Ali's Gems

This is Ali Zaman's page and we now have a picture of Ali and his lovely wife Shireen--thanks for sharing ------Editor May15 2005

Through Ali's efforts we can see some of the amusing and interesting stories --- please click on the article line to go to the article

#Mariani memory
#66 Years later
#Ram Kumar Mahanta Kings Commisioned officer picture
#The Singphos -discovery of Tea
#Ram Kumar Mahan
#Garden Schooling
#Steamer Cruise party
#Poaching for Bin Laden
#Chowkidars
#Carron TE generosity for Lakshmi Oraon
#Alan Wood shopping
#Good Poem describing Assam
#1962 Chinese Aggression
#A Fascinating piece of History
#Doom Dooma Club Centenary Speech
#Ratio
The Elephant boy of Tea
#Cricket
#Curzon
#SEA WOLVES the true facts
#Sea Wolves Part Two
#SEA WOLVES STORY Part One
#The Lagden Gate
#a Pani Gari
#Request written 1905
#Jhansi Ki Rani
#a fishing story
#Calcutta revisited
Footprints in the Bush
Maneater of Majulighur
Welcome to Tea
#8.5Kg Mahseer
#Flower Show  
Nepal Brandy
Naga Tea
Dastoors
Surma Valley ITA
Ode to Peria Dorai --Old Poem
Land of the Brave -an appreciation of the Gurkhas
Off the Rails
Fairlawn Hotel
Pertabghur 1967
War Tales from the Frontier
Tea Tales from the Frontier
Tea Fest Jorhat 125th celebrations plans
Baptism of fire
Missing Tea leaves
How green was my Valley
Meeting of the minds
Sorry Old Chap
To Tee with Authority

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An amusing reminisce of Mariani
Thanks to Ali Zaman for supplying the fun memory

August 4 2008

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May 29 2008

Thanks to Ali --
we all get to share this touching remembrance of Cyril Lambert Indol, the WW2 veteran who died in Tinsukia in 1942 and his family are helping Dinjan IP School

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February  4  2008
We are indebted to Ali Zaman for finding this information 
which may be a reason for challenging the history books

DISCOVERY OF TEA (ASSAM) – THE SINGPHOS


The descendents of Bom Bessa Gaum, Chief of the Singpho clan, who 
showed native tea to Charles Alexander Bruce resides in Bessa Gaon, 
in Ledo Assam. The writer recently met the present chief, Rajkumar Bisa 
Nong Singpho,  the great grand son of Bom Bessa Gaum. 





This is a recent photograph of Rajkumar Bisa Nong Singpho,  
            the great grand son of Bom Bessa Gaum. 

The Singphos were a major tribe of Upper Burma and their territory once 
extended from Arunachal (NEFA) into Assam, beyond Jorhat, and covered
 large tracts in northern Burma. When  the East India Company, by the treaty
 of Yandabo, 1826, annexed Upper Burma to Assam, the Company made 
a similar treaty with the tribal chiefs of the different clans, at Sadiya.  The 
territorial expansion was made primarily for propagation of tea.

The Singpho’s knew the art of tea making and the first European to study 
their method was William Griffith FLS Esq.

The Singpho method of preparing tea – only young tea leaves
were used which were semi roasted in a large iron vessel  – the leaf was
stirred and rolled in the hands during roasting. When duly roasted they
were exposed to the sun for three days, some to the dew and alternately
to the sun. It was finally packed in bamboo chungas into which it was
tightly rammed. The tea as found by Griffith was called ‘Ban Fhullup’ or
jungle tea, as recorded in the Private Journals of William Griffith, who
was on an Assam Deputation for examination of the plant. Griffith also
noticed that tea leaves were eaten as a vegetable food prepared in
mustard oil and garlic. A similar salad recipe in Burma, called
‘Letpet’, promised martial bliss. Here the leaves were boiled for
several months for fermentation. The resuscitated leaves were chopped
and mixed with oil, garlic, fried shrimps, fruits and dried coconut and
served to newly wed.

When tea cultivation started on Singpho land the
East India Company paid a land rent to the Chief.  Irritated over a
delay in receiving payment Bessa Gaum hacked off some newly planted tea,
little realising that his destructive act actually helped the industry.
The cut plants resurrected and put on vigorous growth, this initiated
pruning. To this day the estate where Bessa Gaum cut the plants bears
the nomenclature ‘Bessakopie” (hacked by Bessa).

