The Second World War continued for few more years. Years passed by and the far-off land of Singapore was invaded by Japan (Fall of Singapore) in 1942. About 80,000 British, Indian and Australian troops became prisoners of war. It is remarked as the worst disaster in the British Military history. There were casualties everywhere, killing nearly 8500 people.
The natives of Singapore faced challenges of building their lives, scarcity of resources and restricted freedom. There existed a climate of distrust and grief all over the country. Concurrently, in a small region of Singapore, someone’s mind was stuck in the memories of a village beauty. That was none other than our hero, Sankar. Due to the war, he could hardly meet Kuttan(Devu’s brother), even though they both resided in the same region. Both Kuttan and Sankar thought Devu might have got married and settled down by that time.
After a long period of six years and one day, Second World War came to an end on 2nd September, 1945. Singapore also returned from Japanese to British control in 1945. In India, the epilogue announcement was made via radio, so that it could reach people all over the country. This radio announcement became a life saver for Devu and her family members. Everyone at Devu’s family felt relieved that the war got over. After a few days, the Indian government had decided to announce the names of Indians who were still alive in various parts of the world. Everyone eagerly waited for hearing those two names, Kuttan and Sankar.
Days and weeks passed by, and one fine day, Kuttan’s name was announced in the radio and Devu’s family felt happy. They patiently waited to hear Sankar’s name, but felt dejected. Devu felt depressed and refused to eat or drink that day. She thought there is no meaning for her life and wasted 6 long years. But to everyone’s surprise, the very next day, Sankar’s name was announced in the radio. It was a day of celebration at Devu’s home. After few days, a telegram arrived in Devu’s name, stating both Kuttan and Sankar were fine at Singapore. But, the telegram also stated normal travels were not resumed and would take some time for them to return back to Kerala.
By1947, India got independence and the long 200 years of British rule came to an end. One more year passed by and by 1948 beginning, Kuttan returned back to Kerala. Everyone eagerly awaited Sankar’s arrival as well, but he couldn’t make it out. After the war, scenarios in Singapore have changed and council did not approve leave for their employees. Kuttan insisted Devu to travel back to Singapore along with him, but Devu felt uncomfortable with that decision, since she was afraid to travel to a totally new place and get married there without the presence of her family.
After Kuttan’s travel to India, a state of emergency was declared in Singapore in Feb 1948, following a violence by Malayan Communist Party and as a result, a travel restriction commenced between Singapore and India. This in turn played a blocker for Sankar’s departure.
Meanwhile, Devu’s family decided to proceed with wedding of her two younger sisters. Both the marriages happened on the same day and it was a big celebration for the family. Among the two, one got settled down in Kerala, while another one sailed to Singapore with her spouse. Kuttan also got married in the meantime and returned to Singapore with his wife. Devu still waited patiently, for her big day to arrive. Now, Devu and Sankar started writing letters and were in constant contact with each other through these letters.
Towards the end of 1949, a telegram arrived at Mavelikara stating, emergency has been lifted and Sankar will not get leave at any cost. He requested Devu to traverse to Singapore along with his friends, who would be travelling back to Singapore from Kerala after their vacation. The wedding arrangements were made by her brother Kuttan and family at Singapore, and everyone waited for Devu’s arrival. Devu, was a typical village girl of that time and she felt embarassed to travel this much distance all alone. It was a wait of long 10 years, and hence everyone in Devu’s family insisted her to travel soon. All her luggages were packed in wooden boxes and she got ready for her departure.
The only means of transportation to Singapore was a sealiner, S S Rajula which took passengers all the way from Madras to Singapore. Hence, Devu had to travel from Mavelikara to Madras to start her on-sea journey. Unlike the modern times, no cars or flights had been in use, and hence they had to catch that old steam engine train to reach Madras. Her eldest brother, Veluktty was servicing Indian Army at Madras and this made things easier for her family. Velukutty decided to accompany Devu till Madras.
On one sunny day, Devu bid farewell to her family, with a set of mixed emotions, feeling heavy hearted to leave the home where she has been born and bought up and felt relaxed to finally meet the man of her life. She and her brother met Sankar’s friends at the station and started the journey. The friends were a man, Ram and his wife, Janaki and another lady, Mariam. The two ladies, named Janaki and Mariam, befriended Devu. The entire journey to Madras took two whole days. The very next day, train reached Quilon station(Kollam) and stopped there a few minutes for watering.
There waited a group of people at the station to meet Devu, and they were none other than Sankar’s family. They were happy to meet and greet their “would-be daughter in law”. As per the old Hindu traditions, groom’s family had a custom of offering gold ornaments to the bride. Hence, they bought few bangles, chains and rings for Devu. But, Sankar’s friends suggested Devu to take fewer ornaments since there were restrictions to carry the quantity of gold in the ship. Hence, she took only the bangles, received their blessings and continued her journey.
Finally, by the end of second day, train reached Madras station. Devu, her brother and Sankar’s friends got down at the station. The port was bit far away from the station, and they hired a bullock cart to reach the port. All their luggages packed in the wooden boxes had been shifted to the cart and they started off to the port enjoying the beauty of Madras. After few hours, the bullock cart arrived at the port and everyone got down. It was till this point, her brother could accompany devu. Devu bid adieu to her brother, with tears rolling down her cheeks. Even though, Devu felt comfortable in her new group of friends, she felt sad to leave her brother.
Everyone walked towards the ship. A huge and beautiful sea liner, S S Rajula was anchored at the wharve. It seemed like Rajula awaited devu to take her towards the dream man of her life, by sailing long 15 days on sea. Devu, was seeing such a marvellous view for the first time in her life and felt excited and fearful at the same time.
