India
INTRODUCTION - Pete
I graduated from university nine years ago and began to belatedly think about what I might like to do to earn some money and to start a glorious and rewarding career. The problem was that I didn’t know anything about the working world.
So, I did what seemed to be the appropriate thing and decided that I would copy someone in the family. At that point I had been gifted a lifetime of memories visiting Bruce and Pauline in Shoreham, of their pipe-smoke filled sitting room and dining room.
These visits always had the backdrop of stories from my fascinating uncle chancing his way around the old empire with the rock-solid ticket of a directorship from a Lloyd’s of London insurer and an imperturbable constitution for spicy curries and strong drink.
“If you don’t ask you don’t get”.
What a remarkable joy it is to let Bruce share in his own words a little about this world. Oh, and I never managed to get a job in shipping.
BRUCE CAKEBREAD
India in 1939 was very different from Today. In 1939 India known as the Jewel of the Empire was ruled by numerous English people who were members of the India Civil Service. A number of Indians were pressing for Independence. In 1942 India was threatened by the Japanese occupation of Burma and as a result many British soldiers were sent to India to help the Indian troops. Two of my uncles, who were in different regiments, were sent to India to act as motor cycle scouts. They happened by chance to see each other close to the Burmese border. By the end of the 2nd World War many Indians were demanding Independence. When Clement Atlee became prime minister in England Louis Mountbatten was appointed Vice Royal of India in 1947 and later that year, in August, the break up of India was announced. The North West parts of India became Pakistan. East Bengal also became part of Pakistan. In both of these areas the population were mainly Muslim. The rest of India retained their name. Mainly Hindus lived in this part. Both countries obtained their own Independence.
In 1955 the area in East Bengal became East Pakistan (still under control of Pakistan).
In the early 1970s East Pakistan wished to break away from Pakistan and in 1973 with the assistance of the Indian army managed to obtain Independence and became Bangladesh.
In March 1971, I had my 1st Business trip outside of Europe to Bombay. I went with a senior member of the firm and travelled 1st class on Air India (Club class did not exist). On the outward trip free packets of cigarettes were available. The Indian Gentleman who was sitting next to me stated that before going to the customs hall visit the stall where drinking permits could be purchased. The only persons entitled to such permits were Non-Indians and Indians who had a letter from their doctor stating it was medically necessary to drink alcohol. In the Hotels the bars were generally in the basement and really poorly lit and your permit had to be shown to gain entry, now permits are not necessary. I suggest you only purchase drinks which come out of a sealed tin. Bottles are often topped up with water.
My colleague was rather tight fisted and when we arrived at Bombay he said the taxi fare to the Hotel was rather expensive and as a result we would travel by bus. We left the terminal at 6.30am the temperature was 99 F and the aroma was awful. The bus springs had collapsed on one side.
The bus operator was BEST and the bus did not leave for another hour. What a welcome to India. This was the 1st of more than 30 trips I have taken to the Indian subcontinent. The people are very pleasant and as I like curries I find the food very good. I recommend trying a Madras Curry and make sure you have a cucumber available as this is much better than water to reduce the hotness.
A few years later I visited Pakistan. I had to visit the Pakistan Shipping Corporation. At the same time of my visit a deputy prime minister of the Soviet Union was seeing PSC. The shipping Co. decided to hold a joint reception in our honour. The reception was held at a local hotel by the swimming pool, the Russians tried to get me drunk. The deputy Prime Minister collapsed but I was okay. The small bush I had been standing by died that night!
I visited Bangladesh about 20 times, once with my wife.
I have many stories to give but time is limited so I will make reference to one incident. When I visit Bangladesh I generally catch a flight from Dhaka to Chittagong and it takes about 30 minutes. One day I went to Dhaka Airport to catch the 10.30am flight. Upon arrival I was greeted with the news that the whole aircraft had been reserved for the President's Lady. I complained and pointed out that my passport had been stamped with the VVIP Stamp. (In Bangladesh you can be a VIP, VVIP and even VVVIP. They agreed I could travel on that flight and I sat next to Mrs Ershad.
All photos are brilliant and were provided by Bruce Cakebread and belong to him.
