ROSHANALI-JIVABHAI-VIRPURWALA
My-father-was-born-in-a-small-village-in-Panchmahal-district-of-Gujarat-named-Lunavada.
He-hailed-from-a-very-poor-family.-His-father-(my-grandfather)-was-a-travelling-tea-peddler'
The-second-youngest-of-four-brothers-I-guess-life-was-least-trying-for-him-as-the-other-two-brothers-shouldered-the-economic-burden-of-the-family
Which-is-how-he-came-to-be-schooled.-Genuinely-having-an-affinity-for-studies-he-realised-the-limitations-of-the-local-village-school-where-he-studied.
Which-is-how,he-came-to-Bombaywhen he-was-eight-years-old
,along-with-his-eldest-brother-who-was-a-seasonal-tradesman-cun-peddler.
Those-were-the-times-when-buildings-in-Bombay-had-a-sign-put-at-their-entrance-"Rooms-for-Rent-available".
It-was-the-British-Raj-that-ruled-India-must-have-been-the-late-1920s,I-think
The-three-brothers-got-a-room-on-AbdulRehman-Street,-close-to-Pydhonie-for-an-all-inclusive-rent-of-as-low-as-rs.10/-per-month.-This-money
as-well-as-the-daily-expenses-had-to-be-earned.
Father-at-the-age-of-eight-started-working-at-a-glass-merchant's-shop-nearby.He-would-sandpaper-the-rough-edgesof-glass-and-mirrors-all-day-and-attend-St.xavier's-Night-School-at-Dhobi-Talao-in-the-evening
It-would-be-nearly-10-pm-by-the-time-he-finished-cooking-eating-and-completing-other-household-chores.He-would-then-sit-with-his-books-to-study.-Just-then-the-landlord-would-come-knocking-at-the-door-and-call-out,”Roshan!-Come-on-awitch-off-the-light.Its-already-past-ten
!”
My-father-had-no-choice-but -to-
put-out-the-light You-see-the-rent-was-all-inclusive-including-the-electricity-charges-and-one-of-the-rules-of-the-tenancy-was-that-all-lights-shall-be-put-off-at-10pm.
My-father-would-then-collect-his-books-pen-and-paper-and-go-down-and-study-in-the-streetlight,seated-below-a-lamp-pole.This-is-how-he-completed-his-matriculation.
He-then-joined-the-Arts-wing-inSt.Xaviers-College-to-complete-his-Bachelors-in-Honours!-And-that-too-in-Economics!-a-very-diffcult-thing-to-do-and-considered-superlative-achievement-during-those-times!
He-had-beautiful-cursive-handwriting-and-because-his-English-language skills-were-very-good,-a-lot-of-people-would-come-to-him-to-get-their-letters-drafted-by-him.-I-still-have-some-of-his-old-writings-and-shall-post-them-here-as-soon-as-I-can.
Since-his-verbal-and-written-skills-were-par-excellence,it-wasquite-easy-for-him-to-choose-to-become-a-lawyer.He-began-his-law-studies-in-earnest-and-completed-his-first-year-LLB.
But-just-about-that-time-the-Bombay-Municipal-Corporation-advertised-for-personnel-in-various-categories.At-that-time-there-was-50%-reservation-for-the-minorities-including-Muslims.My-father-applied-and-got-the-job-of-Ward-Inspector.He-served-the-Corporation-for-36-years-diligently-and-honestly.
He-retired-in-1978-and-left-for-his-heavenly-abode-in-1997 Some-day-I-hope-to-write-a-book-on-his-life.......or-maybe-someone-else-will...........Someday!
3 comments:
Very nice write up!
Thank you! His life has been an inspiration to all siblings, especially me!
You must write more about this this fascinating man, who was your father. Yes I would truly have loved to meet him but now at least know him through you
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