The Sacrifices Made by Our Seniors in East-Africa.
The Historic Map of Nairobi shows a street named "Kirpa Ram Road". It was in the name of Kirpa Ram, who came with other four friends, who came to Kenya in 1898 through Dhow(sail -boat) and landed at the port of Zanzibar.These five are-Kirpa Ram Vason, Munshi Ram Aggarwal, Sardar Kala Singh Maur of Patiala, and Roshan Khan of Lahore, and Jamadar Ungan Singh.
Kirpa Ram was born in 1880. He boarded a dhow in Karachi along with others in 1898. He reached Zanzibar in five weeks instead of three regular weeks. He had come to Karachi to buy spices for the family shop.There he came in contact with his friends, Sardar Kala Singh and Munshi Ram. They discussed opportunities on a beetroot farm in Canada.With just enough money for the fare, he set off in a convoy of three dhows, leaving behind Punjab and his young wife Hardei( ref. Article of Satish Vason" Lion Steals Man From Tent" in a magazine"Old Africa", Issue No. 16, April-May 2008). Kirpa Ram was a halwai back home in India.He was made the incharge of unit canteen by Lt. Col. J.H.Pettersons for his honesty and hard work. Satish Vason gives the details of his shifting to business----"One night thieves broke into their little camp.Kirpa Ram was young and strong and drove away the potential looters with a strong lathi.The old man decided he'd had enough of the rough life in Africa. He offered to sell his business to Kirpa Ram. Kirpa Ram could not believe his good fortune, but he had only five rupees. The white-haired man said"It's okey, my son.By the grace of God, you will pay me back in instalments through the mail". He left for India the next morning.Kirpa Ram owned his first business in Kenya.------Nairobi's Tubman Street used to be called Kirpa Ram Road----".
Hans Raj Aggarwal of Nairobi, is the grandson of Munshi Ram.Hans Raj wrote in "Sikh Heritage in East Africa" that-----" Munshi Ram and Kala Singh got to be friends in India and came over together.They were both from the same village,Maur Mandi in Patiala State in the Punjab.My grandfather, who was a tall man, had like all Punjabi Hindus a beard and a turban, and so of course did his friend Kala Singh.The two friends had established a business on the River Road in the name of " Munshi Ram Kala Singh & Company".Kala Singh made an indelible mark on the minds of the Africans.He was a pioneer among the Sikhs.He was a brave man and he travelled a lot away from the Railway Line,in far off places in Masailand, where his turban and beared were strange.Later Kala Singh and Munshi Ram brought many Sikhs and Hindus from our village. No it is not true that he had a Mesai wife.He was not that sort: he came from a good family and had a wife back home in India. Kala Singh came to Kenya for the first time in 1896, but has gone to India for a short period to bring more persons and Iron sheets and hardware.But Kala Singh is probably the best known name in all Kenya.To this day all Sikhs in Kenya are known as Kala Singhas.
Fifth of the fast friend is Jamadar Ungan Singh. The page No. 23-24 of "The Man-Eators of Tsavo" by Lt.Col. J.H.Pattersons, describe the gruesome story of the murder of Ungan Singh."About three weeks after my arrival(at Tsavo,December 1898), I was roused one morning about daybreak and told that one of my "Jamadars",a fine powerful Sikh named Ungan Singh,had been seized in his tent during the night, and dragged off and eaten----.Moreover,the 'Jamadar' shared his tent with half a dozen other workmen, and one of his bed fellow(Kirpa Ram,as told by Saish Vason) had actually witnessed the occurrence. He graphically described how, at about midnight, the lion suddenly puts its head in at the open door and seized Ungan Singh-who happened to be the nearest the opening-by the throat.The unfortunate fellow cried out "Choro" ("Let Go"),and threw his arms up round the lion's neck.The next moment he was gone, and his panic-stricken companions lay helpless,forced to listen to the terrible struggle,which took place outside.Poor Ungan Singh must have died hard; but what chance had he? As a coolie gravely remarked,"was he not fighting a lion?"
On hearing this dreadful story I at once set out to try to track the animal.Pools of blood marked these halting-places. On reaching the spot where the body had been devoured, a dreadful spectacle presented itself;The ground all round was covered with morsels of flesh and bones,but the unfortunate 'Jamadar's head hadbeen left intact, save for the holes made by the lion's tusks on seizing him,and lay a short distance away from the other remains, the eye staring wide open with a startled, horrified look in them. It was most gruesome sight I had ever seen.We collected the remains as well as we could and heaped stone on them, the head with its fixed, terrified stare seeming to watch us all the time.
