Dada’s Marriage

In 1922, Dada married Shobha, the lovely daughter of S.C. Mitter, a judge of the Small Causes Court ⁴⁷ and granddaughter of Col. N.P. Sinha. Bowdi soon endeared herself to the whole family; she looked upon me as a younger sister and we became close friends. Dada’s marriage was celebrated on a grand scale; he was Father’s first born. A garden house was rented on the outskirts of Calcutta, with a large compound, full of fruit trees and a water tank. On one side of the gate a stand was erected for the shehnai ⁴⁸ players. They would start playing their plaintive but curiously soothing music by early evening and continue till late at night. Our whole family moved into the garden house. Sejomashi with her daughters came from Patna. Modhuda and Umadi represented Boromashi’s family, Sailoda and Chunikaka were also there. Brahmin cooks were engaged. I think that everyday, food for at least fifty people was prepared, as all the helpers had to be fed. We ate in batches off plantain [banana] leaves sitting on the floor ⁴⁹ .