Back in Bombay

Mona and I arrived in Bombay in early June, 1936. We stayed at Father’s place in Bandra, a suburb on the north of Bombay Island – about 9 miles from the city centre. The Monsoon had just started but, fortunately, the house was on the sea front so we had a lot of fresh breeze – often too much! It was the day after our arrival when we had an interesting surprise…

Just before Father left for his office after breakfast, he got a phone call from the Chief Secretary to the Government of Bombay. In those days, the Chief Secretary, an ICS officer, was a very powerful person under whom the Home Portfolio fell. This included the Police Department and Intelligence.

“Tyabji, I understand that a young English woman is your guest? I have also been informed that she has come to marry you!”

Father was taken aback, but after a pause he replied, with a laugh, “It is correct that I have a young English woman as my guest, but she is my son’s fiance”.

“Oh, I am sorry for the mistake, said the Chief Secretary, may I speak to her?”

When Mona came to the phone, she was greeted with the surprising news: “Mona, this is your Uncle Henry! What is this I learn that you are thinking of marrying Mr. Tyabji’s son! Of course, Mr. Tyabji is from a very respected family and holds an important post in the Government, but he is an Indian – and you cannot marry an Indian! It’s not done!” [ed. Officially, Uncle Henry was “Sir Henry Knight”]

“Well”, Mona replied, “I am doing it! I do not see what business it is of yours – we scarcely know each other.”

“Please don’t get upset”, said Uncle Henry. “If you come to tea this afternoon at the Yacht Club, we could have a nice talk and I’ll explain matters”.

“Oh! That will be very nice!, said Mona. “I’ll put on the nice saree that my future father-in-law has presented to me.”

“Oh my God! Don’t do that”, exclaimed Uncle Henry. “The Yacht Club is very strict that only white people are permitted in. Even the Indian Maharajahs cannot visit! I’ll get thrown out if you come dressed in a saree!”

[ed. Mona at her Father-in-law’s place in 1937 – dressed in a saree!]

Well, Mona went to the Yacht Club dressed in her Scottish kilt. Henry met her and had a long talk, explaining that, however educated and Anglicized Indians are, “British Society” do not mix with them socially, except for “formal” occasions. Hence, marrying an Indian would likely cause her embarrassment in her social life. Henry was generalizing to some extent as there were many instances of Indian Government Officers (even from the “Favourite of the Gods, the ICS”) who had married Europeans. One of these cousin, Akbar Hydari (son of my Uncle, Sir Akbar Hydari), who had a Swedish wife and went on to become the Governor of Assam and was given a Knighthood!

Before taking his leave, Henry told Mona that he would introduce her to some Senior Officers such as the Director General of Police and some of his staff. He felt that this would give her a chance to appreciate that type of society in India. One advantage of this offer was that Mona got a chance of getting some riding on very good horses from the Police and the Army and met some very nice young people at the same time. One such couple was the District Collector of Sholapur whom she met at a friends house where they had come for a visit. The “Wells” were Scottish and Mona became very fond of them. They invited her to spend a few days at Sholapur which she did – and had the fun of playing with their pet lamb!