Fifth of the team is Roshan Khan of Lahore.The Lt. Col J.H.Pettrsons write on the particular page No. 258 of "The Man-Eators of Tsavo", confirms that Mr. Roshan Khan with him to find the den of the men-eator. They found the den in the jungle. The lion was about the act of springing.____"Help came from an unexpected and unconscious quarter, for just at this critical momentRoshan Khan seemed all at once to realise the danger of the situation, and sddenli fled for his life.,screeming and shouting with all his might.Beyond all question this movement saved me.---------Roshan Khan having thus unwittingly rescued me from my perilous position------".
Bibliography:
(1)---Sikh Heritage in East Africa,by Cynthia Salvadori,published by Kenway Publications,Nairobi,Kenya,1987
(2)---Through Open Doors,by Cynthia Salvadori, published by Kenway Publications,Nairobi, Kenya,1989.
(3)---Old Africa(Magazine)-Issue No. 16, April-May 2008.
(4)---My Photo-Album of East-Africa.
Copy Right 2010 by Bhai Harpal Singh Kasoor.
Kirpa Ram was born in 1880. He boarded a dhow in Karachi along with others in 1898. He reached Zanzibar in five weeks instead of three regular weeks. He had come to Karachi to buy spices for the family shop.There he came in contact with his friends, Sardar Kala Singh and Munshi Ram. They discussed opportunities on a beetroot farm in Canada.With just enough money for the fare, he set off in a convoy of three dhows, leaving behind Punjab and his young wife Hardei( ref. Article of Satish Vason" Lion Steals Man From Tent" in a magazine"Old Africa", Issue No. 16, April-May 2008). Kirpa Ram was a halwai back home in India.He was made the incharge of unit canteen by Lt. Col. J.H.Pettersons for his honesty and hard work. Satish Vason gives the details of his shifting to business----"One night thieves broke into their little camp.Kirpa Ram was young and strong and drove away the potential looters with a strong lathi.The old man decided he'd had enough of the rough life in Africa. He offered to sell his business to Kirpa Ram. Kirpa Ram could not believe his good fortune, but he had only five rupees. The white-haired man said"It's okey, my son.By the grace of God, you will pay me back in instalments through the mail". He left for India the next morning.Kirpa Ram owned his first business in Kenya.------Nairobi's Tubman Street used to be called Kirpa Ram Road----".
Hans Raj Aggarwal of Nairobi, is the grandson of Munshi Ram.Hans Raj wrote in "Sikh Heritage in East Africa" that-----" Munshi Ram and Kala Singh got to be friends in India and came over together.They were both from the same village,Maur Mandi in Patiala State in the Punjab.My grandfather, who was a tall man, had like all Punjabi Hindus a beard and a turban, and so of course did his friend Kala Singh.The two friends had established a business on the River Road in the name of " Munshi Ram Kala Singh & Company".Kala Singh made an indelible mark on the minds of the Africans.He was a pioneer among the Sikhs.He was a brave man and he travelled a lot away from the Railway Line,in far off places in Masailand, where his turban and beared were strange.Later Kala Singh and Munshi Ram brought many Sikhs and Hindus from our village. No it is not true that he had a Mesai wife.He was not that sort: he came from a good family and had a wife back home in India. Kala Singh came to Kenya for the first time in 1896, but has gone to India for a short period to bring more persons and Iron sheets and hardware.But Kala Singh is probably the best known name in all Kenya.To this day all Sikhs in Kenya are known as Kala Singhas.
