Dad's story, in his own words:
Dharam Bhushan. ( b. 1931. - , m. Man Mohini.)
My earliest memories are from age three, I think, the time when long term memories are established. My father was a teacher and was superintendent of the hostel for student. Living quarters were on the second floor of the hostel. Then we lived in Lahore, now in Pakistan.
Then I was a fire bug. In summer we used to sleep on the roof. One morning I woke up, found the match box of father, lighted matches and put them under the pillow, then I slept for a few moments, I think, got up. and went down stairs. I heard some body shouting ‘The bed is on fire’. Of course no body knew who the culprit was, and I kept quite.
One Dusehra evening, the family visited the festival grounds. We saw the burning of Ravana. We also visited some side shows. One significant show was ‘well of death’. In a wire globe two motor cycles ran at right angle to each other. The wonder was they did not collide. Impressed on my mind are faces of relatives who were there. Bau ji (father), my Buaji (father's sister), my cousin sisters Ram Piari and Shanti. Some body carried me, I don’t know who.
I remember the second marriage of Bau ji (father). I remember the ceremonial seating of me in the lap of my new mother.
My father bought me a pair of shoes and instructed me to keep them clean. I must be very obedient, I took a bar of soap and the shoes, went to a water tap and washed the shoes and then placed them safely on the shoe rack. In the evening we had to visit some body. I put on clean cloths, but could not put my feet in my shoes. My father was angry when he knew what I had done,
Near 1938, Bau ji (father) got the job of a headmaster of a school at Jand, seven miles east of River Indus. I started my school there. One evening I saw a star with a long and ‘U’ shaped tail (a comet.). By this time the W.W.2 started.
Devki Nandan (brother) was born in Jand. We lived in Jand for about seven years. Then we lived in Rawalpindi for about six months, and I completed my grade seven. One evening I found that my mother was visiting a circus show with some friends, I followed her stubbornly against her threats. She gave way and I got to see the circus show. With the new school year, Bau ji (father) got a job in Gujarkhan. I was in grade eight. These were the turbulent times. The struggle for independence was at its height. There were several public meetings. The elections to public legislations were hotly contested. April 1947, communal problem came the fore front. It was a Moslem's dominated area. Moslem's started riots, attacked Hindus and Sikhs, drove them to their villages and set their houses on fire. I went to write my grade ten examination, the doors of examination centre were locked, and we came back to our homes.
Bau ji (father) was appointed as superintendent to hold examinations in Kisran. He has written about it in detail in his letters. He reached home safe and sound. In face of disturbances I was sent to live with my mama ji (uncle), my mothers brother. Bhabi ji (father) went to Amritsar to live with .Sh.S.R. Paul. August 15, 1947, India became Independent, and divided amid blood shed and move of communities to their places of safety.
Some how or other, I set out to find my family. I saw a picture of my father in a newspaper from Delhi. That was my destination now. I boarded a train, on the roof of the train. Even the roof was packed with passengers. It was evening time. Houses in villages and cities were lighted with rows of small earthen lamps. It was Dewali.
We were forced down the train at Ambala. I got out of the station and found a spot to spread my bedding. It will be my home for a few days. On fourth day, I was going to the public wash room, and on my way I saw my cousin Om Parkash. I ran and caught him. He was surprised to see me. He was staying with his father-in-law, a military officer, After a few days I reached Delhi in a military truck.
In March 1948, I wrote my matriculation examination, and then joined a college where we were supposed to finish a two year course in one year. I failed to adjust to the city life and intense studies. I was sent to Julandhar where my Mama ji (uncle), my maternal uncle was the vice-principal of Doaba College. After one year I passed my grade 12 examination and came back to Delhi. We had moved to Lajpat Nagar, 95-K-2.
I got my Master’s Degree in History from Delhi University, and once again I was in Julandhar to join Teacher’s training College. Afterwards I joined a school as a teacher.
February 1961, I got married to Man Mohini. In june, I got a appointment letter to Ethiopia. In august I was in a plane I was sent to a school in Debre Barhan, 120 kms. north of Addis Abeba. Next year, Mohini and Rajiv joined me.
1963, I got a appointment letter from Canada. Mohini was expecting, so she went to India and I proceeded to Canada. On Thanksgiving day I arrived in St.Peters. Mohini, Rajiv and Ranjna joined me in June 1964. Ajay was born 31st. January 1968. A small community of Hindus grew up on the Island of Cape Breton. A temple was erected. I began to think seriously about religion. How can I pass it on to my children? I thought of writing a few pages as a guide to my children. One day I sat down, with pencil and paper in my hands, but I could not write even a single sentence. I discovered that I have not read a single book on Hinduism my self. I had not even seen a copy of the Vedas. So I got a copy of Bhagwat Geeta from Kalyan publication. It took me many moths to read it. I found that to understand Geeta, I must know Sankhya philosophy. So I bought copies of six darshanas. Then I bought a copy of Rig Veda, and on and on, I collected about 400 books. Meanwhile, Mohini passed away in 1984, and I retired from school life in 1988. I spent four years in Halifax and then moved to Toronto to follow my children.
While reading, I found that Hindu saints don’t agree on definitions of simple ideas like soul and god. Differences grow wider when you consider other religions. Each claimed to be the only true faith while all others are wrong. My conclusion, they are all wrong. More over science is taking over the field of activity of The God, like creation of universe and Man.
So I turned to scientific explanations of what was so far considered as the work of God only. Scientific answers looked more satisfactory than simply dumping them on God.
In 2004 A.D., I wrote a book “Birth and Evolution of Cosmos and Life.” I gave a copy to each of my children and as many relatives and friends. The main purpose of my quest, I hope they are equally interested.
2006 A.D. I had M.R.A. to read the condition of my kidneys. Lucky for me, doctors discovered cancer in my liver. In December, I had surgery. It changed my life. I grew old.
