In Search of Roots -Part 2
dedicated to my Family.
3rd Nov 2015.
Father's Day Nov 3rd 1978 -Tribute .
REF: "Ramblings of a Surgeon in Burma" -Dr Major Late T.Manohar Rao (K.I.H)
In 2008 my younger brother Ashok, brought out my fathers writings which had been left behind in an untimely demise with a heart attack in the book titled"Ramblings of a Surgeon in Burma" -
All credit to Ashok.
Great books that reveals a lot on the untold social life and history in the 1900-up to 1965- I must mention here the connection with incidents in history of India-Burma in pre- World War2 era.
When I used to return home on leave from my ship, my father would narrate them after dinner in long conversations-He had served in the Army Medical Corps- in NE areas inc Imphal, Insein etc in WW2 and in fact was a Decorated Soldier. He would narrate some experiences of that time and esp of occupied areas in WW2 and Japanese.
Food for thought -and to ponder over and pay respects to the noble souls who sacrificed their lives for their Country & Freedom. This is all history, but a recall is well worth it-It reveals leadership, bravery, determination and above the outstanding Character seen amidst the travails of war, despite the hardships, the toil and struggle to just stay alive.
A lesson for all of us -when we reflect on the the price of freedom, as we pay respects to the noble souls who sacrificed their lives for their Country & Freedom.
"Yeh mere watan ke log" of Shailendra, one of his greatest compositions, sung by Lataji--- says it all.
Shraddhanjali to Papa on Nov 3rd 1978 R.I.P
My late father Dr. T. Manohar Rao (retd Major, BAMC), was CMO of Rangoon, Rehab. Brigade Insein. till 1962, when the army coup took over and he left-returned to India . I was surprised to also learn that he had even served as a Ships Doctor on a Passenger ship and was Rangoon Port Health Officer briefly, before marriage
I had visited Insein dist.in Burma in 1961, before joining T.S. Dufferin .
Memorable visit....looking back now----Time has flown
Some details -Papa was in the AMC (BAMC Cadre) and served in NE areas- in WW2 .
Post WW2 , he was the 1960s as CMO of Rehab Brigade for WW2 soldiers. Imphal -etc.-was decorated KIH -Kaiser Father-(Retd AMC) settled-in Rangoon, was popularly know as Dr TM or Doc by his Golfing buddies
I visited him in Rangoon in Feb 1962 spent a month there .
In my case, I was in Mangalore as a child and then a short while only in Burma ; Later was left in Madras for all my 10 years schooling with a kind Grandfather who raised me from 6-14- Then with aunt and uncle-later left for Sea Training on T./S.Dufferin- (a personal choice).Thus did not stay with parents long due to strange circumstances; maybe a twist of destiny also, but we surely felt have inherited some of their genes and values of both father and grandfather to connect with ships .
Father's Day Nov 3rd 1978 -Tribute .
REF: "Ramblings of a Surgeon in Burma" -Dr Major Late T.Manohar Rao (K.I.H)
In 2008 my younger brother Ashok, brought out my fathers writings which had been left behind in an untimely demise with a heart attack in the book titled"Ramblings of a Surgeon in Burma" -
All credit to Ashok.
Great books that reveals a lot on the untold social life and history in the 1900-up to 1965- I must mention here the connection with incidents in history of India-Burma in pre- World War2 era.
When I used to return home on leave from my ship, my father would narrate them after dinner in long conversations-He had served in the Army Medical Corps- in NE areas inc Imphal, Insein etc in WW2 and in fact was a Decorated Soldier. He would narrate some experiences of that time and esp of occupied areas in WW2 and Japanese.
Food for thought -and to ponder over and pay respects to the noble souls who sacrificed their lives for their Country & Freedom. This is all history, but a recall is well worth it-It reveals leadership, bravery, determination and above the outstanding Character seen amidst the travails of war, despite the hardships, the toil and struggle to just stay alive.
A lesson for all of us -when we reflect on the the price of freedom, as we pay respects to the noble souls who sacrificed their lives for their Country & Freedom.
"Yeh mere watan ke log" of Shailendra, one of his greatest compositions, sung by Lataji--- says it all.
Shraddhanjali to Papa on Nov 3rd 1978 R.I.P
My late father Dr. T. Manohar Rao (retd Major, BAMC), was CMO of Rangoon, Rehab. Brigade Insein. till 1962, when the army coup took over and he left-returned to India . I was surprised to also learn that he had even served as a Ships Doctor on a Passenger ship and was Rangoon Port Health Officer briefly, before marriage
I had visited Insein dist.in Burma in 1961, before joining T.S. Dufferin .
