Happy to be back with a new story for all our readers. Alan Lane takes us back in time in his inimitable style.
by Alan Lane
During the cold weather of 1966/1967, I had been requested to overhaul the Crossley QVD 6 engine at Powai Tea Estate, Consolidated Tea & Lands Group, a James Finlay garden, located on the road between Digboi and Margherita. On arrival at the estate, which had the burra sahib as Sam Weller, and the factory assistant manager who was Mr Verghese, I was advised that I would be staying with Mr & Mrs Verghese at the Bungalow No.2 which is located on the other side of the main road from Digboi to Margherita.
At the end of the first day, I went to this bungalow for afternoon tea, and had a chat with the Verghese family. I was very pleased to make contact with them again, as when they had come to the UK, Mr Verghese attended a short training period of two weeks at the Crossley engine factory in Manchester, and as at that time I was nearing the completion of my apprenticeship, I was given the responsibility of helping him with any queries about the engines being built at the works. After our talks on the verandah of the Powai bungalow, the usual dustoor of going for our baths was observed, prior to having drinks and then dinner together, and then charpoy bashing.
In the morning, I was wakened by the bearer with palang-ka-chai, which was put beside my bed. I then went down the bedroom’s internal stairs to the gusl-kamra, for a spruce up and a shave. On soaping up my face, I heard the tea cup and spoon being moved, and so I came up the stairs to admonish the bearer as I had not yet drank my tea. On arriving at the top step, I noticed that there was a strange person sitting on my bed drinking my chai. I approached this person and asked him what he was doing, and looking at him I noticed that he was a hill tribe man. He ignored me completely, and so I went out to the verandah and called the bearer and chowkidar, who immediately then told Mrs Verghese (Mr Verghese was already at kamjari) who then phoned the factory.
Next thing was that two of the Ghurkha gate guards turned up and manhandled this tribesman down and out of the bungalow. The Digboi police duly arrived and took the stranger to their station for interrogation. I carried on having my shave (I was still all soaped up with shaving soap all this time – looking a bit like Father Christmas!) and then went to the factory engine room to carry out the overhaul of the engine.
Later on during the day, Mr Verghese was given a report by the Digboi police concerning this tribal man. The report stated, although I cannot swear to it being true, that the tribal person had come down from NEFA (now Arunachal Pradesh) with the intention of kidnapping a child to take back to his district and used as a sacrifice to the spirits where a new bridge had been built over a river.
It seems that after having been admonished by the use of a lathi, the man was released and escorted back to the NEFA border from where he had come from. Nothing further was heard.
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| Pic courtesy Alan Lane |
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These Tea anecdotes are so fascinating. Thanks
ReplyDeleteWhat a great story Alan although with his intentions you were lucky not to have had more trouble. I suppose he liked your cup of tea too much! Best wishes Denys Shortt
ReplyDeleteI have heard of human sacrifices by contractors of roads, bridges and railways in North Eastern India during the 18th and 19th centuries. Animal - goats are regularly sacrificed even today. Religious superstitions are difficult to overcome.
ReplyDeleteI loved this story! I was born in Digboi as Dad worked for Burma Oil and we lived in various of the colonial bungalows that are now heritage listed. My parents were close friends of the Frue’s who ran a tea garden and I have fond memories of playing with their daughter Marion in the lush garden.
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