Memoires of a Non Resident Indian

Wednesday, March 2, 2011

The document Autobiography of Gurbachan Chand 'Chaudhary' can be downloaded in PDF from the following Links:

Autobiography (in English)

Autobiography (in Punjabi)

Preface

The idea of writing this book comprising my experiences of different stages of my life, in India and abroad came to my mind when I, sitting at my residence in the USA, was acknowledging whatever the God has showered over me, my wife and my entire family, and has given almost everything, whatever we desired, to both the branches of my family (in India and USA).
I rose from a very small person to a recognizable position in my life, only with the blessings of the Almighty God. Therefore, in this’ book I have tried to narrate the struggle of my life. The facts described are a reality which may be motivative for others including my family members. Although every effort has been made to give all aspects, in brief, of the life/stages but whatever the God has given to me and my family cannot be explained in a few pages of this book. Apart from the thanks of the Almighty God some other important incidents/events of my life have also been touched, in brief, in the book.

I am lucky enough that Omnipresent has always accepted my prayers for my every demand. 0 God give us strength so that we may remember you at every time.

I pray with my folded hands to my respected mother and father who supported and guided me in the way, as a result of which I could lead a happy life. Though my mother and father had expired but they live in my heart.

Acknowledgement

Written documents are permanent record for new generations, for ever as compared to the un-written/printed words which have a very limited life. Therefore, I wanted to convert and get printed my experiences, which were in the handwritten and unorganized form, into a systematically organized book form. In Chandigarh and around there were many educated and administratively experienced persons. But after a long thought I decided to request Dr. Sodhi Ram, former Controller of Examinations, Panjab University, Chandigarh for his help and expert guidance for fulfilling my desire of bringing out my autobiography. Therefore, I requested him for his help and after some time, he hesitantly agreed to help me, just out of regard, for sparing some time from his busy schedule.

He added/deleted everything whatever I said/desired and gave a proper form to my ideas after modifying and polishing my manuscript and made it coherent/concise and systematic into readable/presentable form. Therefore, as my moral duty, I am very grateful, from the core of my heart to Dr. Sodhi Ram, former Controller of Examinations, Panjab University, Chandigarh not only for his encouraging attitude but also for sparing his valuable time for transforming my raw/handwritten manuscript into this presentable book form. Not exaggerating, but it is a fact, that without his mature academic help it was not possible to have this book in your hands. His wife Surinder Kaur also deserves appreciation for the hospitality, having a very good nature, being god fearing and extra social.
My limitless thanks are due to my parents who allowed and supported me for my study, provided guidance along with all types of help for my success. I am also thankful to my wife Mrs. Pritam Kaur, for helping and standing with me in all phases of my life., A very beautiful, faithful and clear hearted lady I can not explain her goodness in words. I could reach up to this stage, only with her nice and wonderful company.

I am thankful to my children, especially Dev-Abba in USA, and Chaman-Usha and Dr. Sohan Lal-Nirmaijit (Gogi) in India who have been giving me and my wife full respect/regard and help of every kind.

I am also thankful to my father-in-law, mother-in-law and their children/grandchildren who loved/supported/gave me full respect and co-operation. Their respect and regard still continues.

Mr. Atma Singh Kairon, Supdt. (Retd.) and Mr. Tara Singh, Dy. Secretary (Retd.), Punjab Vidhan Sabha, Chandigarh also deserve my particular thanks for their valuable help and guidance from time to time during my service in the Vidhan Sabha and afterwards also. I am very much thankful to Mr. Gurmit Chand Saroya, Under Secretary (Retd.), Govt. of Punjab; Raghbir Singh Dhillon, Former O.S.D., Planning Deptt., Punjab; Tarsem Lal Heer, Supdt.(Retd-), Irrigation Deptt., Punjab; H.L. Jassi, Manager, Central Bank of India; Buta Ram (USA) and all my near and dears in India and abroad for their help, co-operation and valuable guidance from time to time. Special mention needs to be made of Bishan Dutt - Darshna USA, Baldev Mastana (UK) and Paramjit Bhutta, Kewal Bolina and Prem Kumar Chumber (USA). My sincere thanks are also due to Mr. Harnam Singh S/o Ch. Dasondha Singh, Ex. MLA and Mr. Mehnga Ram Soond, respectively President and Secretary of PUNSGOVA, UK, not only for the respect and regard they gave but also for the selfless service they are doing for their native fellows in Punjab. I am always indebted to the residents of my native village Shergarh who always guided me to learn goods things in life. I learnt a lot from the institution i.e. Punjab Vidhan SAbba Secretariat, which helped me to build my life and that of my family. I also feel obliged to them.

