I was born on 10th Dec 1946 in Port Blair in a cell in the now famous Cellular Jail half of which was a make shift hospital after the Japanese surrendered and quit Andamans. With independence the Cellular jail became empty as most were political prisoners of the British were released and my dad started life in India as a Jailer in charge of the Cellular Jail. Later on he was the Medical Superintendent of the makeshift hospital, where I was born
I think before I was born my parents lived at Wimberly Ganj.
The home I remember was on Supply Road behind Aberdeen Bazaar and the road led to the Army Supply gates area. My cousin Venugopal had a provision shop in Mayabunder. Later on we moved to govt quarters in South Point.
Our Supply house bedroom window opened up to the sea and we could see the full Ross Island. The school I went to for just one year in 4th Std was Mountbatten Preparatory school and my head mistress was Mrs Sandal, whose husband Mr Sandal I remember drowned in a Riop at sea trying to save two girls and my Hindi teacher was Miss Shanti.
My grand uncle Govindarajulu Naidu ( my grandfathers youngest brother) had a liquor shop next to Krishnaswamy general stores and he also had a Radio and Record shop across the road. He also owned three elephants when I was there and helped move logs in his timber business.
Police Inspector was Mr Krishnan and his wife was Radha my mothers best friend. Later on he was transferred to Pondicherti as Supdt of Police. My classmate at school was Rajeshwarlal who I heard did medicine and practiced in Port Blair as a Doctor.
Wonder what happened to my school. We used to walk to school from home through the supply barracks. School was from 7.30 am to 1.30pm
My younger sister Urmila and I were accompanied by our lovely pet Tippu a Black and white dog up to the school gate. At 10.30 recess Tippu was there waiting outside the gate and got Pat's and cuddles from us and our friends and again Tippu was there to escort us home when school finished.
Mt Cousins Hemalatha and her younger brother Shantaram also went to same school as us and so did my good friend Mongtua.
My cousin tells me, my dad had a huge share in land on Ross Island that was sold to public servants and that I should claim it. Don't know how to go about it sitting in Sydney. If I could I'd sell it and donate the money to my fav charity Jeevodaya in Madras. My mother told me Leo Tolstoys story of how much land a man needs? It is etched in my mind and never in my life chased land money or wealth of any kind as they are responsible for jealousy and family conflicts.
I also remember The Japs had built many Bunkers along the coast to shoot at allied ships. I was amazed to see a similar bunker in Aukland NZ. Talking of Japanese bunkers over looking the sea I remember there was one near South Point overlooking the Sea ofcourse and we boys would go into the concrete bunker with sticks, poke them out like guns and go ratta ratta rat and came out feeling like heroes
OMG Just googled Andamans and ended up watching a video on andamans episode 1 and captured an image of the clock tower at Aberdeen Bazaar as we come from Chattam Jetty. You look straight at the building behind the clock tower and that is where Krishnaswamy store was and next to it my grand uncles Liquor shop and next to it Guptas Textile stores. Every one bought material there and took it to the tailors.. I am using the Mac Pro and Dont know how to attach a down loaded photo 🤣🤣🤣
The sign on the left that says flat 20%. My grand uncles radio and gramophone shop was there the most popular brand being His Masters Voice
My trip to Port Blair in Nov 2013 got aborted. We checked in and waited for boarding and it never happened. we sat there for three hours only to be told there was a hurricane in Port Blaiur andall flights wer cancelled as the runway was under water. Was not meant to be.
Going again this Nov 2019. God willing. But many friends and family members are already gearing up to go with me to Andamans on a holiday. I am thinking I will go by ship and spend a week there with Mithu and the tourists can fly in later. I dont want to be a tourist and visit Havelock Island etc
Remember I talked about hand crafted sofa by Burmese carpenter in Andamans in 1954. 65 long years ago. Still in use now take a good look at the solid coffee table made by the same man. Awesome furniture
I think before I was born my parents lived at Wimberly Ganj.
The home I remember was on Supply Road behind Aberdeen Bazaar and the road led to the Army Supply gates area. My cousin Venugopal had a provision shop in Mayabunder. Later on we moved to govt quarters in South Point.
Our Supply house bedroom window opened up to the sea and we could see the full Ross Island. The school I went to for just one year in 4th Std was Mountbatten Preparatory school and my head mistress was Mrs Sandal, whose husband Mr Sandal I remember drowned in a Riop at sea trying to save two girls and my Hindi teacher was Miss Shanti.
My grand uncle Govindarajulu Naidu ( my grandfathers youngest brother) had a liquor shop next to Krishnaswamy general stores and he also had a Radio and Record shop across the road. He also owned three elephants when I was there and helped move logs in his timber business.
Police Inspector was Mr Krishnan and his wife was Radha my mothers best friend. Later on he was transferred to Pondicherti as Supdt of Police. My classmate at school was Rajeshwarlal who I heard did medicine and practiced in Port Blair as a Doctor.
Wonder what happened to my school. We used to walk to school from home through the supply barracks. School was from 7.30 am to 1.30pm
My younger sister Urmila and I were accompanied by our lovely pet Tippu a Black and white dog up to the school gate. At 10.30 recess Tippu was there waiting outside the gate and got Pat's and cuddles from us and our friends and again Tippu was there to escort us home when school finished.
Mt Cousins Hemalatha and her younger brother Shantaram also went to same school as us and so did my good friend Mongtua.
My cousin tells me, my dad had a huge share in land on Ross Island that was sold to public servants and that I should claim it. Don't know how to go about it sitting in Sydney. If I could I'd sell it and donate the money to my fav charity Jeevodaya in Madras. My mother told me Leo Tolstoys story of how much land a man needs? It is etched in my mind and never in my life chased land money or wealth of any kind as they are responsible for jealousy and family conflicts.
I also remember The Japs had built many Bunkers along the coast to shoot at allied ships. I was amazed to see a similar bunker in Aukland NZ. Talking of Japanese bunkers over looking the sea I remember there was one near South Point overlooking the Sea ofcourse and we boys would go into the concrete bunker with sticks, poke them out like guns and go ratta ratta rat and came out feeling like heroes
OMG Just googled Andamans and ended up watching a video on andamans episode 1 and captured an image of the clock tower at Aberdeen Bazaar as we come from Chattam Jetty. You look straight at the building behind the clock tower and that is where Krishnaswamy store was and next to it my grand uncles Liquor shop and next to it Guptas Textile stores. Every one bought material there and took it to the tailors.. I am using the Mac Pro and Dont know how to attach a down loaded photo 🤣🤣🤣
The sign on the left that says flat 20%. My grand uncles radio and gramophone shop was there the most popular brand being His Masters Voice
My trip to Port Blair in Nov 2013 got aborted. We checked in and waited for boarding and it never happened. we sat there for three hours only to be told there was a hurricane in Port Blaiur andall flights wer cancelled as the runway was under water. Was not meant to be.
Going again this Nov 2019. God willing. But many friends and family members are already gearing up to go with me to Andamans on a holiday. I am thinking I will go by ship and spend a week there with Mithu and the tourists can fly in later. I dont want to be a tourist and visit Havelock Island etc
Remember I talked about hand crafted sofa by Burmese carpenter in Andamans in 1954. 65 long years ago. Still in use now take a good look at the solid coffee table made by the same man. Awesome furniture