE WOUND WAS INTOLERABLE AND ON OCCASIONS THE DRESSINGS WERE NOT AVAILABLE MAKING IT EVEN MORE DIFFICULT TO REMOVE AFTER A GAP. ONE MORNING WHEN I CAME IN HER BED WAS OCCUPIED BY ANOTHER PATIENT. SHE HAD DIED IN THE NIGHT.
FOLLOWING ON FROM RIOTS WHICH USUALLY TOOK PLACE AFTER 3PM, MANY CASES WITH SCALPS SPLIT OPEN AS A RESULT OF A LATHI CHARGE BY THE POLICE, ARRIVED IN GROUPS. WE ALL BECAME EXPERTS IN SUTURING.
AT NIGHT SCORPION BITES WERE VERY COMMON.THE PATIENTS WOULD ARRIVE SCREAMING IN PAIN.WE INFILTRATED THE FINGER WEB WITH A LOCAL ANAESTHETIC. BEING A WEAK WATERY SOLUTION IT DID NOT LAST LONG AND THEY RETURNED AFTER A COUPLE OF HOURS. SOME NIGHTS THE POLICE WOULD ARRIVE WITH A NUMBER OF DRUNK AND DISORDERLY LADIES OF POOR REPUTE. THEY WOULD INSIST THAT STOMACH WASHOUTS HAD TO BE DONE IN SPITE OF THE PROTESTS OF THESE UNFORTUNATE PATIENTS. I ONCE QUESTIONED THE LEGALITY OF THIS BUT WAS TOLD THAT AS THEY HAD BEEN ARRESTED AND CHARGED WE HAD TO DO IT. IT WAS A TERRIBLE EXPERIENCE FOR THEM AND FOR US. WHEN I FIRST SAW THE WIDTH OF THE GASTRIC TUBE I COULD NOT BELIEVE THIS WOULD GO DOWN. HOWEVER, WE MANAGED TO DO SO WITH THE PATIENTS BEING HELD DOWN AND SCREAMING.
ANYONE HANDLING A GAS GANGRENE CASE WAS BARRED FROM THE OPERATING THEATRE FOR A WEEK. OFTEN REGISTRARS WOULD OFFER US BRIBES IN THE FORM OF ESCAPING NIGHT DUTY IF WE AGREED TO DO THE DRESSINGS FOR THEM.
THE EDEN HOSPITAL, WHERE WE HAD TO LIVE IN FOR 2 WEEKS, WAS A DIFFICULT PERIOD. THE DELIVERY ROOM WAS ALWAYS CROWDED, AND WOMEN USED TO SCREAM, BUT DELIVERING A BABY WAS A VERY GRATIFYING EXPERIENCE, AS WAS BATHING THE INFANT AFTERWARDS. THERE WAS AN INTERESTING PRACTICE IN FORCE
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BEFORE CUTTING THE UMBILICAL CORD WE HAD TO SHOW THE BABY TO THE MOTHER WHO HAD TO TELL US CLEARLY THE SEX, AND THEN TWO PEOPLE HAD TO SIGN A FORM OF CONFIRMATION. THIS HAD TO BE DONE BECAUSE THERE WERE A NUMBER OF INCIDENTS WHEN THE MOTHER DENIED THAT A FEMALE CHILD WAS HERS.
DUTY IN THE ECLAMPSIA ROOM WAS QUITE AN ORDEAL. IT WAS SITUATED AT THE COLLEGE STREET END OF THE HOSPITAL AND WAS WITHOUT A TELEPHONE. TWO OF US MANNED THE ROOM. AS SOON AS A PATIENT STARTED CONVULSING, ONE HAD TO RUN TO THE MAIN WARD WHICH WAS QUITE FAR AWAY TO GET A DOCTOR AND THE OTHER HAD TO DRAW UP AND ADMINISTER A LARGE INJECTION OF PARALDEHYDE. ON ONE OCCASION, WHEN IT WAS MY TURN TO GIVE THE INJECTION, THE GLASS SYRINGE WEAKENED BY REPEATED BOILING, EXPLODED IN MY HAND WHILE I WAS EXPELLING THE AIR. THE SCAR IS STILL EVIDENT ON MY FINGER.
THE DIRECTOR OF THE EDEN HOSPITAL DR SUDHIR BOSE WAS ALSO THE PRINCIPAL OF THE COLLEGE. A STRICT DISCIPLINARIAN, HE WOULD QUESTION ANY STUDENT HE FOUND IN THE CORRIDORS TO FIND OUT WHAT THEY WERE DOING.
OUR CANTEEN WENT THROUGH MANY A TROUBLED PERIOD AND WAS OF A POOR STANDARD. TWO ENTERPRISING LADIES SET UP A RIVAL KITCHEN IN THE BASEMENT OF THE TROPICAL HOSPITAL, SERVING DELICIOUS HOME COOKED FOOD. IT WAS MORE EXPENSIVE BUT WELL WORTH IT AND MADE OUR FINAL YEAR MORE ENJOYABLE.
