After long day of work when I reached home I found a letter that has come from Tamsin Bacchus, Telegraph hills London. It read
“Dear Mr Panthari, rather belatedly I worked through my father’s address book and I am preparing this note to let you know that he sadly died in July 1995 at the age of 79. My father continued to work till the last day. I apologize for not informing you earlier. I found this address book quite late. I am very happy to find that my father led a rich life and you were part of that “
The letter continued.
“I would like to give you another sad news that my mother also passed away recently. My father and mother had great memories during centennial celebration of Garhwal rifles in 1987. My spent her first 10 years of her life in Lansdowne (India) and she fondly remembered those times as happiest. She first leant Garhwali and then English”
Tamsin Bacchus who was affectionately called baby Neesham was close to her mother and brother. Her brother Martin became lieutenant in Garhwal rifles but died in the battle of Malaya. Tamsin’s mother studied English literature in Oxford then but discontinued during the war. She then married Major Neesham (Tamsin’s father)
The letter ended with.
“We will soon be coming to Lansdowne (India) to participate in a Garhwal rifles ceremony. I would like to meet you. I read in my fathers address book that you have interviewed him and recorded his voice. My brother and I wish to hear our fathers voice. We will reach lansdowne on April 2001”
During a centennial celebration by 2nd battalion garhwal rifles cotoworld England in 1999, Tamsin met general bhimayya. General bhimayya suggested her to come to India for the 2nd battalion centennial celebration. Since then Tamsin longed to come to india. Her brother who was in Australia suggested that they also can come half way round the world and meet in india. Tamsin was anyway curious and wanted to come to india and this was a golden opportunity.
Tamsin Bacchus and her finally arrived at indira Gandhi international airport Delhi along with her husband Malcolm and her two kids. First they visited Agra. During the visit to Tajmahal and Fatehpur sikri she remembered how she came to these places with her grandparents. She took pictures of all the spots where her grandparents picture was taken. It was an emotional moment for her and felt like home.
After the Agra visit Tamsin and her family came to Delhi and then later started to north side. There they stayed at a guesthouse that was booked by Brig dhillon to tour the Jim Corbett national park. After seeing the Corbett national park they started for Lansdowne. During the whole trip Tamsin continued to remember all photographs that showed the same picturesque natural beauty full of pine trees and roads full of dried leaves (pirul). The whole journey seemed to have ended quickly.
At the Lansdowne their staying arrangements were taken care by Garhwal regiment center. She was eager to hear her fathers voice. Tamsin later wrote in her article “ my main purpose to come to lansdowne was to meet mr Yogesh Panthari. Editor of Alaknanda. He became my fathers good friend during centennial celebration In 1987 and he has his voice taped. Listening to my fathers voice is very emotional as his voice is unfortunately not recorded anywhere”.
Tamsin Bacchus was staying in Garhwali mess guest house called Rudra cabin. In the next morning I got some one came from Garhwali mess and conveyed that folks from England wanted to meet me. I knew it so got ready and went to meet her with the voice recorder and the taped voice.
Tamsin aka baby Neesham was a beautiful lady in her thirties and was eagerly waiting for me. As soon as she saw me and found that I am the same friend of her father, I could see happiness in her eyes. She greeted me but she was looking at the tape recorder that was hanging on my shoulder. I entered the room. There was a drawing table and on the left side wall there were thick mirrors. Near the mirror there was a bright dark gray sofa. Tamsin asked me to sit on the sofa. I placed the tape recorder in the stool next to me and sat on the sofa. Tamsin also sat down and was eager to listen to her fathers voice. Her face was shinning from the early morning sunlight coming from the window. She would frequently use her fingers and push her hair back.
When tape started rolling, Tamsin became emotional and tears rolled out of her eyes. It was evident that a daughter while listening to her late fathers voice, as if her wet eyes watching her fathers face. She travelled seven oceans to india and it was evident that it was worth it. I felt that the daughter connected to her father at that moment.
I took the tape out of the recorder and gave to Tamsin and said goodbye to her. Her good bye response was similar to what a daughter provides when leaving her parents place. I could see her fathers image in her eye when she bid me good bye.
Few month later, I received Tamsin’s letter written from England.
“The most important accomplishment of my india visit was to get the voice of my father that we would not have gotten anywhere else. I visited museum in Lansdowne where I saw various pictures and artifacts specially pictures of German war where Naik Darban Singh received the Victoria cross. I also visited Lily bungalow where my mother was born and that place is the same except a microwave in the kitchen. I was able to compare the memories based on my mothers stories she wrote about this place. In the Garhwal mess I enjoyed standing in front of my fathers trophies.
After that we went to Rudraprayag which has routes to Badrinath and Kedarnath. Near that a city called Gochar, I witnessed a ceremonial parade and attended women’s meeting. All the speeches and discussions were in garhwali and Mrs Dhillon continued to translate it to me. Next day we enjoyed the best music by Garhwali band. The tent in the bank of Alaknanda was decorated with different lights. It was a beautiful experience .
Next day we were ready for our flight back to London. Before that we we were able to visit Hardwar and attended evening puja/Aarati in Har ki paidi. My father used to say that we and the mountains have the same caste. So we come here to Garhwal mountains to meet our mother. As my parents used to come here as if they coming to their home, I also came the same way. I am convinced that with this trip my parents soul must be at peace”
After reading the letter I also felt a sense of accomplishment. Hope Tamsin and her siblings would feel at peace whenever they listen to their father’s voice.
The Swaman Organization 