Walji Nathoo
- Parents
- Siblings
Walji also went in to business and later the businesses were run by their sons.
1965 Trip to Pakistan and India
The Waljis had built a big building in Tanga for 800,000/=. I was Walji's mama (maternal uncle). Waljibhai was good company in Tanga, going to films, Ras Kazone.
We went on a trip to India/Pakistan with Waljibhai in 1965. Through exchange control, we got 1,500 rupees for the three of us including my daughter Yasmin. We went to Pakistan and some relation of Walji came to pick us up. We all went to his apartment in Karachi. We got off but left our bags behind in the taxi which took off. We were about to call the police when the taxi came back with our bags.
In Karachi, we went about town, saw films. We went to Agra, India to see the Taj Mahal but we could not find space in any hotels, there was some big event going on. Then Walji found a place for rent but first had to check that the toilet was not the squatting type as he had problems with his legs. We rented the place.
Madaf (unripe coconut in Swahili) was 5 rupees, much more expensive than in Tanga. We would go to buy fruits by taxi including safarchand (apples, tangerines) – Waljibhai was very fond of fruits.
We didn't go to Kashmir because of snow and cold. Abuali Missionary, who we happened to meet in Karachi said to go by air, but if you go by train, you will be able to see the places along the way.
We went to our ancestral home town Gavidar in Gujarat, India, to see our old building and Popat Kassam's. There was chicken and goats. We would not drink the milk because it was unsafe. They laid out a table and chairs and said to us to relax and enjoy the breeze. Next to the river was a levee for containing any flooding.
In Bombay, we would have breakfast at a hotel, paying separately for it, while paying 50 rupees separately for the room. We then would take taxis back to Jina bapa's place. A woman was engaged to do laundry and house-cleaning.
There was a lot more poverty in India, compared to Pakistan. There were child beggars everywhere but if you gave to one, a whole crowd would gather. I would give 50 cents, people telling me 10 cents is what I ought to give, I wonder what can they do with just 10 cents. Agra, we went by car, took pictures, had lunch. Meanwhile, the driver went away to get drunk and never came back. What to do? We didn't know anything about him, we were just told that he knows the place and would take care of us and not to worry. So, we hired another car, and we reported the incident. But it was not wise to argue especially with Punjabis.
We also visited Waljibhai's relations.
