SAIN DAS SHAH OF NAROT MEHRA
Late Shri Ganga Dhar Shah of village Narot Mehra was a short statured man of under five feet height with dark brown complexion. He was a renowned money lender of his times and a very influential personality in his area and even beyond, during British Raj.
In those days, they had a flourishing business of money lending, agricultural products, sale-purchase of movable and immovable properties and rental income from various shops, godowns and houses. They were considered to be the most influential and rich family of those days where their business of lakhs of rupees was spread in areas far and wide. Due to the demise of Ganga Dhar Shah's brothers, all the business and property came under the control of Ganga Dhar Shah, being the only survivor in the family.
After having visited various holy places of worship, occasional pooja-paath, anushthan, havan-yagya praying gods for a child, a silver lining came in Ganga Dhar"s life when he came to know that his wife was pregnant at the age of nearly earlier forties! Ganga Dhar Shah became so excited and happy that he started celebrations in his house three months before the child birth and started showering whatever he could give to the poor and needy. Gifts, money, clothes, blankets, cows, oxen, sheep, agricultural implements, shops and even pieces of land were given away in charity.
When Sain Dass was borne, Ganga Dhar Shah became so overjoyed and thankful to Almighty that he would climb up on the mounty of his three story Haveli in Narot Mehra and shout with full force at the highest pitch for the people to come and join with him in his happy moments. Ganga Dhar Shah opened the mouths of the jute bags full of gold, silver, other coins and dry fruits and gave
away the bounty with both hands to whosoever came to him for giving good wishes and prying for the long life of the child. These celebrations continued till the next birthday of the Great Sain Dass.
At the age of merely 13, Sain Dass was married. At the age of 18, Sain Dass had two daughters namely Sheela and Raksha. Sheela was married to Jagdish Chander, a landlord and school teacher of village Nagri in tehsil Kathua. The other daughter Raksha was married to Gur Prasad, a landlord and businessman of Jawali, brother of my Chachi Dana Wati and Mama of Raju Bhai. Son Mann Dhata's present family lives in Sarna, near railway station.
They were three brothers. Ganga Dhar Shah was the youngest one. All of them were married but none had any child even after a very long time of their marriage. Time passed and Ganga Dhar's both the elder brothers and their wives left for their heavenly abode without any heir.
In those days, they had a flourishing business of money lending, agricultural products, sale-purchase of movable and immovable properties and rental income from various shops, godowns and houses. They were considered to be the most influential and rich family of those days where their business of lakhs of rupees was spread in areas far and wide. Due to the demise of Ganga Dhar Shah's brothers, all the business and property came under the control of Ganga Dhar Shah, being the only survivor in the family.
After having visited various holy places of worship, occasional pooja-paath, anushthan, havan-yagya praying gods for a child, a silver lining came in Ganga Dhar"s life when he came to know that his wife was pregnant at the age of nearly earlier forties! Ganga Dhar Shah became so excited and happy that he started celebrations in his house three months before the child birth and started showering whatever he could give to the poor and needy. Gifts, money, clothes, blankets, cows, oxen, sheep, agricultural implements, shops and even pieces of land were given away in charity.
When Sain Dass was borne, Ganga Dhar Shah became so overjoyed and thankful to Almighty that he would climb up on the mounty of his three story Haveli in Narot Mehra and shout with full force at the highest pitch for the people to come and join with him in his happy moments. Ganga Dhar Shah opened the mouths of the jute bags full of gold, silver, other coins and dry fruits and gave
away the bounty with both hands to whosoever came to him for giving good wishes and prying for the long life of the child. These celebrations continued till the next birthday of the Great Sain Dass.
At the age of merely 13, Sain Dass was married. At the age of 18, Sain Dass had two daughters namely Sheela and Raksha. Sheela was married to Jagdish Chander, a landlord and school teacher of village Nagri in tehsil Kathua. The other daughter Raksha was married to Gur Prasad, a landlord and businessman of Jawali, brother of my Chachi Dana Wati and Mama of Raju Bhai. Son Mann Dhata's present family lives in Sarna, near railway station.
When son Mann Dhata was merely few days old, Sain Dass's wife passed away. Now looking after three children, that too, one of them a small baby of few days, created major problem. In the meantime, Ganga Dhar Shah also expired and the whole responsibility came on the shoulders of Sain Dass.
Sain Dass was of a average height and dark complexioned man like his father. To overcome the problem of raising of the children, some near relatives of Sain Dass arranged his second marriage in Indora, District Kangra, Himachal Pradesh in a poor brahmin family.
Soma Vati was a very beautiful, tall, slim, gori, soft spoken, fashionably very well dressed and culturally rich girl. She was the only daughter of her parents. She had studied up to 8th class in Indora High School. Smt. Durga Devi Pathania of Ladori, who was the Headmistress of Govt. Girls Primary School, Ladori, was the classmate of Soma Vati in Indora High School.