The man who introduced Charles Alexander Bruce to Bessa Gaum was 
Maniram Dutta Borbhandar Barua, the first native tea planter of India. 
The pioneer accused of plotting against the British, in the uprisings of 1857, 
was tried and sentenced to death by hanging, carried out in Jorhat jail on
26thFebruary 1858.  
Maniram’s execution caused great resentment inAssam, and sympathisers, 
which included Bessa Gaum, were taken to task.
Bessa Gaum, who was on a Company pension of Rs 50/- per men sum, was
arrested when a Col. Write was killed on Singpho land. The tribal chief,
kept in Jorhat jail was sentenced to life imprisonment and transported
to the Andaman, where the unsung hero of tea, died a prisoner of the
Cellular Jail.

NB: During WW II when the American Forces, under the
Command of General ‘Vinegar Joe Stilwell, operated from Ledo the
Singphos rendered valuable support service. In appreciation for the help
received the US Government settled members of the community in
California, where they still exist.


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April 1 2008
Ali Zaman has very kindly supplied a correction to his story shown below on
 this page saying

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          January 26 2008
We thank Ali Zaman for sharing this special story on a brave man 
                Ram Kumar Mahanta
                         

 Ram Kumar Mahanta showed leadership qualities from a young age
and being adventurous by nature was an active member of the Boys Scouts
during his school days in Jorhat. He was selected to attend a World
Jamboree of Scouts in Holland, prior to WWII. Lacking the funds for
travel he approached the Deputy Commissioner of Jorhat, an Englishman,
for sponshirship. 

Mahanta’s direct approach and mannerism impressed the
Commissioner. The gentleman quizzed Mahanta for long before 
agreeing to sponsor the young man, but set a condition. Mahanta 
had to prove his mettle by travelling to Rangoon by cycle, via Kohima, 
Imphal and Mandalay, maintaining a detailed account of his journey, 
especially road conditions. Surface communication was lacking, in 
those days, as roadways were limited. Travel was mostly by foot or 
cycling over paths through jungles and paddy fields, some in hostile 
territory. Mahanta fully realised the conditions he would be encountering 
but nothing deterred the young man from taking on the adventure. 

He started on his journey and was away for a while, whereabouts not known. 
But the adventurer, after an arduous journey, did return from Rangoon, 
mission accomplished. The report, as required by the Deputy Commissioner, 
was presented and Mahanta was rewarded with his trip to the World Jamboree.

Unknowingly the young man worked for British Intelligence who wanted
information on the possibilities of overland travel from Rangoon to
India. The route which Mahanta traversed on was the same used by the
Japanese Forces in WWII when they swept into India from Burma and were
halted at the Battle of Kohima. The vanguard of the Japanese Army used
cycles. At the start of WWII Mahanta enrolled in the armed forces and
was in the 1st batch of Officers to be commissioned in the Assam
Regiment. He saw action in the Burma Front and was selected for
operations with the Chindits, who fought behind the Japanese lines. At
the termination of the War he joined the Indian Army Intelligence Core
of Independent India. The work kept him away from his family stationed
in Shillong. Coming home on furlough he realised that by his absence
from the family he was a stranger to his children and that his when he
decided to join tea.

Mahanta was employed by Jardine Henderson and was posted in 
Tharkubari district. He became Manager of Nya Gogra, in Boroi
district, where I, posted at Gohpur, was his next door neighbour in
1975/76.  Mahanta hardly spoke of his war experience but with the
camaraderie of tea, especially at Behali Club, where the last of the
British war veterans, and there were many in tea, existed, he would on
occasion’s mention of his days with the Chindits, his toughest
assignments. Surrounded by the Japanese and rations being exhausted he
once survived by boiling his leather boots and chewing on it. 

Mr & Mrs Mahanta on retirement in 1977 returned to Jorhat and took
 to farming different cash crops and established a very successful tea 
seed bari.

The Mahantas were a popular couple well liked by the neighbours and the
personnel they employed. But mans greed knows no bounds!! Two workers
employed by the Mahantas robbed and killed them. An eye witness to the
gruesome act was their grand son who they hid under the bed. The
authorities were able to apprehend the culprits on the report of the
grandson who informed that his grand father, like a true soldier, went
down fighting. 
Ali Zaman
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October 19 2007

We occasionally hear of some unpleasant things happening in N.E. India 
but here is a very encouraging story--the daughter of one 
of the tea labour force pedalling off to school in her school uniform at Gangaram T.E. Dooars
. Our thanks to Ali Zaman for obtaining this photograph for us

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May 14 2007

A Happy group ready for the cruise--names below



left to Right Walza Mathew - Goodricke,  Mamen(Mat)Mathew - 
"Dipali Saha -Williamson Magor (McLeod Russel) (lady in front)  Dilip Saha -   Williamson Magor 
(McLeod Russel)   Ali Zaman  -   Williamson Magor
Enu Bhattacharya - Gillanders & Assam Frontier
Chatterjee (Chat)- Williamson Magor (Assam Co)    Shukla Sen - Tata Tea (James Finlay)
Subir Ray - Williamson Magor(Assam Co)    Rebony Ray - Williamson Magor(Assam Co         
Nazma Chatterjee - Williamson Magor (Assam Co)

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May6 2007
Ali has kindly sent us the copy from Todays "Telegraph" from 
Calcutta--it is not encouraging but please read on  --Editor

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March 18 2007

  CHOWKIDARS
Among the retinue of bungalow personnel perhaps the best remembered by 
the sahibs is the chowkidar.

