Letters of Jaipal Chamar and his son Ayodhya Das

In 1912, Jaipal Chamar, then 25 years of age was indentured from his hometown in Basti District, Uttar Pradesh for five years of service in the Caribbean. Landed in Jamaica, he was sent to Westmoreland where he re-indentured himself after the initial five-year period. After his indentureship, he worked in various parts of Jamaica as a paid laborer, finally settling down in Kingston where he resides at the home of an adopted daughter. In his day Jaipal who was a noted dancer, and today treasures his old dancing costume, brought from India, as dear as life. In 1954 at age 66, Jaipal who had lost touch with his family in India was able to re-establish his Indian connection: he was able to trace and write to a son in Calcutta who was born some months after Jaipal's departure; born to a mother forcibly widowed by the vagaries of the system which Indians neither created nor desired. From Calcutta, Ayodhya Das was equally happy to renew his connection. His letters to his father are as informative as they are poignant:

"Respected father,
You will be surprised to know that a son whom you might not have seen is replying from this side. I was about to born when you left this place. We were two brothers. Our mother looked after us anyhow and we came to Calcutta for service. Fifteen years ago my brother Dwarika passed away and left me alone in this unlucky world."

As the correspondence developed, Jaipal's eagerness to find out about his wife and his village friends increased:

"Write me about your mother's welfare and the rest of the village. Respectful greetings to all who know me."

Ayodhya had a fervent wish to see his father. He begged him to return:

"Whenever your letter comes I wish I had wings
And could fly away to see you.

Your destitute sister has no one and
I am looking after her

She has gone blind crying for you.
She now lives only with the hope of seeing her brother's face.

And my mother after receiving your first letter
cried for ten days and died."

quote:

She has gone blind crying for you.
She now lives only with the hope of seeing her brother's face.

That reminds me of Yacob and Yusuf. when I did not get to see my first son (custody) I used to think how merciful God was to Jacob that He made him blind so he could not see how other fathers were with their Yousufs. Funny how the mind works when you are in pain. What a touching letter.

If de man is still alive, he would be 120 years.

Very moving, some unique stories yet to be written.

Like the 92 yrs old 1st gen fm GF.
Did you check his pic?