MOHAN BHANDARI'S RUMINATIONS: UME-UME-OOO ! A TRIBUTE TO THE BARWELS

Lt Col Noel Fredrick Barwel

If I recall correctly, it was 25 December 1949. Lt Col Noel Fredrick Barwel (NFB) and his wife Marion Barwel (MB) had specially invited both of us brothers for tea at their bungalow Ridgeway, Ranikhet. NFB was a great friend of my Grandfather. He had fought in the World War and had been granted the brevet rank of Lt Col.Soon , thereafter, he had started practicing what he was best at-practicing law-as a Barrister at the Calcutta High Court. It was here that he had a massive & fatal heart attack while pleading a case. He was the last Barrister of the Calcutta High Court.

He and his wife had taken on rent the bungalow that had a sprawling area and an extremely well kept garden. Faqir Singh was their Man Friday. He was all in all. He looked after everything even whether the Sahibs were there or not. Of course, he had a battery of assistants to help him. Mem Sab paid them decently and both NFB & MB were loved by one and all.They loved children and made it a point to distribute chocolates/lemon drops every time they met the young brigade. For the children, it was always a festive time meeting the grand couple who walked all over the Mall especially towards the Ranikhet Club as and when they visited Ranikhet. They had no children.

My Grandfather had done his Law from Allahabad University in 1909. He had studied with Bharat Ratna Pandit GB Pant right from Ramsay Inter College days till they graduated. The latter was one year junior to him. Both of them returned to Ranikhet and Almora respectively and started practicing in the local/District Courts. Till Garhwal Division was carved out of the Kumaon Region and given a separate Commissioner in 1969, my Grandfather was the sole Government Counsel in the entire Hill Region. He was also a Legal Adviser to NE Railway. So, both NFB and my Grandfather had a common interest -the Legal profession. It was NFB who had advised my father to also pursue a career in Law; which he did and followed earnestly in the footsteps of his father.

It was NFB who had saved the Ranikhet Club from extinction. He fought the case and the case can be found in AIR 1948 , All 146, NFB vs John Jackson & Ors, 21 Jul 1947. As you enter the Ranikhet Club, you find his photograph in uniform on the right hand side. Above the Front Office, is an enlargement of one of his photographs that he had given to my Grandfather. I had got it mounted in walnut wood in 'chinar pattern' at Srinagar.

So, we were told on the 24th itself that we shall be accompanying our Father & Grandfather to wish the Barwells a Merry Christmas. Every Christmas, whenever, the Barwells were at Ranikhet, my Grandfather prepared a 'dali' and presented it with great love and affection to the Barwells. The Dali was delivered at our place at exactly 1 PM on 25 Dec. I still recall that we brothers had a few similar patterns of woolen dresses that were prepared by 'Kayya' the family tailor. That evening we were sporting British Tweed Coats and Italian Corduroy Trousers. At about 3 PM, Grandfather's friend from Kalika came in his car near our house and we all left for Ridgeway. We reached there in another 20 minutes or so.

It was a festive sight. It was virtually a mela. There were separate yet well laid out tables displaying all kinds of local sweets, cakes, pastries, biscuits, and what have you. Everyone was enjoying.

Faqir Singh had seen the car entering the gate. He received us and took us inside the Main Hall where both NFB & MB received us with open arms.We were simply thrilled and enamoured to see the get up of the interiors and the giant Christmas Tree. The Dalis were presented and gracefully accepted by both husband and wife. We were the darlings as other children were in the lawn outside.

We were helped in picking up our plates by Faqir Singh. The eatables were delicious. The tastes and varieties of cakes ,pastries and other goodies were simply out of this world. At one point, MB came to me and asked whether I was enjoying the tea and the goodies. As I was simply hogging ,I simply nodded my head as my mouth was full.We had been extensively briefed by our Grandfather to maintain good discipline and demeanour. We ensured it, as the eatables were just superb.

My plate had nothing left now. As it is, it was a difficult task to hold even a quarter plate in our small hands! We talked in Hindi/Kumaoni at home although we heard both my Grandfather and Father speaking in impeccable English. Given our age and service then, this was like Greek to us. Faqir Singh saw my dilemma. He came up and asked me in chaste Kumaoni whether I wanted some thing more. I was looking for this divine opportunity and I said UME-UME-OOO by rotating and pointing my finger towards the table. In the meantime, MB had seen us talking and she asked Faqir Singh as to what was I demanding. He told her that I was asking for UME( Muffin)-UME(Strawberry Jam)-OOO(Chocolate Sauce). She had a hearty laugh. Later, whenever, we met NFB & MB, either one of them always asked me " UME-UME-OOO".

MB was working in Calcutta and had become old. Her eyesight was also failing. My father used to visit her there. On one such visit, she told him not to come.She was admitted in an old age home now.

Even then, she kept on sending monthly pay to Faqir Singh .

Both NFB and MB are no more today. There is no better day than today to pray for their departed souls. RIP. Bless us !

It was NFB who introduced his clerk Shanker to literature. Shanker later rose to become one of the best writers of Calcutta.Such was the influence of NFB.

Read 'KATO AJANARE" or "SO MUCH UNKNOWN".

To all, here is wishing you a Merry Christmas & a Happy New Year!