I MENTIONED EARLIER ABOUT THE WONDERFUL SPIRIT OF COMRADESHIP OF THE STUDENTS.THIS CAME HOME TO ME TWICE DURING MY YEARS IN MEDICAL COLLEGE IN INCIDENTS INVOLVING MY FAMILY. IN 1954 MY NIECE CONTRACTED POLIO IN A SEVERE FORM. SHE NEEDED VENTILATION. THERE WAS AN IRON LUNG IN THE CASUALTY DEPARTMENT OF OUR COLLEGE, BUT IT WAS IN A LARGE OPEN ROOM WITH NO PRIVACY. THE FAMILY ELECTED FOR PRIVATE CARE IN A NURSING HOME. THE ONLY ALTERNATIVE TREATMENT WAS INTUBATION AND HAND OPERATION OF THE BAG. I SPOKE TO MY CLASSMATE AND GOOD FRIEND HEMRAJ BODASING, WHO IS HERE WITH US TODAY AND WHO, IN A MATTER OF HOURS, ORGAINISED A ROTA OF SENIOR MEDICAL STUDENTS WHO WENT TO THE NURSING HOME DAY AND NIGHT TO DO THIS. UNFORTUNATELY SHE SUCCUMBED TO THE ILLNESS.
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ON ANOTHER OCCASION MY ELDER SISTER NEEDED AN URGENT BLOOD TRANSFUSION.THE BLOOD BANK DID NOT HAVE HER TYPE. THEY GAVE ME A LIST OF VOLUNTEER DONORS AND I WALKED ALONG COLLEGE STREET AT TWO IN THE MORNING LOOKING FOR THE FIRST HOUSE ON THE LIST.I WAS IN GREAT TREPIDATION WHEN I KNOCKED ON THE DOOR, AND THEN TO MY SURPRISE IT WAS ANSWERED BY A MAN WITH A FAMILIAR FACE.HE WAS A SENIOR STUDENT AT THE COLLEGE AND I HAD SEEN HIM SEVERAL TIMES IN THE LIBRARY.WHEN I TOLD HIM THE PROBLEM, HE IMMEDIATELY DRESSED AND CAME BACK WITH ME AND PROVIDED THE BLOOD. AFTER FIFTY YEARS, I HAD AN EMOTIONAL MEETING AT THIS REUNION WITH PRADIP BHATTACHARYA, THE MAN WHO SAVED MY SISTER’S LIFE. AND HE IS SITTING HERE WITH US TODAY. ONE CAN NEVER FORGET SUCH GOOD DEEDS.
COMING TO THE INFECTIOUS DISEASES, WORDS CAN NEVER FULLY DESCRIBE THE SITUATION IN THOSE DAYS AT THE NILRATAN SARKAR HOSPITAL.WARDS FULL OF PATIENTS WITH CHOLERA, SMALLPOX, TETANUS, RABIES AND PLAGUE. TYPHOID WAS NOT CLASSIFIED AS INFECTIOUS AND THOSE CASES WERE TREATED IN THE ORDINARY MEDICAL WARD IN OUR COLLEGE ALBEIT IN THE BED CLOSE TO WHERE THE WARD SISTER SAT. IN THE CHOLERA WARD, IN ADDITION TO EVERY BED BEING OCCUPIED, A MATTRESS WAS PLACED ON THE FLOOR IN BETWEEN, MAKING IT ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO EXAMINE THE PATIENTS PROPERLY.
WE USED TO SEE PATIENTS ARRIVING IN RICKSHAWS AND TAXIS IN A MORIBUND STATE. THERE WAS NO BARRIER NURSING, WE JUST WALKED IN AND OUT THE WARDS. WE WERE NOT PROVIDED WITH GLOVES.WE JUST WASHED OUR HANDS IN SOAP AND WATER AS WE LEFT. WE MUST HAVE HAD AMAZING IMMUNITY. THE SADNESS WAS WHEN COMING IN AFTER A FEW DAYS WE SAW THAT MANY OF THE PATIENTS HAD DIED AND NEW ONES HAD TAKEN THEIR PLACE.
TWO MONTHS BEFORE THE FINAL EXAMS A NUMBER OF REGISTRARS RENTED ROOMS IN LOCATIONS CLOSE TO THE COLLEGE AND FOR SMALL SUMS OF MONEY GAVE TUTORIALS IN THEIR SPECIALITIES, BASED ON A STUDY OF THE EXAM PAPERS OF THE PAST TEN YEARS TO PREDICT WHAT THE EXAMINERS WOULD SELECT. IT WAS AMAZING TO SEE HOW ACCURATE THEY WERE. AT LEAST TWO OR THREE SUBJECTS WHICH THEY HAD TAUGHT US INTENSIVELY APPEARED IN THE PAPER.