A trustworthy chowkidar was an asset. He kept the sahib informed on the garden baat, especially 
the scandals, which helped management have a grip on administration. The chowkidar helped 
rookies learn the terminologies, peculiar to the tea trade, although the use of a sleeping dictionary 
was the norm in the good old days. The chowkidar, in turn, being a silent observer of nocturnal 
activities in the bungalow knew the occupants short comings.

Chowkidars have extracted sahibs from their cars, master not knowing as to how he returned, 
put them to bed and aroused them from their stupor in the morning. There was the sahib who
 found it difficult to get up after a club night. It was the chowkidar who, with an eye on the time,
 literally dressed sahib in bed, putting on the shocks and shoes when sahib stuck out his feet 
from under the covers. It was only when the chowkidar announced “bara sahib’s car has started” would the chokra stir out of bed.

Hokums, even to the extent of keeping an eye on the manager, were carried out. A factory assistant, known to shirk his duties had strict orders to be present for night manufacture. On occasions when he was unable to comply he sent his trusted chowkidar to make a recce. The faithful not only reported on manufacture but also informed of bara sahib’s bedroom lights going off, a signal for the mistri sahib to retire for the night.

A depressed new recruit complained of the hard days and lonely nights of tea. He cheered up when veterans advised him to confide in the chowkidar for comfort requirement, and he did. It was indeed a life of true bliss until one evening he dashed out of the bedroom when he found an aged partner. The poor chowkidar blamed the cinema on the neighbouring estate for enticing the chokries away. “She was the only one available” he said in dejection.

For his pains the chowkidar did not receive much kudos, in fact it was reprimands for sleeping on duty. A chowkidar, invariably caught napping, confessed that he was diligent on his vigil but dozed off immediately he sat down to rest his weary legs. The sahib decided to solve the problem by borrowing a bar stool from the club and ordered the man to sit on the high chair, whenever his feet tired out. The strategy worked as after a few falls from his perch he kept awake. The chowkidar, who always talked about ‘British ka din’, was tutored to reply in English to sahib’s ‘how do you do’. With a perfect accent he would answer ‘hoobla hoo’.

The evening at Dhunseri Club was swinging with couples on the dance floor when the music system packed up. The Music Member dashed off to his bungalow, a short distance from the Club, to collect his personal set. He honked at the gate but there was no chowkidar to open it. Arriving at his residence he found the chowkidar emerging from under a mosquito net. While berating the man a woman also emerged from under the cover. The man, scratching his head, meekly said that that he was going to get married and so was doing a little “tasting”.

Sahib and memsahib were attending the club evening when a freak storm, uprooting trees in its wake, blocked road communications but left the telephone line intact. To inform the chowkidar of their inability to return sahib rang the bungalow. The chowkidar picked up the phone and without listening, as bungalow servants invariably do, hollered “sahib nay hai” and clamped the receiver down. Seeing an exasperated husband unable to communicate, due to the repeated disruptions of the chowkidar, memsahib took over. She was determined to get the man to converse so enquired, “chowkidar tum kaha say bolta” (where are you speaking from). The innocent man replied “hum to muk say bolta aap kaha say bolta” (I am speaking from my mouth where are you speaking from”).

Once a sahib proved his mettle his word was the truth, perhaps baffling at times. In 1969 when man landed on the moon a chota sahib, tuned to the radio and sipping his sun downers, was fascinated with the broadcast of the lunar landing. To salute the historical event he went out to the lawn and raised his glass to the moon. A curious chowkidar observing his moon struck sahib crawled up and enquired as to what he was gazing at. The assistant took pains to explain about rockets and Neil Armstrong taking his “one step for man”. The chowkidar stood by his sahib and gaped. After a while he queried as to how the sahib could see the man on the moon when he, dead sober, saw nothing.

Orders were always followed but instructions did get mixed up. The sahib instructed the chowkidar to put all bags, brought back from shikars, containing jungli murgis and ducks, in the deep freeze. The sahib hunting for his bag of cartridges found them in the thanda box as well.

