The Rift
It was at Sahib Humphrey’s funeral a final rift took place between the Gopal Das family and Felicity Rani Reed Smith. Felicity Rani was granddaughter to the Gopal Das family and they came to the funeral expecting to manage funeral arrangements as they’d done for their daughter Geeta. They came with good intentions.
But Felicity Rani had other ideas. While she’d deferred to them in the past she was now a married woman and had a husband who she felt should be the one to arrange proceedings. It was her father after all, and she’d be the one to give him the greatest honour. Her husband Thomas Smith was sad at this turn of events. He worked with Gopal Das at Madras headquarters office and admired him. He insisted Felicity Rani agree to Gopal Das having joint participation in planning arrangements. But the slight caused a permanent rift between Gopal Das and his granddaughter.
It was only on sifting through Humphrey Reed’s personal papers Thomas Smith discovered Humphrey in his later years had acquired a little hotel in the hills above their station. It was at this hotel the family had spent their holidays since Humphrey had married Geeta. This was the place Felicity Rani remembered from her childhood with its English owners, whitewashed walls, well-kept gardens and teak furnishings.
The English owners had confided in Humphrey on one of his retreats in the hills prior to death they saw no future for themselves in India and were planning on leaving the country as soon as they could find a buyer for their hotel. When Humphrey had enquired the price expected he was amazed at how little they were anticipating. Clientele had mostly been European vacationers seeking a rest from the stifling heat of the plains, but now there was an anticipated exodus of Europeans the owners did not think it would be viable financially in future.
Humphrey boldly offered a lower figure which the English couple gratefully accepted. The couple had a faithful manager who’d served them over the years. He’d dearly have loved to make that hotel his own, but even that give away price was beyond his means. Humphrey approached him to see if he’d be willing to continue on as manager with a higher pay? Agreement was reached much to the delight of both.
That had been several months prior to Humphrey’s death. Fortunately ownership papers had been legally transferred and it along with personal effects was now the sole property of Felicity Rani according to the will. This was another point of contention between Gopal Das and his granddaughter. He felt that having taken so much trouble over the years in support of the Reed family, some of the Reed estate should have been gifted to his family.
Thomas Smith watched the sharp interchanges between grandfather and granddaughter with apprehension. He was loyal to his wife but thought she’d been unreasonable during these incidents. He didn’t understand it was grief at work, and what he’d witnessed was not his wife’s natural nature. Later Felicity Rani came to bitterly regret her actions when she discovered contact with her grandparents and extended family was irreparably damaged and further contact impossible.
Bad feelings extended to relationship between Gopal Das and Thomas Smith. His English name was an irritant in the Madras office increasingly being staffed by Indians to the point Thomas even considered changing his name to the Bengali name of one of his ancestors. Gopal Das cultivated that animosity as a way to get even with his granddaughter.
Finally the matter was resolved with Thomas being transferred to New Delhi. His talents and work overshadowed the English name and he was considered one of the rising stars now that so many Europeans had left the country. Gopal Das was incredulous he’d been passed over for that plumb career advancement and he determined to throw his full weight behind the Quit India movement daily gaining strength.
The time would come when he’d see these foreigners out of the country and those like him who’d been disadvantaged all these years would be masters at last. That anticipation brought a smile of satisfaction.
To be continued.
“© Copyright Ian Grice 2014 All rights reserved”
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I find my self saddened by this read. You wrote it well, showing the personalities, the shifts and the ever increasing tensions. Yet still one would think the grandparents at least would have had the maturity to understand the grief of a daughter and not allow greed to play a role in funeral arrangements. So very sad.
I look forward to the next chapter Ian.
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People of the East have a different mind frame to Westerners. Perceived wounds extend beyond individual to individual, those wounds involve extended family and community..Gopal Das in his society should have been afforded honour as the elder of the extended family. His word would be final, particularly considering Thomas Smith really didn’t have a heritage as such to counteract that. Gopal Das would also feel the responsibility of taking charge in an emergency on behalf of the extended family and not being able to do so would reflect on him and his family in the eyes of the community and cause frustration. Felicity Rani with her mixed heritage would have known that but been affected by the Western side of her upbringing too. I don’t have a problem with racial mixing in marriage (my wife is Hungarian, the only Asians in Europe) but their children can experience prejudice from both sides of the divide, each side expecting the children to lean their way. Its a sad and difficult world isn’t it?
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Another interesting read sweet Ian, but still sad. Looking forward to the next chapter. Hugs
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Life contains much sadness, but if we can discipline ourselves to rise above the downside of life we can experience a positive mind frame in spite of sad circumstances.
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Very, very true.
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This is very nice. I was confused, thinking Sahib Humphrey and Humphrey Reed were two different characters, but I think Sahib is a title, like Mr., yes?
Fondly,
Elizabeth
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Yes, but it is more than that. Shri for a man or Smt for a woman more closely parallels Mr and Mrs in India. Sahib or Memsahib is reserved for someone to be given honour.
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It is sad that the two ethnicities and cultures couldn’t live harmoniously, but death and inheritance can cause severe rifts, even in families in which there are no reasons for animosity. Your theme runs true. I also suspect that many who are not promoted because of lack of performance comfort themselves with the rationalization that discrimination was the reason. it all rings true with a hint of the inevitable. I look forward to seeing how things will work out. Jane
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Your comments are right on Jane. Human nature is basically selfish no matter what the culture and when aspirations are not met then revenge is common.
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It is as if the Quit India movement for Gopal Das is an unstoppable train and everything that happens is fuel to him for these beliefs. I wait in anticipation for the next chapter Ian…this is such a good story.. 🙂
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It is natural for those who own a country going back into antiquity to want to have their independence. Various occupying forces ruled India but for those who come from abroad to do so they had to have the hearts of the people they ruled in the long term. I suppose that also applies to a ruling class within an ethnic community too. Eventually power comes from the ruled, and at some point in time they will rebel and install their own kind if they are unsatisfied with their rulers.
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I hope I understand what was behind it Ian, but Felicity’s grief was lost amoungst it all. To me it begs the question that we are all joined, as one great spirit, and when we hold onto control through religion, territory, things become fractured.
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You are so right Jane.
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Anticipation helps to give satisfaction and hope 🙂
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Thank you Yoshiko. It’s always nice to have you visit my page
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You are welcome, Ian 🙂
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