THE KNOWLEDGE, THE SOUND PRICIPLES, AND THE EXPERIENCE WHICH OUR ALMA MATER GAVE US HAVE STOOD THE TEST OF TIME. WE MUST FOREVER BE GRATEFUL FOR THAT.
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THE FACE OF CALCUTTA IS CHANGING RAPIDLY,WHAT WITH FLYOVERS, LUXURY HOTELS, HOLIDAY VILLAGES, SHOPPING MALLS AND HIGH RISE RESIDENTIAL COMPLEXES, MAKING MEMORIES EVEN MORE IMPORTANT.
ONE THING HAS NOT CHANGED. THE PEOPLE OF CALCUTTA REMAIN AS KIND AND WARM AND FRIENDLY AND RESPECTFUL OF THEIR ELDERS AS THEY HAVE ALWAYS BEEN.
AND THAT MAKES THE NATION.
I THANK YOU.
The following entry is by Verity Kelly who, having been to India several times spanning over forty years, visited Calcutta for the first time in April 2017. Verity is the fifth child of Haskell Kelly and Bella Kelly, nee Moses, who came from India to the UK in 1952. Haskell and Bella had seven children. The family lived in Golders Green attending the Ohel David Eastern Synagogue. In Calcutta Verity sought out places that were significant in the lives of her parents and therefore meaningful to her and her brothers and sisters. Back in the UK after her Calcutta trip she sent the items listed below to her siblings.
Above is Mirza Galib Street, formerly Free School Street, where the Kelly boys grew up. Murza’s family bought the 27 property in 1952 from a Jewish family that must have been our’s. When I told him that our family had lived there he ran inside and brought out an old photo of the building of how it used to look as it had been demolished and rebuilt in the 1980’s. Behind the building is a courtyard where two other properties exist. The Kelly boys would have played in the courtyard. Murza’s company is called Qutub Communication Tour & Travels and the precise address is 27 Mirza Galib Street, Kolkata 700 016. When Murza was growing up he remembered a lovely Jewish lady who lived opposite. I wonder who she was and whether she knew our family!
Mirza Ghalib Street 27 (27 Formerly Free School Street) nowadays
Below is Chatawala Gully No. 4 where mummy’s family lived. It is now called Gier House. It is on three floors and is the biggest house in the Gully. It is difficult to see its entire frontage and the splendour that it once was, as a couple of small extensions to the building have since been constructed. No 1 was a warehouse where goods were stocked I think by the family and it appears still to be used for this purpose. Uncle Ezra mentioned that the family owned another building in the street where they had lived for some time but later settled into no 4 permanently.
In Bertram Street Kolkata (below). Brij Lal in the green shirt is now the owner of no 3 Bertram Street where our grandfather Silas Kadoorie’s shop Bluebird Stores was situated. Brij Lal’s shop is called Fashion City – Bombay Dyeing. The exact address is 3 Bertram Street Kolkata 700 013. The shop is opposite New Market.
Ezra House and Gubbay House in Alipore Zoological Gardens:
These are two buildings donated by the Ezra family and the Gubbay family. Elia David Joseph Ezra provided an enclosure for large animals (Ezra House) and Elia Shalome Gubbay bore the cost of a building for monkeys. The Ezra House still has its plaque and now houses the giraffes. The plaque for Gubbay House, however, is gone, and the buildings houses the apes.
This page represents the community building (s) established and maintained by the Calcutta Jews.
The Ezra Hospital: ‘Elia Ezra was pained by the health-related difficulties felt by the poor members of the Jewish community. He also sought to provide a hospital for Jews that would have the necessary dietary facilities for Jewish patients. He had planned to build a hospital in a Jewish neighborhood on the site of three buildings on 34 – 36 Ezra Street. He was not able to fulfill his wish as he died in 1886, but his widow, Mozelle Ezra, originally from the Sassoon family, and a great philanthropist in her own right, fulfilled his wish.’ For a more complete history, refer to the attached article.
Here is a representation of certain commercial buildings or factory enterprises established, or owned, by Calcutta Jews. Among them are,
The Agarpara Jute Mills at Kamarhati,
The National Tobacco Company, also at Kamarhati, and
The Norton Buildings, at 1 and 2 Old Courthouse Street.
