Page 10 - Seniors Today Jan20 Issue

to the eighth. But I could hardly read and write
Hindi. In fact I was so good in English that the
headmaster put me into ninth grade as I could
opt for English as a medium of instruction in
Modern High School in Rawalpindi. I completed
my matriculation and did my graduation. My
grandfather died before Partition and we had to
leave in very difficult circumstances. Everything
that we had was left behind – our agricultural
land, properties, etc. We could never go back and
Partition became a horrible memory.
Return to Rawalpindi
My husband had to go for a conference to
Pakistan and I accompanied him. He was very

reluctant but as director of Region Ten he had
to go, so I went with him. The conference was
held one day in Karachi, one day in Islamabad
and two days in Lahore. I had decided that from
Islamabad I would go to Pindi. Luckily I found
out that the airport is still in Rawalpindi and I
told all the conference people that I was going to
see my house in Rawalpindi. The ladies wanted
to come with me.
I told the driver to take us to Pindi to the
Company Bagh. In those days the East India
Company had set up botanic gardens in all the
major cities in the north and these were called
Company Baghs. Our house was bang opposite
this place. The driver said that it is now called
Liaquat Ali Bagh. I couldn’t believe as we were
Swarn and FC Kohli at the time of their marriage

A Golden Match
The Sanskrit word swarn means gold. Swarn came into FC’s life as the golden lady who
would walk beside him in every step of his extraordinary life. A strong, intelligent, supportive
woman who kept her husband rooted as he reached for the skies in his career.
The Kohli family came into Swarn’s life during a cousin’s wedding in Delhi. FC’s bua—his
paternal aunt—was related to Swarn’s family. She mentioned FC to Swarn’s mother as a
prospective suitor, aware of the fact that FC would soon be returning to India. She suggested
that Swarn’s parents meet him on his return.
FC was aware that his association with Swarn changed his life. It made a difference in his
attitude to work as he could devote far more time to building the load despatch culture in
India. In turn, that was critical in in helping the power industry meet customer requirements.
Swarn encouraged FC constantly. Her support helped him focus. She took a keen interest in
the families of the Tata Electric employees living nearby and meticulously planned social
activities for them. Staff often brought personal problems to her and she helped but she never
interfered with FC’s official work.

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