The lady had come out from England for the birth of a grand child. Grand ma always had a glass of warm milk and required a hot water bag in her bed, instructions passed on to the chowkidar. At breakfast she spoke of the comforting bag but no milk. Chowkidar confirmed that the milk was boiled and poured into the bag.

Sahibs were never too harsh on chowkidars short comings as long as they carried out their duty, sober or otherwise. However, on one occasion a gate chowkidar found sleeping, was made to climb a tree in the middle of the night. There was a commotion next morning when he was still up there waiting for the order to descend.

It was Christmas and Bara Sahib with Memsahib was returning from a party. The gate chowkidar who never missed his ‘hariya’ had a little extra for Bara Din. He tottered out in a vest and loose shorts to open the boom gate but as he held onto the rope, attached to the bar, the man was jerked out of his pants when the gate went up. The chowkidar dangled in the air in full focus of the headlights. Bara mem covered her eyes when the man, minus shorts, said that his Bara Din had become a bit too bara. Sahib was in the mood to agree and mumbled Merry Christmas.

The assistant had just married and was on his acting. The young wife became suspicious when she observed that the chowkidar, without the bell being rung, entered with the bed tea immediately after the couple got back to their respective pillows. An enquiry revealed that the man, who was hard of hearing, kept a watch of proceedings in the palang kamra from the reflections on the glass panes of the large sized skylights. An instant order to cover the panes was made.

The chowkidar was past retirement age but being trustworthy and faithful was retained. The Manager took good care of him and presented him with an over coat, which covered the frail man from head to toe. Bara Sahib proceeded to UK on home leave and it was late on a dark night when he returned, after a sojourn of three months. He found it strange that the gate was closed as the chowkidar, always alert, opened it immediately the car lights were sighted on the driveway. The man emerged, out of the darkness, shuffled slowly past the car, bowed in reverence to make his salaam before opening the gate. The darkness and oversized coat kept his face hidden and not a word was uttered when sahib enquired after his well-being and instructed him to come and help unload the luggage. Driving to the bungalow he was greeted by the cook and bearer and when he announced that the chowkidar would be coming to help them with the unloading, the two froze. The man had died during sahib’s absence. Old faithful had returned just to salaam karo his mai baap.

                                                                                                    Ali Zaman
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March 9 2007
What a great story--Carron Tea Estate  is in the Dooars, Jalpaiguri Dist. In tea today a number of managerial staff are from the educated labour community-there are a few lady welfare officers also and the number is increasing. The actions of PJ Basu are very commendable indeed and we congratulate him on his foresight

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January 10 2006
Ali and his wife Shireen spent a very enjoyable holiday with 
Alan Wood and his family in Shillong--Below is a picture 
which some may recognize

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August 16 2006
Good poem describing Assam , 
By an English poet

Alex Cleland was born and brought up in India, and was a tea planter. He
has written a book of poems called 'In Sunlight and In Shadow'. Here is
a poem about Mr Cleland's memories of Assam:

TEA PLANTER

In the vast and fertile valley of Assam
Where the Ahom kings held sway,
The Brahmaputra River burst its dam,
And annually swept their crops away.

Wild head hunting Nagas, once circumvent
Were unruly, and no longer kept at bay
And the dread Anopholese mosquito's intent
Multiplied, spreading malaria and decay.

Now in that Ahom dynasty, fate decreed a change,
As journeying round the squally southern sea
The first tea planter, with his China Clipper came,
Loaded with a highly prized cargo of tea.


Carefully carrying seed and stock
Of that plant'Camelia Sinensis',
From Canton to Calcutta!s dock
To be shipped up river in parenthesis,

To float to Pandu, via Neamatti Ghat,
Across to Tezpur's northern bank
Also to Doom Dooma and the Sadya frontier tract
And on to Lakhimpur's most eastern flank;

The cultivation of tea went forging ahead.
Converting jungle into rich plantation,
And right across all borders duly spread.
By removing rank and rotting vegetation,

Constructing factories and hospitals and schools,
In exchange for rewarding profit and medication,
To draining old malarial infested pools
By careful research and scientific propagation.

To recruiting labour with their tools
From distant Orissa and Behar.
And placing clerks on office stools
From nearby Bengal and Alipur-Duar.

Now all went well for a while
As British housewives across the sea
Welcomed their 'cuppas' with a smile,
And put the kettle on to make more tea.

But not for very long, as greed
Was just around the comer stile,
And with the grasping hand of covet need
Came also the tentacles, of avarice and guile.

Here enters merciless cut-throat competition
From thug city businessmen of jaded reputation;
Submitting writs and endless petition
To improve their lot and falsify position.