This is an excerpt from the article, “The Jews of Agarpara”, which appeared in the issue of The Telegraph dated May 24, 2009, http://www.telegraphindia.com/1090524/jsp/calcutta/story_10951040.jsp
‘Two brothers Ephraim and Edmund Jonah, now in their 70s, lived in Calcutta almost 60 years ago. The Jonahs live in Israel now. When they visited Calcutta in March, they made a sentimental journey to Agarpara Jute Mills in Kamarhati, where Edmund was born 73 years ago. This is what Ephraim Jonah wrote earlier this month about that visit from his home in Israel:
‘
“When my brother and I returned early in March this year, we found the club house in ruins. The paved surface was cracked in many places and there was no sign of the markings of the badminton court. The manager’s bungalow has had an addition. It is obvious the tennis courts have not been used for decades and the floodlit badminton court no longer exists. The garden as my late mother had designed it has all but disappeared. Of course it has been 56 years since I saw it last.”
Agarpara Jute Mills covers a wide swathe of land next to Barrackpore Trunk Road, and opposite it is the whitewashed factory of the National Tobacco Company. It used to manufacture the once-popular cigarette brand No. 10, and now Regent is the only brand of cigarettes it produces. Vishal market, a mall, has come up within its compound, part of which is used as a parking lot for trucks. All this and a lot more once belonged to a Calcutta Jew named B.N. Elias, who had built his business empire practically from nothing.’
“Norton Buildings (later named National Tobacco Buildings), the headquarters of the B.N.Elias Group of Companies. The photograph was taken in the early 1960s on a holiday when the streets were clear and the windows shuttered. Edward and Co’s office, a picture of which follows, was on the extreme right of the building on the ground floor.”
“…I would like to imagine my great-great-great grandfather arriving in a city where he was to leave his indelible marK on history. In his own words, however, the event could not have been recorded more plainly:
‘5th August 1798: Last night I arrived in Calcutta.’
For Shalom Aaron Cohen of Aleppo the journey was not in itself unusual, being one of many in the course of his working life as a jeweler and highly successful trader on routes around the Middle East and India: but the end of this particular seven-month voyage from Surat, via Bombay and Madras, turned out to be the beginning of his destiny as founder of the Jewish community of Calcutta. On this voyage, Shalom brought his most essential retainers, a cook and a shohet (ritual slaughterer); he also brought a wealth of professional experience and a reputation of “Jewish Chief Merchant,” a title by which he was widely nown in Surat, a key trading center of the East India company. He was thirty-five years old.
A dwelling place rented from an Armenian in the Native town was Shalome’s first home; a year later, he was installed in Aloo gudam, Potato Godown, a roomy building which became a family residence for hiself, his wife and two daughters. Other Jews from Surat, and also from Aleppo, were lured to join the little immigrant band with jobs and good precious stones being just a few of the desirable commodities. They came; and by the end of a decade, the community had increased to about thirty people, held together by their common experience in a foreign land, but even more so by religious observance conducted by their leader under his own roof. In this way did the first synagogue of Calcutta come into being.
Shalome’s shoulders were more than capable of bearing the responsibility of communal worship, his confidence no doubt bolstered by a background of respect and recognition given to Jews by their Turkish overlords. According to Alex Russell, Physician to the British Factory in Eighteenth century Aleppo, “the established banker of the Seraglio is a Jew and the private bankers of most of the Grandees are Jews…” Further reading gives us the impression than when their feasts and festivals came around, the commercial world was driven practically to a standstill; departures of caravans were delayed and postponements were not unusual; nothing could interfere with the Jewish holidays.
Shalome followed the spirit of the law learned in his birthplace, to which he never returned, ending his days in Calcutta in 1836 at the age of seventy-three. His legacy survives till today in the Jewish cemetery where he lies (a plot, for which we are told, he presented his Muslim friend with the token payment of a ruby ring), and in the Calcutta Jewish Community, which continues to survive one hundred and sixty years after his death.”
From Hooghly Tales, by Sally Solomon, p 57 – 58, David Ashley Publishing, 1998, London.
Emanuel Belilios was a famous businessman, opium dealer and philantropist. He was born in 1837 in Calcutta, after which he shifted to Hong Kong for business. With time, he accumulated a significant fortune and purchased some of old Hong Kong’s premiere properties, such as the majestic Kingsclere mansion. He served as the chairman of HSBC bank. Belilios was a keen philantropist, funding schools, hospitals, public works, scholarships and other charitable goals. For his lifetime achievements, he was awarded with the Order of St. Michael and St. George. Later in life, he moved to London, where passed away in 1905.
The family owned a significant portion of land on the other bank of Hooghly which was transferred to Belilios Trust. Today, the charitable Belilious Trust has marked its presence in Howrah. The trust donated the family land for Rebecca Belilious English Institution, a coed school for Howrah underpriviledged children. Rebecca Belilios Charitable Dispensary provides healthcare to lakhs of local people. Belilios Park founded on the family land is a very popular place of leisure in the city.
A novel, House of wives loosely based on Emanuel’s life, was written by his great-grandson, Simon Choa-Johnston.