The natives of Singapore faced challenges of building their lives, scarcity of resources and restricted freedom. There existed a climate of distrust and grief all over the country. Concurrently, in a small region of Singapore, someone’s mind was stuck in the memories of a village beauty. That was none other than our hero, Sankar. Due to the war, he could hardly meet Kuttan(Devu’s brother), even though they both resided in the same region. Both Kuttan and Sankar thought Devu might have got married and settled down by that time.
After a long period of six years and one day, Second World War came to an end on 2nd September, 1945. Singapore also returned from Japanese to British control in 1945. In India, the epilogue announcement was made via radio, so that it could reach people all over the country. This radio announcement became a life saver for Devu and her family members. Everyone at Devu’s family felt relieved that the war got over. After a few days, the Indian government had decided to announce the names of Indians who were still alive in various parts of the world. Everyone eagerly waited for hearing those two names, Kuttan and Sankar.
Days and weeks passed by, and one fine day, Kuttan’s name was announced in the radio and Devu’s family felt happy. They patiently waited to hear Sankar’s name, but felt dejected. Devu felt depressed and refused to eat or drink that day. She thought there is no meaning for her life and wasted 6 long years. But to everyone’s surprise, the very next day, Sankar’s name was announced in the radio. It was a day of celebration at Devu’s home. After few days, a telegram arrived in Devu’s name, stating both Kuttan and Sankar were fine at Singapore. But, the telegram also stated normal travels were not resumed and would take some time for them to return back to Kerala.
By1947, India got independence and the long 200 years of British rule came to an end. One more year passed by and by 1948 beginning, Kuttan returned back to Kerala. Everyone eagerly awaited Sankar’s arrival as well, but he couldn’t make it out. After the war, scenarios in Singapore have changed and council did not approve leave for their employees. Kuttan insisted Devu to travel back to Singapore along with him, but Devu felt uncomfortable with that decision, since she was afraid to travel to a totally new place and get married there without the presence of her family.
After Kuttan’s travel to India, a state of emergency was declared in Singapore in Feb 1948, following a violence by Malayan Communist Party and as a result, a travel restriction commenced between Singapore and India. This in turn played a blocker for Sankar’s departure.
Meanwhile, Devu’s family decided to proceed with wedding of her two younger sisters. Both the marriages happened on the same day and it was a big celebration for the family. Among the two, one got settled down in Kerala, while another one sailed to Singapore with her spouse. Kuttan also got married in the meantime and returned to Singapore with his wife. Devu still waited patiently, for her big day to arrive. Now, Devu and Sankar started writing letters and were in constant contact with each other through these letters.
Towards the end of 1949, a telegram arrived at Mavelikara stating, emergency has been lifted and Sankar will not get leave at any cost. He requested Devu to traverse to Singapore along with his friends, who would be travelling back to Singapore from Kerala after their vacation. The wedding arrangements were made by her brother Kuttan and family at Singapore, and everyone waited for Devu’s arrival. Devu, was a typical village girl of that time and she felt embarassed to travel this much distance all alone. It was a wait of long 10 years, and hence everyone in Devu’s family insisted her to travel soon. All her luggages were packed in wooden boxes and she got ready for her departure.
The only means of transportation to Singapore was a sealiner, S S Rajula which took passengers all the way from Madras to Singapore. Hence, Devu had to travel from Mavelikara to Madras to start her on-sea journey. Unlike the modern times, no cars or flights had been in use, and hence they had to catch that old steam engine train to reach Madras. Her eldest brother, Veluktty was servicing Indian Army at Madras and this made things easier for her family. Velukutty decided to accompany Devu till Madras.
On one sunny day, Devu bid farewell to her family, with a set of mixed emotions, feeling heavy hearted to leave the home where she has been born and bought up and felt relaxed to finally meet the man of her life. She and her brother met Sankar’s friends at the station and started the journey. The friends were a man, Ram and his wife, Janaki and another lady, Mariam. The two ladies, named Janaki and Mariam, befriended Devu. The entire journey to Madras took two whole days. The very next day, train reached Quilon station(Kollam) and stopped there a few minutes for watering.
There waited a group of people at the station to meet Devu, and they were none other than Sankar’s family. They were happy to meet and greet their “would-be daughter in law”. As per the old Hindu traditions, groom’s family had a custom of offering gold ornaments to the bride. Hence, they bought few bangles, chains and rings for Devu. But, Sankar’s friends suggested Devu to take fewer ornaments since there were restrictions to carry the quantity of gold in the ship. Hence, she took only the bangles, received their blessings and continued her journey.
Finally, by the end of second day, train reached Madras station. Devu, her brother and Sankar’s friends got down at the station. The port was bit far away from the station, and they hired a bullock cart to reach the port. All their luggages packed in the wooden boxes had been shifted to the cart and they started off to the port enjoying the beauty of Madras. After few hours, the bullock cart arrived at the port and everyone got down. It was till this point, her brother could accompany devu. Devu bid adieu to her brother, with tears rolling down her cheeks. Even though, Devu felt comfortable in her new group of friends, she felt sad to leave her brother.
Everyone walked towards the ship. A huge and beautiful sea liner, S S Rajula was anchored at the wharve. It seemed like Rajula awaited devu to take her towards the dream man of her life, by sailing long 15 days on sea. Devu, was seeing such a marvellous view for the first time in her life and felt excited and fearful at the same time.
Eagerly waiting for the 3rd part��
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