By reducing the salaries of staff in the east
And enhancing their own with prodigious leap,
Tbus raising the price by sixpence at least
Of a pound of tea that once was cheap.

The auctioneers have made it clear
That only those who outbid the bidder
At London's Mincing Lane, or Calcutta!s Dalhousie Square,
May expect to gain the cup that cheers.

That is the rigid rule in England and India
And it's not on the wane I fear!

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July 30 2006

APPRAISAL REPORT

1962 Chinese Aggression   - the ladies and children had been evacuated from Assam, the men left administering the properties were at a loose end. With no news whatsoever of their faith to be a few burras, of a certain district, gathered in the evenings to exchange the news and future plans, which got grimmer by the day. No improvement was in sight and it appeared that their tea careers would end, depression set in. The drowning of sun downers only added to their woes and anxiety; some had to be comforted to avoid a nervous breakdown. The nurse of a certain hospital renowned for her comforting services rather than her medical prowess was sent for. The depressed members, majority approaching retirement age, under great tension and perhaps the copious consumption of alcohol, with no memsahib to say dinner is served,  were unable to perform well; secrets which the lady of the night divulged to her younger clients, the chota sahibs, when normalcy returned.  
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                                        July 8 2006
A Fascinating piece of History

JHANZIE TEA ASSOCIATION LTD  JAIPUR DIVISION
SECRETARY:-   ALEX LAWRIE & CO LTD LONDON
AGENTS: -           BALMER LAWRIE & CO

Marble slab installed on 01/01/1937, to commemorate 
the centenary of Namsang.

In 1972 M/s Sheoparshad Bhagwat Parshad of Dehra Doon (of Durrung T.E.)purchased the property from the original owners, Jhanzie Tea Association. 

At the time of handing over the estate Mr R. Robinson, the last Superintendent of the Company, showed the new owners  256 plants from the original section No 1, 
planted in 1834, still existing and requested preservation, which continues after 173 years.

Photograph of the slab with Mr R.R.Pathak (Manager 1976 to 1984)

06/07/06                                                               Ali N.Zaman.
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June 10 2006
We are very grateful to Ali Zaman who at the time was Vice Chairman of the ABITA for allowing us to show  a copy of the speech he gave  at the celebrations for the Centenary celebrations of the Doom Dooma Club in 1995

Speech delivered by A.N.Zaman, Vice Chairman ABITA, on the occasion of the Centenary Celebrations of Dooma Dooma Club - 24/12/95.

Honourable Chief Guest, Mr Chairman, members of the Club Committee, ladies and gentlemen.

The pioneers of Assam tea, the British koi hais, who followed the adage ‘all work and no play, makes Jack a dull boy’ built their beautiful clubs, very much a British institute, in the tea districts where one could meet, relax and discuss ones problems.

You ask any old timer and he will confirm that a good part of his tea knowledge was acquired at the Club Bar.

With the advent of the first railway in Assam, the Dibru – Sadiya Railway, in 1882 and opening of rail traffic to Doom Dooma, on 2nd May 1884, the requirement to have transit facility near the station became necessary. This was the start of Doom Dooma Club.

The Club became the focal point for all activities and for the first time, in this part of the world, tennis, polo, cricket, rugby, football and, after WW II, when more Indians joined the covenanted ranks of tea, hockey was seen. Even when the Club moved to its new premises the old field was utilised well into the 70’s for games and many of us here, this evening, have played soccer there. When telephones were installed in Doom Dooma in the 40’s there was a gherao at Bordubi Office. A ring to the Club, where a rugby match was in progress, had all the players rushing off to Bordubi. The gherao, with the application of rugger tackles, was lifted bodily.

The Great Assam Earthquake, which caused maximum damage in Doom Dooma, had no effect on planters as far as the club was concerned, it kept functioning. Perhaps it served its purpose to the maximum for it was hard work repairing the damage ensuring of no production loss at the height of the season. The calamity occurred on the night of 15th August 1950.

In the late 50’s Doom Dooma town started developing and old planters mentioned of locals encroaching onto the clubs periphery, making the neighbourhood congested and noisy. However, you ask any old resident of the town and he will inform that the sahibs became rowdy, especially on Club nights, when the roof would nearly take off.

Satya Babu, well known to many of us, informs that when the approach road on both sides of the old bridge, between Tilla Bungalow and the Police Station, disappeared in the quake planters traversed the distance on foot to get to the Club, regardless of weather or road conditions. On the return journey the racket created by the sahibs, and a few memsahibs, nearly drowned the sound of Satya Babu’s flourmill. With the town crowding around the club a decision to move out of the municipal area was taken.

