Calcutta, a city founded by the British in the 17th Century, became the seat of their power in the east, which spread to Rangoon (Yangon) Hong Kong and Shanghai, and attracted people from all over the World in search of trade, escaping tyranny or genocide or just plain adventure. This created a multicultural, talented and very diverse population till the late 20th century...this narrative is set during the 1950s /60s and gives the reader an essence of what Calcutta as a city was, before it went into a downward chaotic spiral of lockouts/closures/power cuts and then decades, later rose like the proverbial Phoenix as Kolkata.....the past practically washed away as the adventurers had moved on and the new populace had no contact with the old....
Vien Singh was brought up in Caleuten during the heady days he describes as he was privileged to be part of that society. He was educated in St Pauls School Darjeeling and then a graduated graduated with an Honours Degree in English from ram St. Josephs College also in Darjeeling.
He spent time in England before settling down in Calcutta/Kolkata, where he designs, paints and writes from his elegant home off Chowringhee.
Sonny was born into a family that had made a lot of money and lived in a style that would be hard to imagine in time to come. Socially the family was well established, both in a town in Uttar Pradesh (UP) and in Calcutta. The only thing of value that Sonny inherited was social recognition. Money, he struggled for all his life. His independent nature disbarred him from asking for anything. When he wanted something badly enough, he found a way to earn the money. Sonny was never a favorite of Lady Luck, she decided to look the other way the day that Sonny was born, and continued to keep her face averted through the years. Sonny received his due through hard work, and hard work alone. He was blessed with charm and good looks. He trusted the former, but had no faith in the latter. Though his looks drew attention, and earned him compliments, his belief in the verity of these compliments was never strong enough to pierce his credulity.
At the age of 8, Sonny's uncle Shiv, the head of and the decision maker for the family, said it was time to send Sonny to boarding school. His older brother had been sent to St. Paul's in Darjeeling seven years earlier, it was now time that Sonny went as well. Shiv took his responsibility as patriarch with a "What I say, is what you do," attitude. His despotism was tempered with well concealed kindness. He was a paradox, his complicated persona containing some extremely fine points.
For privacy concerns, please view our Privacy Policy
Send as free online greeting card
Email a Friend
Manage Wishlist