S. Devinder Singh Jhawar of USA for donating huge amount for the needy and poor persons in Punjab (through me) and Shri Sodhi Ram along with his friends donated considerable amount of money for purchasing computer for the poor and needy girls of the Community. I appreciate and thank them for their generous contribution.

I thank Amarjit Singh Dhillon, former President of Guru Nanak Sikh Temple of USA, situated at Orangeethrope in California, as I feel my initial interaction with him made my mind strong to stay in America.

I am especially thankful to the Sadh Sangat of different religious places abroad and in India for their co-operation and guidance for ways and means of living in places, other than our original birth place. I learnt many things from them.

My heart feeling thanks to Haribans Ghirra, Gurmej Lal Chamba and Jai Birdi call (all are in Canada) for their lovable co-operation, help and regards have been given to me in the past and onwards.

My respectful thanks are also due to my Braille Institute of Orange County, California where I had been attending classes for about one decade (with breaks) on different subjects. All the staff members, especially Mrs. Nancy Henderickson who was very kind to me were very able and competent. However, Samual Achs, a very competent teacher in all subjects still loves me very much and he is my friend too.

I am thankful to Jayne-Mari Garland (USA), former second language English Teacher for satisfying my fatherly affection for my biological daughter living in India.

I am also thankful to Baljit Ken, for inspiring in me the benefits of positive thinking.

I feel equally thankful to Parminder Singh Sandhu (Mohali) and Parshottam Kumar Heer of Aslamabad, Hoshiarpur (Punjab) who have always readily made their auto-rickshaws available to me and made my mobility from place to place free from any type of hassle.

Birth, Childhood and Education

I was born in a small village Shergarh, Tehsil & District Hoshiarpur, Punjab. According to the school record my date of birth is January 20, 1937. My parents were poor belonging to a low caste according to the caste system in India.

With the blessings and kindness of my mother and father and the help of my brothers and sisters, sisters-in-law and others I passed my Matriculation Examination in 1953 and Pre-University in 1964.

We tried our best to get some job but due-to poverty and lack of some good approach (Siffarish) and also little education, it took a long time to get a job. In the first instance I was appointed as an Asstt. Clerk on temporary basis in the Irrigation Department, Punjab. Before getting a job my family circumstances were so bad that we had hardly any money and other things to live by. At that time we were four members in our family i.e. mother, myself, my wife and my elder son (Dev Raj), as my father had passed away when I was studying in school. In those days there were plenty of hardships for us.

Employment

I had a class fellow Mr. Mehanga Ram, a "Jat" by caste. He asked me to go with him to cut wheat during the wheat harvest. On that day the sun was very hot and it was very difficult for me to cut the wheat in the scorching heat. I prayed to God and requested him to give me some job. When I came home, on the same day my mother gave me an envelope. I read the letter which was my appointment letter in the Irrigation Deptt. My family got a big relief. With the blessings of my mother and God I joined the job and started work in Ambala. That was a very important day in my life.

After some months may be a year I was transferred to Bhatinda. I tried to do my work very honestly. One day a farmer came in my office and my immediate boss was on leave. The farmer asked me about his application for "mogha" (an outlet of canal). I gave him information and he gave me Rs.5 or 10 and asked me to take some sweets for my home. Those days my wife and my child Dev Raj had recently shifted from Shergarh to Bhatinda. I kept that currency note in my pant’s pocket. By chance I had to go to see a Picture in the cinema hall. My wife washed my clothes including that Pant. The way of washing the clothes was by first boiling the water after putting pieces of soap cake.

My wife so boiled and beat the pant with the wooden baton (Thappi) that with the result the currency note along with my own money got torn into pieces.

That was the first lesson to me that we should not take/accept money from any one except what we earn. On that date God blessed me with contentment of mind. From that date I began to believe that God was always by my side and helped me in all my tasks.

When I was in Bhatinda working as an Assistant clerk there was a news in the newspaper that for getting a permanent job we should apply to the Subordinate Services Selection Board, Punjab Chandigarh. I applied and passed the English type test. The aforesaid Board recommended my name for the post of clerk in the Punjab Vidhan Sabha Secretariat, Chandigarh (Punjab Legislative Assembly secretariat) probably in 1957-58.

I worked as a civil servant in the Punjab Vidhan Sabha Secretariat for about 39 years and retired in 1995 as Jt. Secy, next to the Secretary with the blessings of my mother, father, my superiors and subordinates, my colleagues, my brothers, my sister, my life companion, my children, my relatives, my friends, my nears & dears, my well wishers and above all my spiritual guru and Almighty God.

Memoires of a Non Resident Indian

Wednesday, March 2, 2011

Autobiography of Gurbachan Chand 'Chaudhary' - Read Online

Autobiography of Gurbachan Chand 'Chaudhary'

Contents

Preface

Acknowledgement

Birth, Childhood and Education

Employment