Mr G.W.F.Healey, who retired in the 70’s, was on the site selection committee for the new club. The panel of members pondered over maps of Doom Dooma tea district, examined many sights and finally selected this one as it was most central. A building committee drew up plans for the new club. Wooden blocks representing the different rooms were shuffled around many times, over many arguments and many drinks before the blue print was finally approved.

Construction commenced in 1960.

Mr Harry Andrews, Manager, Koomsong and inventor of the Andrews Breaker, still in use for orthodox sorting, headed the construction committee. His brand new assistant James Marvin Pariat, the present Home Minister of Meghalaya, was given the kamjari to report daily to the construction site and supervise the work. As we see to day the young assistant did a fine job. Jimmy without seeing much of field or factory work was soon confirmed with the remark in his confidential report, ‘excellent planter material’.

Doom Dooma Club formed the first modern band in tea, called PB - 4, named after the band leader, Peter Baxter.

Peter, a talented saxophone player on Bordubi was a character known for his antics. He as an Acting Manager rented out his bungalow, at Koliabor then under Magors, to the Italians constructing the oil pipeline from Duliajan to Barauni. When Peter decided to leave tea and India he met up with his good friend, of Doom Dooma days, Ranvir Singh Makoll (Mac) of Warrens, in Calcutta. They painted the city red; it was not under Marxists Rule then, visiting the planter’s haunts from Firpos to the Golden Slipper. Mac, who was to see Peter off, was late in getting to Dum Dum. On enquiring at the British Overseas Airways Co-operation (B.O.A.C) counter of his friend, Mac was handed over a packet containing a book. Peter’s farewell gift to Mac was all his unspent Indian currency, a tidy sum, left inside the pages of the book, “Gone with the Wind”.

The musicians of the original PB - 4 were Peter Baxter on sax, Alan Leonard on the tea box base, Dick Graves, Jimmy Pariat on guitar and Hip Varma on drums. The band was very popular, resulting in many parties and many late nights. It was disbanded when the talented musicians were posted out of the district, including the band leader. Talk of bara sahibs having a hand on the transfers to end the late nights was rife.

We would like to see the young members of Doom Dooma on the stage with bands, plays, theatrical performance etc and the burras assure you of no transfers, provided you retain the tradition of work hard and play hard.

A popular band which visited the clubs was a leading group of erstwhile Assam, the Vanguards. While the Vanguards played on Saturday night the planter’s band took over on Sunday for the jam session and called their band the ‘Mud Guards’. The Doom Dooma band at one stage had an ex Beatles drummer, Ron Ashton.

The Doom Dooma Club Bar, one of the longest in any club, had unmarked sectors from Senior Superintendents to Junior Assistants. The protocol was strictly maintained. It has seen some hard drinking and in living memory the record of thirty-four bottles of beer consumed by P.J.Barua, during the Club Meet of 1970, still stands. PJ out drank his Superintendent, Peter James, by two bottles and survived.

In ’62 when the new club was inaugurated over 700 members and guests attended. The old burras maintain that the club was built for the opening night only as with time it was found to be too big with high maintenance costs. It is to the credit of the present committee who has brought about changes and renovated the premises. Over the quarter of a centaury that I have been associated with this Club, starting from 1969 when I was transferred from Darjeeling to Bordubi, I have not seen it look better.

The celebrations on the inaugural night of the new club went well past murgi dak. Peter Swer, on Keyhung, leaving in the early hours of the morning was about to enter his car when his driver informed that the seats were dirty. John Twiss, of Phillobari, who’s Ambassador the same colour as Peter’s vehicle and parked adjacent to it, got into the car and was sick all over the seats. When John recovered from his sickness and realized he was in the wrong car he mumbled “hamara gari nay hai”, got into his own car and drove off.

Perhaps a scene similar to what I have narrated still occurs and although it is not to be encouraged it goes to the making of a planter. The club is part of our Assam Tea Heritage and looking at the audience this evening it is in good hands. To the younger generation we say do not let this heritage fade away.

Mr H.N.Das, Chief Secretary of Assam, who was to be the chief guest to-night but unfortunately could not come is a great friend of planters and supporter of tea clubs. When he was SDO Mangaldai and I was an assistant at Attareekhat T.E., in the early 60’s, Mr Das was a regular guest of my bara sahib and bara mem Jack and Sis Fea. Jack always maintained that he never wanted to leave Assam. Perhaps his wish was granted for he died in harness as Superintendent of the Attareekhat Tea Company, he lies buried in the Mangaldai Cemetery in Paneery.

Mr H.N.Das, made an honorary member of Mangaldai Club by the President W.J.S.Fea, was a frequent visitor and attended all Club functions. Football and cricket matches between the SDO’s and Planter’s IX were regular. Looking back into the yester years the SDO’s team hardly lost. I now wonder if the matches were rigged for no Manager was summoned by the SDO or any vehicle requisitioned, but then those were the golden years when life for planters and bureaucrats was smooth sailing.