After marriage, Soma Vati made a ceremonious entry into the "Shah Haveli" of Narot Mehra. The Haveli made of Nanakshahi bricks had three stories with number of gumbads and beautifully arranged and made attaries with colourful windowpanes. Paintings on the inner and outer walls of the Haveli were made with fast and loud colors. Paintings were very attractive and the witness of the past glory of the family. Alongside the haveli, a small canal (Sua) coming from Apparwari Canal from Malikpur is still flowing there.
Three mature and professional maids were at the service of Soma Vati (Shahniji) all the day long. Everyday arrangements for bath, clothes, make-up and miniature hair-do (mindies) along with fixing of a heavy gold chownk on the head was the routine duty of these maids. Shahniji used to change clothes twice a day excluding night wears. She looked so pretty and beautiful. Whenever she had to go out of the haveli, not less than ten women were seen surrounding Shahni ji. She was so attractive and none would pass by her without throwing complementary flying look at her and bowing in admiration.
By this time Sain Dass had become Sain Dass Shah and had taken over family business firmly in his hands. He was also very popular and known for his kindness and helping attitude like his father. He always used to visit his landed properties scattered everywhere, on a horse dressed in shorts, jacket, ankle boots and a English hat with goggles on in summer and khaki jodhpur style English trousers in winters
Sain Dass Shah now had an additional family of seven children excluding three from the first marriage. Lokesh, Chittranjan, Kamlesh, Yash, Rama, Visharwa and KK Pratap. It was a very well to do family by now. Smt. Soma Vati remained permanent member of Gram Panchayat of Narot Mehra. She also fought Zila Parishad's election but unfortunately defeated by a margin of 15 votes where malpractice by the old candidates was not ruled out.
When all was going on well in all spheres, suddenly all hell broke loose when Sain Dass Shah had a paralysis attack due to which he suffered severe loss of memory and as a result he forgot himself and everyone beside him and everything else. His memory never came back despite great efforts and longer expensive treatment. This situation continued for 16 years until his death!
During the period of his long sickness, all the responsibilities of looking after matters of properties, already pending cases, litigation had to be followed up by his wife Soma Vati. She had to cut several rounds after round of local courts in Pathankot in order to manage the disputes of landed properties in rest of her life, scattered far and near. There were also such properties that nobody else except Sain Dass Shah knew about it.
Gold jewelry and silver that was in plenty, vanished and could not be traced out ever after hell of lot of efforts made by the family. Give and take of money stopped immediately and daily expenditure went on increasing exorbitantly day by day. Lakhs of rupees were already spent on the medical treatment of Shahji but all in vain. Their two elder sons Lokesh and Chittranjan had to be recalled from Dalhousie Residential School in order to cut expenses.
In July 1973, I was married to Shri and Smt. Sain Dass Shah's daughter Rama Kumari. Rama was the only child who had to take over all the responsibilities of looking after household chores and constantly taking care of her ailing father and two younger brothers all the time, in addition to her schooling.
Ab ek chutkala jo meri shadi se sambhandit hai. When the talk of my engagement with Rama Kumari was going on, my Mama Kishan Dyal Khajuria, resident and Pujari of Mandir Kalyanrai, Khajjan, stood in opposition. He raised a contemptuous objection that "Why those Punjabi people want a Himachali boy? Further Mama said that, "Jab Maal Punjab ki Mandi mein nahi bika toh Himachal ki Mandi mein bechna chahte hain".
Sain Dass was of a average height and dark complexioned man like his father. To overcome the problem of raising of the children, some near relatives of Sain Dass arranged his second marriage in Indora, District Kangra, Himachal Pradesh in a poor brahmin family.
Soma Vati was a very beautiful, tall, slim, gori, soft spoken, fashionably very well dressed and culturally rich girl. She was the only daughter of her parents. She had studied up to 8th class in Indora High School. Smt. Durga Devi Pathania of Ladori, who was the Headmistress of Govt. Girls Primary School, Ladori, was the classmate of Soma Vati in Indora High School.
After marriage, Soma Vati made a ceremonious entry into the "Shah Haveli" of Narot Mehra. The Haveli made of Nanakshahi bricks had three stories with number of gumbads and beautifully arranged and made attaries with colourful windowpanes. Paintings on the inner and outer walls of the Haveli were made with fast and loud colors. Paintings were very attractive and the witness of the past glory of the family. Alongside the haveli, a small canal (Sua) coming from Apparwari Canal from Malikpur is still flowing there.
Three mature and professional maids were at the service of Soma Vati (Shahniji) all the day long. Everyday arrangements for bath, clothes, make-up and miniature hair-do (mindies) along with fixing of a heavy gold chownk on the head was the routine duty of these maids. Shahniji used to change clothes twice a day excluding night wears. She looked so pretty and beautiful. Whenever she had to go out of the haveli, not less than ten women were seen surrounding Shahni ji. She was so attractive and none would pass by her without throwing complementary flying look at her and bowing in admiration.
