The Common bond of relationship among Persons of  Three Continents  -  S.S.Chhina   

I was a student of Government College Dharamsala for my B.Ed in 1966. The college was at a very beautiful place near Dhaula Dar Hills. The atmosphere was much academic. The College was organizing a variety of seminars of the Pedagogy subjects in which the educational experts, the students and the prominent personalities of the city had been participating. In one of the Seminars a "white" gentleman who happened to be a General Manager of the New Egerton Woolen Mills of Dhariwal to which I belongs.
Afterwards while taking the Tea I was interested to Conserve with him but was hesitant because of my achles-heel of fluent English. But any how I mustered the courage and went ahead and I just told him that I belongs to Dhariwal. I saw a glitter of Joy in his eyes as if the treasure of old pleasures had exploded for him. He was remembering the big Canal of Dhariwal dividing the city in two parts, the sprawling playgrounds adjoining the Mills & Schools and particularly the golf  ground that was in more than hundreds of acres where he had been playing for three decades of his life, The old trees, particularly the pristine breeze blowing in the Morning and the Sunshine of Winter. The sparking glow on his face was inexplicable.  He was enquiring almost certain persons of Dhariwal about whom I was not aware. We had a long chat and ultimately he delivered his visiting card bearing his Name and Address as "Mr. Hallet Artist" and took the promise that I may Visit his residence on the coming Sunday.
But I could not went because of my pre settled academic assignment. But only the next day he came to my hostel and the next Sunday I went to his edifice between Dharamsala and Mecloadgunj. On that day, He had invited another family and he introduced me to them. He was Mr. Butler Worth from Newzealand but he has also retired from Dhariwal Mills as head of the Worsted department, but now settled permanently at Dharamsala. Where he was rearing hares and was exporting their wool to the other countries.
Then I met both of them incessantly and observed a stark variation in both the personalities. Mr. Hallet was bachelor, He was a lover of Art particularly a Known Painter, the music was always playing in his house. He was not fond of liquor and could not be allured to any business preposition. It was inscrutable that why he was living alone at this place. Mr. Butler Worth was always interested in business, no interest in Art & Music, fond of liquor as I Observed that on taking lunch at his residence, only myself and Mr. Hallet had not taken beer while all the family members were enjoying beer. Similarly I was a student, much younger in age, no Business interest. We were from different continents, I was from Asia, Mr. Hallet from Europe whereas Mr. Butler Worth was from Australian continent. Then what was common bond of our relationship that we discovered was our city of Dhariwal to which we all the three had our attachments.
The Writer is a senior fellow of
Institute of Social Sciences,
New Delhi