One hundred years is always a special land mark. It is not generally given to many to celebrate a century of existence and we are the privileged ones to be present here this evening on this great event, the Doom Dooma Club Centenary.

May the planters spirit of work hard and play hard live on and may the gaiety and laughter that Doom Dooma Club has known continue over the next hundred years.

Thank you ladies and gentlemen."

Gentlemen: on Drums,Terry Morris, Pengaree T.E.
Sax, Peter Baxter,WM's Bordubi Tea chest bass, Eric
Singh,Makum Co Dirk T.E. Guitar: Jimmy Pariat, WM's
Bordubi.(their signature tune was "WHEN")
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May16 2006
 Another couple of amusing stories from Ali and we thank him

RATIOS

The recovery percentage of green leaf to tea made figure, termed ratios, requires strict and constant vigilance during the plucking season. A poor recovery which can occur due to the elements of nature or human error, deliberate or otherwise, cause a major headache to managerial staff.

It was the ‘60s when the tea made figure of a Dooars estate had gone from bad to worse and the poor field assistant was at the receiving end of the manager for being ineffective. Bara Sahib, a no nonsense man, would not accept Chota Sahibs explanation of the continuous Monsoon showers for the poor recovery.  The Manager demanded immediate action for improvement, rain or no rain. The poor lad at wits end, having failed in his efforts to improve the ratio, in desperation, appealed to the munchi babu, (jamadar babu) for help. The senior field staff, a stocky Ghurkha, veteran of WWII, Burma Front, had a reputation for solving problems in a subtle manner.

As planters gravitate towards the women challan, especially the chokris, at leaf weighment, the assistant, in spite of   his worries, followed the age old routine. He noticed the damsels blushing and giggling on completion of the leaf weighment. The cause, much in evidence, caught the sahib’s eye.

 Munchi babu with one leg on a trailer basket and oblivious to the world concentrated fully on the weighment scale, calling out the weight of the leaf the chokris had plucked. A good part of his anatomy was exposed through the airy Burma shorts. The sahib embarrassed at what he saw discreetly informed the veteran of the exposure which the nubile pluckers, fit to be his grand daughters, were unable to avoid. Without battering an eye lid the veteran replied “let them look as long as they do not look at the scale I am cutting away.”

Needless to add the ratios improved even when the rains intensified.

THE RED BEACON

The flashing red light on cars much in the news lately recalls this anecdote.

The hill station was a paradise on earth for the expatriate planters who took their sojourns there, away from the heat and pressure of work, and experienced a life, which one finds in the novels of Somerset Maugham.

An expat, a regular visitor to the hill station in his youth, recently returned from UK to be with friends. He queried regarding the innumerable cars flashing the red beacon. When told that they were for VIP’s he quipped “I thought they were mobile brothels”
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  February 13, 2006
an interesting story indeed--thank you Ali

THE ELEPHANT BOY OF TEA

 Many will remember Sabu, the first Indian actor who made it to Hollywood and became the legendary Elephant Boy. This is the story of The Elephant Boy of Tea, son of an ex-patriate planter.

 Arthur Mansfield Nuttal was born in 1906, at Digulturrang TE, which was planted out by his father.

His great grandfather was Maj General Sir Arthur Nuttal of the Gurkha Brigade.  Arthur’s parents became estranged when he was very young and his mother returned to England leaving the toddler behind. His father died soon afterwards. The Miri bungalow servants adopted the abandoned child and raised the white baba in their village.

 Soon the young lad, brought up in the Miri traditions, became an expert at kheda operations, training of elephants and a talented shikari. Assam in those days was prone to malaria and kala- ajar, which periodically surfaced in epidemic form. The youngster fell violently ill and was brought to Digulturrung in a critical condition. The Bara Sahib seeing a white boy and learning of his antecedent had the patient admitted in the estate hospital.   

Planters on hearing of the English boy, gone native, decided to get him back to their civilization. Colleagues of the boy’s father helped to send Arthur to St. Paul ’s School, in Darjeeling . However, the lad so much at home with the local tribesman and the wild animals of Assam , especially the elephants, was a total misfit “among” his own. The English language and the western culture he was being educated in was totally alien to him. Not being able to express his inner feelings he developed a violent temper and was quick with his fists, traits that made teachers and students leave Arthur alone. The loner not academically inclined, but excelling in sports and games, left school before completing his final studies. He returned back to Assam .  