Memorable visit....looking back now----Time has flown
Some details -Papa was in the AMC (BAMC Cadre) and served in NE areas- in WW2 .
Post WW2 , he was the 1960s as CMO of Rehab Brigade for WW2 soldiers. Imphal -etc.-was decorated KIH -Kaiser Father-(Retd AMC) settled-in Rangoon, was popularly know as Dr TM or Doc by his Golfing buddies
I visited him in Rangoon in Feb 1962 spent a month there .
In my case, I was in Mangalore as a child and then a short while only in Burma ; Later was left in Madras for all my 10 years schooling with a kind Grandfather who raised me from 6-14- Then with aunt and uncle-later left for Sea Training on T./S.Dufferin- (a personal choice).Thus did not stay with parents long due to strange circumstances; maybe a twist of destiny also, but we surely felt have inherited some of their genes and values of both father and grandfather to connect with ships .
Burma, even when i visited in 1962 Feb, was some what unsettled with
insurgency and some unrest was obvious and unsuited foe civilain life as dacoits
etc prevailed--but a paradox was it had a wonderful friendly, fun loving people.
Papa had managed well as a CMO of the hospital but still it had a strange
uncertain air of political uncertainity as well as civil strife with insurgency
and yet inhabited by simple common of different states. What a Paradox even
then...the Army seemd to play a Watch on all- despite a Civilian Govt in early
1962 .
Little was I to know what was in store by year end of 1962
Father came back after the Military Junta in Burma in 1962 (after the coup) post a serious MI (heart attack) suffered and later picked up. He ran a small clinic in Madras named after my sis Shobha Clinic. In fact, many of his patients (average abt 80 a day) were Burma Refugees given medical service and help ina very dedicated way of Service Before Self . He maintained a simple Pharmacy and with a young compounder Selvi Kasthuri, served and gave medicare and were much respected and loved .At the end of 1969 he shifted to his own flat in 1969 and passed away in Nov. 1978 Nov.
He also wrote 2 books(all on his Remington Portable typewriter at night); One book was "Ramblings of a Surgeon in Burma" (it was collated by my bro Ashok from writings and nicely printed on his 30th Anniversary for distribution to close family; no copies left now.
Time moves on-- that was another world and a different era.
But, some memories remain
With prayers on Fathers Day
Capt TR (Retd)
Little was I to know what was in store by year end of 1962
The ship Papa finally returned to Madras , India from Rangoon
to Madras was ss Manchurian which then plied as a Cargo
-cum passenger ship which carried about 8 passengers This
system of cargo cum passengers was in vogue then--no more now as less Life boat
capacity 18-22 persona max for crewing only and security reasons dont permit
. re.pic ss manchurian 1962 had Danish Officers and mixed crew from
what papa told me".
The name Manchuria- possibly would have got a suffix
"an" ; added as Ships often change the suffix /prefix for tax
reasons and Owners-ship change but try and maintain name identity as
possible-
( PIC- From M series in Old ships list was able to take out
4-same name series with software assistance .Of them
Manchuria-o6 jpg seems like it and so also with the Flag)
Papa had visited my ship Jag Laxmi (Gen cargo vsl) --with
Mhanth in 1968 at North Quay Madras Port in 1968- Vaguely recall they
also referred to of the ss Manchurin of 1962 --
Life in MadrasFather came back after the Military Junta in Burma in 1962 (after the coup) post a serious MI (heart attack) suffered and later picked up. He ran a small clinic in Madras named after my sis Shobha Clinic. In fact, many of his patients (average abt 80 a day) were Burma Refugees given medical service and help ina very dedicated way of Service Before Self . He maintained a simple Pharmacy and with a young compounder Selvi Kasthuri, served and gave medicare and were much respected and loved .At the end of 1969 he shifted to his own flat in 1969 and passed away in Nov. 1978 Nov.
He also wrote 2 books(all on his Remington Portable typewriter at night); One book was "Ramblings of a Surgeon in Burma" (it was collated by my bro Ashok from writings and nicely printed on his 30th Anniversary for distribution to close family; no copies left now.
Time moves on-- that was another world and a different era.
But, some memories remain
With prayers on Fathers Day
Capt TR (Retd)
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