18:40 IST
Parents' Room, Inderpuri
New Delhi, India
DAY 1
I flipped through pictures today. Dadi showed me a small collection of elegant memories of the black-and-white era. She has albums - about six (that's how many I saw today). These are pretty picture books - big rectangular, leather-bound hard covers (probably made of cardboard) with paintings on the cover panels (Dadi painted one of those herself!) and black pages within. The black pages contain tiny stickered hooks for placing the photographs. She flipped through the pages and got me to see scores of pictures - in black-n-white, sepia, and old-world coloured modes. One wasn't exactly black-n-white, but there weren't any other colours except black and white. Perhaps it was a faded form. One album had thick, super-smooth pages with photos embellished on them. That looked like the work of a professional. It was. Some Dutta photographers had done it.
The photographs were of her younger days - when she was principle of her school, when Dadaji was still around, when papa was a tiny tot. She was slim; small eyes, long face, smooth skin, long black hair in a single braid, and an air of confidence about her lady-like elegance - something I haven't quite seen in anyone else. Perhaps she was well aware of her elegance? Because she loved heels and make-up and was always seen to be dressed impeccably. Perhaps her father, who in pictures looks like a lord had seeded ideas of 'always look your best at all times' at an early age and Dadi, who speaks highly of him was the only one of the seven siblings influenced? She still lays a lot of importance to appearances. Dunno.
There were pictures of her receiving awards from some very important people. She used to call those very important people during the annual day function in her school. The very important people include Mrs Indira Gandhi, Mr. Lal Bahadur Shastri, Mr. Prithviraj Chauhan etc. She has a number of pictures of those. We took a look at one photograph, one with her, Mrs Prem Sharma, Mrs Ghera and a couple of others - all surrounding Mrs Indira Gandhi at her residence. Mrs Gandhi was seen holding a paper and reading what was written on it, while the rest looked on at her. The picture belonged to a year she could not recall. But one look at that black-n-white glossy image, the smile faded from her face and her decibels lowered. She said 'This picture is taken the day we went to Mrs Gandhi's house. Mrs Prem Sharma's husband was posted in Assam (she said he worked for SIB. Will check what that means in a jiffy) and was kidnapped by some people there. She had written this letter seeking help from Mrs Gandhi. Her husband never came back.' Dadi couldn't remember much after that. Flipped the page, topic closed.
There were some pictures of Dadaji. Despite his height (not taller than mine), he looked regal. Square face, small, intense-looking eyes (how do eyes look intense...I tend to fall for such eyes and can never really explain to myself what I mean when I feel the eyes look intense) Perhaps I mean steady. Not flitting. Dunno. Dadaji - a thin moustache and a square build. In all the pictures I saw, he was dressed up in a suit. There were quite a few work-related ones. Dadaji worked in SIB - he was a special information officer of sorts for Press Information Bureau. I am not aware of complete details of his life at the moment, but know snippets. Will write those snippets. Snip snip:
He worked for the Home Affairs ministry and was responsible for carrying out tasks for them
He wrote pieces for PIB
Dadi says he used to come home and weep over getting someone killed.
In the pictures, he is seen with a group of foreigners. One of the pictures had a newspaper article cutting. I cannot quote anything because I fail to recall even the headlines (memory, memory, blowing in the wind). However, the gist of the article was that a group of international delegates (from countries like Turkey, Hungary etc) had come over to visit India. The article quoted each minister praising the country. Most quotes talked about how such a 'diverse country' lived 'in peace together'. My thoughts flit. I just realised I am talking from memory here. A memory I created this very afternoon. And as I type from memory, I already feel a little unsure of the exact details of things - for example did all the quotes really talk about diversity and peace? Or is that my presumption? Or am I being lazy and for convenience sake, have decided in my head that diversity and peace must be the obvious topics? Am I looking for the easy way out because I just don't want to get up to look at the articles again? Yes. I think so. Although, I am going to make the effort to quote an apt quote from a book I am re-reading. Here goes:
I need to return briefly to a few incidents that have grown into anecdotes, to some approximate memories which time has deformed into certainty. If I can't be sure of the actual events anymore, I can at least be true to the impressions those facts left. That's the best I can manage.
~ The Sense of an Ending by Julian Barnes
The article looked like a press release and was by-lined Special Correspondent. Think Dadaji wrote it himself. When was it dated? Can't recall. Sigh. Memory. Among the pictures, there was one with a small card as well. It had a cartoon figure of a cart and children and inside it was a thank-you note by someone (international delegate perhaps) thanking 'my dear Vohra' for his 'arduous but fruitful work' and for the India Tour of 1966.
There were pictures of papa - mischevious eyes. Dadi's eyes lit up when those cropped up. She loves her kids. No opinion on that. A factual, objective fact.
So this is a gist of the very many pictures I saw. And in all probability, this is a start to Project Dadi. A diary will be maintained for such random jottings often inspire ideas. If nothing else, they organise the mind. And my mind needs it more than ever now. Dadi, you are a star. And I plan to tell your story to the world. My way. Your love will be my guiding light.