With the tea industry expanding rapidly contractors were engaged to clear the jungle for plantations. A renowned contractor was Walter Smith, later knighted to become Sir Walter. The gentleman, who engaged elephants for jungle clearance, employed young Nuttal and put him in charge of the herd, a job he loved. But the fiery temper, which develops when one is brought up in a disturbed environment, surfaced and Nuttal fell out with his employer.  It was with a heavy heart that he said goodbye to his beloved elephants.     

He joined the Railways as a temporary ticket collector at Makum Junction. Those days the Railways had a three-tier salary system, for Europeans, Anglo Indians and Indians. Arthur was paid the middle wages. Finding out that he was entitled to the European scale Nuttal applied but got no justice.  The refusal of the higher scale was on the grounds that although he was a white man he lived like a native. In frustration he resigned.  

A planter seeing Arthur in Makum offered him an apprentices post in Moran T.E. By dint of hard work Arthur Nuttal was promoted to the covenanted ranks and proved to be a diligent planter. He was very energetic and able to realize good work from the labourers without friction. He was adept at all garden work. Could do a full nirrick in pruning and pluck as well as the best plucker. His weakness was friction with fellow planters, especially seniors, poor administration and hostility to paper work. He was nicknamed Nutty Nuttal by his colleagues for his eccentricities.  

He went to England on leave, his first trip overseas. While in UK he met and married an English lady. It was only after marriage that he was taught to live like a foreigner. The English mem that turned Nuttal into a “Bitish sahib” was, however, unable to curb the fiery temper, even when he became the Acting Superintendent of Moran Tea Company.  

In the 40’s Assam came into the orbit of World War II. The Japanese Air Force bombed many areas and their land forces moved rapidly through Manipur into the Naga Hills , then a district of Assam Province.  Planters evacuated their families out of the war zone. The tide turned only after the Battle of Kohima when the Japanese were defeated and started retreating. 

When the Superintendent of Moran Tea Company went to leave his family in Darjeeling , Nuttal, the Acting Superintendent spread the rumour that his senior had run away. The rumour cost Nuttal his job.  

With a family to support, the couple had two kids; Arthur Nuttal accepted work as a temporary garden assistant with the Makum ( Assam ) Tea Co in ‘44. In 1947 he was promoted as Senior Assistant and put in charge of Top Side division of Margherita TE. In 1951 he was transferred to Namdang Tea Co where he received his billet in Bogapani.  

 Bogapani, in the 50’s, was in the midst of a thick jungle infested with wild animals. News of a rogue tusker, creating havoc at the Bogapani railway station, was reported with Government orders to destroy the pachyderm. Nuttal went to inspect it. He looked at the rogue and declared that it was not wild. He slowly approached the animal, talking in mahout’s language. Soon he had the animal following him and led the tusker away from the railway tracks, where a train was held up. When forest personnel queried as to how the sahib knew that the elephant was not wild he pointed to the faint chain marks on the animal’s feet.  

Nuttal was Manager of Bogapani from 1951 to 1959. During his term he cleared the estate of encroachers and started the out garden Nazirating, then infested with tigers. For killing a man-eater he was given a small plot of land by the forest authorities for a shikar camp. The story goes that every time Nuttal went for a shoot he moved the Nazirating boundary pillars thus acquiring 100 hectares of prime forestland for the company. To clear the jungle two retired sirdars were given the timber as bakshis. Once the trees were removed he distributed the land to the workers and allowed them to cultivate ahu paddy for two years. With the land levelled Nuttal started planting. Today, even after half a century, Nazirating has some of the finest teas. 

The fiery tempers never abated and lead to Nuttal’s final downfall. He quarrelled with the Superintendent and was dismissed. In 1959, aged 53, he left India for England with his family for good.  Arthur Mansfield Nuttal passed away in the 80’s. The story does not end here.  

During his bachelor days Nuttal frequented Shillong where a Khasi lady befriended him. Out of that friendship a male child was born. When the boy was of school going age Nuttal had him admitted to Dr. Graham’s Home, Kalimpong, with the instructions that the boy must never be told of his father.  

The youngster grew up and went off to England where he married and settled down. Just a few years back he, with his wife, came looking for his roots. In Shillong he met Mr Peter Furst, an ex-patriate and the last European Superintendent of the erstwhile Makum Namdang Company. Peter, who had worked under A.M.Nuttal as an assistant, on retirement   settled in Shillong, where he still resides.  

The visitor from England asked Peter to narrate about his father. It was with rapt attention that the couple listened to what Peter had to say. When he finished the lady quietly remarked that her husband was just like Arthur Mansfield Nuttal, a father the son never knew.  

                                                                                                          ALI N ZAMAN
Ex Manager Bogapani 
(1988 – 1997)
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