Fifth of the fast friend is Jamadar Ungan Singh. The page No. 23-24 of "The Man-Eators of Tsavo" by Lt.Col. J.H.Pattersons, describe the gruesome story of the murder of Ungan Singh."About three weeks after my arrival(at Tsavo,December 1898), I was roused one morning about daybreak and told that one of my "Jamadars",a fine powerful Sikh named Ungan Singh,had been seized in his tent during the night, and dragged off and eaten----.Moreover,the 'Jamadar' shared his tent with half a dozen other workmen, and one of his bed fellow(Kirpa Ram,as told by Saish Vason) had actually witnessed the occurrence. He graphically described how, at about midnight, the lion suddenly puts its head in at the open door and seized Ungan Singh-who happened to be the nearest the opening-by the throat.The unfortunate fellow cried out "Choro" ("Let Go"),and threw his arms up round the lion's neck.The next moment he was gone, and his panic-stricken companions lay helpless,forced to listen to the terrible struggle,which took place outside.Poor Ungan Singh must have died hard; but what chance had he? As a coolie gravely remarked,"was he not fighting a lion?"
On hearing this dreadful story I at once set out to try to track the animal.Pools of blood marked these halting-places. On reaching the spot where the body had been devoured, a dreadful spectacle presented itself;The ground all round was covered with morsels of flesh and bones,but the unfortunate 'Jamadar's head hadbeen left intact, save for the holes made by the lion's tusks on seizing him,and lay a short distance away from the other remains, the eye staring wide open with a startled, horrified look in them. It was most gruesome sight I had ever seen.We collected the remains as well as we could and heaped stone on them, the head with its fixed, terrified stare seeming to watch us all the time.
Fifth of the team is Roshan Khan of Lahore.The Lt. Col J.H.Pettrsons write on the particular page No. 258 of "The Man-Eators of Tsavo", confirms that Mr. Roshan Khan with him to find the den of the men-eator. They found the den in the jungle. The lion was about the act of springing.____"Help came from an unexpected and unconscious quarter, for just at this critical momentRoshan Khan seemed all at once to realise the danger of the situation, and sddenli fled for his life.,screeming and shouting with all his might.Beyond all question this movement saved me.---------Roshan Khan having thus unwittingly rescued me from my perilous position------".
Bibliography:
(1)---Sikh Heritage in East Africa,by Cynthia Salvadori,published by Kenway Publications,Nairobi,Kenya,1987
(2)---Through Open Doors,by Cynthia Salvadori, published by Kenway Publications,Nairobi, Kenya,1989.
(3)---Old Africa(Magazine)-Issue No. 16, April-May 2008.
(4)---My Photo-Album of East-Africa.
Copy Right 2010 by Bhai Harpal Singh Kasoor.
Jamadar Ungan Singh With The Survey Team,1897.
Jamadar Ungan Singh came to Kenya in 1895.After finishing his first contract,he went to India in 1897, and came to Kenya for the second time, with Sardar Kala Singh and others.(By courtesy of "We Came in Dhow(Boat),By Cynthia Salvadori).
Jamadar Ungan Singh was Carried Away From This Tent.
Our Senior, Jamadar Ungan Singh was sleeping in the opening of the tent,on the right of railway track.The Man-Eator came in around midnight, and carried away Ungan Singh. he sacrificed his life while serving the great land of Kenya (by courtesy of "The Man-Eators of Tsavo", by Lt.Col.J.H.Pattersons, published by Macmillan And Co., Limited, St.Martin street, London,1910,Its First Edition Appeared in 1907).The Man-Eator lion was later on killed by Lt. Col. J.H.Pattersons in1899 with his rifle.
Sirdar Kala Singh With Water Train, 1898.
Young Kala Singh with water train near Makindu Sahib in 1898.He was deputed on the duty of bringing water for the public and labourers(by courtesty of" We Came in Dhow",by Cynthia Salvadori,Vol-III,).
Map of Historic Nairobi Confirms" Kirpa Ram Road.
Kirpa Ram Road is on the left of Government Road and on the right of Stewat Street. This Map was given to me by Mr. Satish Vason, grandson of Kirpa Ram, when I stayed in his Timau River Lodge, owned jointly by Satish Vason and Bibi Mumtaz.(From my Photo-Album of East-Africa).
Late Kirpa Ram ,Who Came to East-Africa in 1898.
Five fast friends---Kirpa Ram,Sardar Kala Singh and Sardar Ugun Singh, Munshi Ram and Roshan Khan came to East-Africa from Karachi,their hard toils there and sacrifices in East-Africa are awesome,terrible.(from my Photo Album of East-Africa).
Mr. Saish Vason,Grandson of Late Kirpa Ram Vason.
Mr.Satish Vason and Bibi Mumtaz gave me the map of Historic Nairobi and other useful information(from my Photo Album of East Africa).