The Storm's Rumblings

This was my first voyage with my wife and children. I have often observed in the course of this narrative, that on account of child marriages amongst middle class Hindus, the husband will be literate whilst the wife remains practically unlettered. A wide gulf thus separates them, and the husband has to become his wife’s teacher. So I had to think out the details of the dress to be adopted by my wife and children, the food they were to eat, and the manners which would be suited to their new surroundings. Some of the recollections of those days are amusing to look back upon.

This was my first voyage with my wife and children. I have often noted that among middle-class Hindus, child marriage leaves the husband educated while the wife remains almost unable to read or write. A wide gap separates them, and the husband has to become his wife’s teacher. So I had to work out what my wife and children should wear and eat. I also had to decide what manners would suit their new surroundings. Some memories of those days are amusing to look back on.

A Hindu wife regards implicit obedience to her husband as the highest religion. A Hindu husband regards himself as lord and master of his wife who must ever dance attendance upon him.

A Hindu wife considers unquestioning obedience to her husband her highest religious duty. A Hindu husband considers himself his wife’s lord and master. He believes she must always be ready to serve him.

I believed, at the time of which I am writing, that in order to look civilised, our dress and manners had as far as possible to approximate to the European standard. Because I thought only thus could we have some influence, and without influence it would not be possible to serve the community.

At the time, I believed that to look civilized, we had to dress and behave as much like Europeans as possible. I thought that only by doing so could we have some influence. Without influence, I believed we could not serve the community.

I therefore determined the style of dress for my wife and children. How could I like them to be known as Kathiawad Banias? The Parsis used then to be regarded as the most civilised people amongst Indians, and so, when the complete European style seemed to be unsuited we adopted the Parsi style. Accordingly my wife wore the Parsi sari and the boys the Parsi coat and trousers. Of course no one could be without shoes and stockings. It was long before my wife and children could get used to them. The shoes cramped their feet and the stockings stank with perspiration. The toes often got sore. I always had my answers ready for all these objections. But I have an impression, that it was not so much the answers as the force of authority that carried conviction. They agreed to the changes in dress as there was no alternative. In the same spirit and with even more reluctance they adopted the use of knives and forks. When my infatuation for these signs of civilisation wore away, they gave up the knives and forks. After having become long accustomed to the new style it was perhaps no less irksome for them to return to the original mode. But I can see today, that we feel all the freer and lighter for having cast off the tinsel of ‘civilisation.’

I therefore decided how my wife and children should dress. How could I want them to be known as Kathiawad Banias? At the time, Parsis were considered the most civilised people among Indians. So, when a completely European style seemed unsuitable, we adopted the Parsi style. My wife wore the Parsi sari, and the boys wore Parsi coats and trousers. Of course, everyone had to wear shoes and stockings. It took my wife and children a long time to get used to them. The shoes cramped their feet, and the stockings smelled of sweat. Their toes often became sore. I always had answers ready for all these objections. But I think it was not so much my answers as the force of my authority that persuaded them. They agreed to the changes in dress because they had no alternative. In the same spirit, and with even greater reluctance, they began using knives and forks. When my infatuation with these signs of civilisation faded, they gave up the knives and forks. After growing used to the new style, they perhaps found it just as troublesome to return to the old ways. But today I can see that we all feel freer and lighter for having thrown off the tinsel of ‘civilisation.’

On board the same steamer with us were some relatives and acquaintances. These and other deck passengers I frequently met, because, the boat belonging to my client’s friends, I was free to move about anywhere and everywhere I liked.

Some relatives and acquaintances were on the same steamer with us. I often met them and other deck passengers. Because the boat belonged to my client’s friends, I was free to go wherever I liked on board.

Since the steamer was making straight for Natal, without calling at intermediate ports, our voyage was of only eighteen days. But as though to warn us of the coming real storm on land a terrible gale overtook us, whilst we were only four days from Natal. December is a summer month of monsoon in the Southern hemisphere, and so gales, great and small, are quite common in the Southern seas at that season. The gale in which we were caught was so violent and prolonged, that the passengers became alarmed. It was a solemn scene. All became one in face of the common danger. They forgot their differences, and began to think of the one and only God—Musalmans, Hindus, Christians and all. Some took various vows. The captain also joined the passengers in their prayers. He assured them all, that though the storm was not without danger, he had had experience of many worse ones, and explained to them that a well-built ship could stand almost any weather. But they were inconsolable. Every minute were heard sounds and crashes which foreboded breaches and leaks. The ship rocked and rolled to such an extent, that it seemed as though she would capsize at any moment. It was out of the question for any one to remain on deck. ‘His will be done’ was the only cry on every lip. So far as I can recollect we must have been in this plight for about twenty four hours. At last the sky cleared, the sun made his appearance, and the captain said, that the storm had blown over. People’s faces beamed with gladness, and with the disappearance of danger disappeared also the name of God from their lips. Eating and drinking, singing and merrymaking again became the order of the day. The fear of death was gone, and the momentary mood of earnest prayer gave place to maya.¹³ There were of course the usual namaz¹⁴ and the prayers, yet they had none of the solemnity of that dread hour.

The steamer sailed straight to Natal without stopping at any ports along the way, so our voyage lasted only eighteen days. But when we were only four days from Natal, a terrible gale overtook us. It seemed to warn us of the real storm that awaited us on land. December is a summer month of monsoon in the Southern hemisphere, so gales, large and small, are common in the Southern seas at that time of year. The gale was so violent and lasted so long that the passengers became alarmed. It was a solemn scene. Everyone became one in the face of a common danger. They forgot their differences and began to think of the one and only God: Musalmans, Hindus, Christians and all. Some made various vows. The captain also joined the passengers in prayer. He assured them all that, though the storm was not without danger, he had experienced many worse storms. He explained that a well-built ship could withstand almost any weather. But they could not be comforted. Every minute brought sounds and crashes that seemed to warn of breaks and leaks. The ship rocked and rolled so much that it seemed ready to capsize at any moment. No one could remain on deck. ‘His will be done’ was the only cry on every lip. As far as I can remember, we must have been in this plight for about twenty-four hours. At last the sky cleared, the sun appeared, and the captain said that the storm had passed. People’s faces lit up with joy. As the danger disappeared, so did the name of God from their lips. Eating and drinking, singing and merrymaking became the order of the day again. The fear of death was gone, and the brief mood of earnest prayer gave way to maya.¹³ There were, of course, the usual namaz¹⁴ and prayers, but they had none of the solemnity of that dreadful hour.

But the storm had made me one with the passengers. I had little fear of the storm, for I had had experience of similar ones. I am a good sailor and do not get sea-sick. So I could fearlessly move: amongst the passengers bringing them comfort and good cheer, and conveying to them hourly reports of the captain. The friendship I thus formed stood me, as we shall see, in very good stead.

But the storm brought me closer to the other passengers. I was not very afraid, because I had experienced similar storms before. I am a good sailor and do not get seasick. So I could move among the passengers without fear, comforting and encouraging them. I also gave them updates from the captain every hour. The friendship I formed in this way served me very well, as we shall see.

The ship cast anchor in the port of Durban on the 18th or 19th of December. The Naderi also reached the same day.

The ship anchored in Durban harbor on December 18 or 19. The Naderi also arrived that day.

But the real storm was still to come.

But the real storm was still to come.