By this time Sain Dass had become Sain Dass Shah and had taken over family business firmly in his hands. He was also very popular and known for his kindness and helping attitude like his father. He always used to visit his landed properties scattered everywhere, on a horse dressed in shorts, jacket, ankle boots and a English hat with goggles on in summer and khaki jodhpur style English trousers in winters
Sain Dass Shah now had an additional family of seven children excluding three from the first marriage. Lokesh, Chittranjan, Kamlesh, Yash, Rama, Visharwa and KK Pratap. It was a very well to do family by now. Smt. Soma Vati remained permanent member of Gram Panchayat of Narot Mehra. She also fought Zila Parishad's election but unfortunately defeated by a margin of 15 votes where malpractice by the old candidates was not ruled out.
When all was going on well in all spheres, suddenly all hell broke loose when Sain Dass Shah had a paralysis attack due to which he suffered severe loss of memory and as a result he forgot himself and everyone beside him and everything else. His memory never came back despite great efforts and longer expensive treatment. This situation continued for 16 years until his death!
During the period of his long sickness, all the responsibilities of looking after matters of properties, already pending cases, litigation had to be followed up by his wife Soma Vati. She had to cut several rounds after round of local courts in Pathankot in order to manage the disputes of landed properties in rest of her life, scattered far and near. There were also such properties that nobody else except Sain Dass Shah knew about it.
Gold jewelry and silver that was in plenty, vanished and could not be traced out ever after hell of lot of efforts made by the family. Give and take of money stopped immediately and daily expenditure went on increasing exorbitantly day by day. Lakhs of rupees were already spent on the medical treatment of Shahji but all in vain. Their two elder sons Lokesh and Chittranjan had to be recalled from Dalhousie Residential School in order to cut expenses.
In July 1973, I was married to Shri and Smt. Sain Dass Shah's daughter Rama Kumari. Rama was the only child who had to take over all the responsibilities of looking after household chores and constantly taking care of her ailing father and two younger brothers all the time, in addition to her schooling.
Ab ek chutkala jo meri shadi se sambhandit hai. When the talk of my engagement with Rama Kumari was going on, my Mama Kishan Dyal Khajuria, resident and Pujari of Mandir Kalyanrai, Khajjan, stood in opposition. He raised a contemptuous objection that "Why those Punjabi people want a Himachali boy? Further Mama said that, "Jab Maal Punjab ki Mandi mein nahi bika toh Himachal ki Mandi mein bechna chahte hain".
This was really a disgusting and unwanted comment that he passed. He did not stop here. He refused to attend my marriage despite repeated requests by my mother and other elders. In this regard, I may mention here that in her very early age, when her father was okay, Rama was sent to her Nani in order to give her company as she was all alone. Rama lived in Indora for about 6-7 years and studied there up to 8th class. She was no more a punjabi girl now. She was so perfect in pahadi dialect that she was all the more a Himachali girl. That is why she had no problems in mixing up with new himachali family after her marriage and adapt to new environment.
An extremally extrovert, helpful, thoughtful, culturally rich and enterprising, she is a very good wife and caring mother who is appreciated, respected and admired in the neighborhood because of her all personal charm, positive attitude and talkative nature. Her passive nature, however, prevents her to argue or face any untoward situation boldly. She is an Australian trained beautician and her professional skills are greatly appreciated by her clientele.
An extremally extrovert, helpful, thoughtful, culturally rich and enterprising, she is a very good wife and caring mother who is appreciated, respected and admired in the neighborhood because of her all personal charm, positive attitude and talkative nature. Her passive nature, however, prevents her to argue or face any untoward situation boldly. She is an Australian trained beautician and her professional skills are greatly appreciated by her clientele.
Borne in 1955, she looks younger than her age. Her deceptive physical appearance does confuse newly acquainted people who are not easily prepared to accept that our children are already qualified professionals in the Corporate World and have made us proud Dadu-Dadi and Nanu-Nani.
Rama's two younger brothers, Visharwa and KK Pratap. KK Pratap, a college going boy, left home one day morning, 37 years ago and never came back home till date. Visharwa is living in the same house, though now completely modified. His four children, two girls and two boys are all professionals. Visharwa's own shopping complex in Narot Mehra is doing good business.
After expiry of my mother-in-law, our visits to Narot Mehra are now restricted to a great extent.
Rama's two younger brothers, Visharwa and KK Pratap. KK Pratap, a college going boy, left home one day morning, 37 years ago and never came back home till date. Visharwa is living in the same house, though now completely modified. His four children, two girls and two boys are all professionals. Visharwa's own shopping complex in Narot Mehra is doing good business.
After expiry of my mother-in-law, our visits to Narot Mehra are now restricted to a great extent.
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