About HOUSE ON WAVES

To narrate the story of past 68 years in a folio; so as not to bore the reader is a herculean task. I am compelled to narrate the story of my life mainly to dispel the misconception of the people around me as to my accomplishments and how they were attained. Especially the fast paced younger generation prefers to ignore the travails undergone by the earlier generation to reach the present state. They are fooled by the randomness of success achieved by some film star, Infosys or Apple.

The story begins in a remote village Chunaware of erstwhile Ratnagiri district of Maharashtra where my father Mame Sakharam Parab was born on 15th October 1921. He was the third child among nine children and eldest among brothers. Little is known about his childhood. I was told he had no option but to migrate to Mumbai to earn his livelihood where he also completed his matriculation. Seeking adventure and fortune he travelled to Karachi where he had started laundry business with his childhood friends. The “Partition (1947)” made them run for their home land overnight leaving behind all their meagre possessions.

Returning to Mumbai he learned lino-operators trade and joined the “Wagle Press”. Befitting his adventurous nature he was offered a lino-operators job in Dares-Salaam in the erstwhile East Africa now Tanzania.

On the sea voyage to Africa my father met with a very fine human being one Shri Kesharinath Ramchandra Sukthankar from Achre village. He had been a mentor and guardian in my younger days for which I am grateful to him ever. The family relationship continues till date.

My mother Mirabai (born on 21st December 1928) travelled with four children to Africa. My youngest sister Veena was born (10/12/ 1957) in Dares- Salaam. Nothing much is known about my family’s happenings. I recollect that my youngest brother Pradeep was just 12 days old (29/04/1959) when my mother set sail for Africa once more. Unfortunately within three years we had to return to India when my father expired due to kidney failure on 10th November 1961. My mother returned to Mumbai with six children on 17th December 1961.

As we had lost our father; the only bread earner; we had to face the typical Indian antagonism from my grandfather and my near relations. So much so that my mother decided to leave the family house and take shelter in village Naatkul. She took up house maid’s work with the “Khots” of the village without any remuneration. She raised the family of seven on a meagre monthly allowance of RS.50/- (arranged by Shri K.R. Sukthankar from my father’s savings) augmenting it with the earnings from her tailoring and doles from the “Khots”. Here we were compelled to share a stable with goats as nobody would give us a shelter in their house.

My elder sister and I completed our education up to SSC in a school located at a distance of over five kilometres. In this village I learned a lot many things such as sewing, farming, climbing trees, fishing, hunting, fruit and flower gathering from the forests; to name a few. I also developed liking for reading which hobby I still pursue and am proud to say that over the years I have made a collection of over 1000 books on various subjects from literature to leisure.

I made a trip to Mumbai; after passing SSC examination in 1966; to find some job but was turned down as being underage. My mother decided to get me an admission in the newly started college at Malvan for which we walked the distance of over fifteen kilometres as no bus was available. My elder sister Malini decided to take up teacher’s vocation. Her stipend of hundred rupees was a boon for our family and for me in particular. But for Malini the college education would have been a distant dream. During this period my mother was detected with cancer and her treatments and sufferings were agonising.

On completion of B. Sc. In 1971, from Malvan I once again came to Mumbai in search of a job. My efforts to find a job suitable to my qualification did not succeed and I took up a clerks’ position in a bank. In the bank I was good at figures and as such was lucky to earn some overtime. I brought my family consisting of my mother, two brothers and two sisters to Mumbai. My mother’s sickness compelled me to admit her to a charitable hospital due to our poverty.

After about a year and half I got a break through from the employment exchange and joined the Indian Customs Service as a Preventive Officer. I joined the service as I found it adventurous and was told that my salary and overtime would be almost double than what I was earning at the bank. My mother succumbed to cancer on 18th October 1972.

The junior most preventive officers’ working conditions were very hard. Many a times I had to remain on duty in excess of twenty four hours to thirty six hours. But then there were some rare surprises such as the guarding duty for the luxury liner “Queen Elisabeth” where I had an opportunity to visit the vessel at close quarters and sleep on board for one night and enjoy their food. The half yearly change of postings was very good to break the monotony found in any other occupation.

Having stabilised in life I found time to pursue my hitherto dormant hobbies such as sailing and trekking. I participated in the first ever race organised by Indian Navy in collaboration with Sailing Association of India and Royal Bombay Yacht Club. It was a gruelling 50 hours nonstop voyage. The weekend sailings to Mandva, Mora and Murud were thrilling experiences. In 1981 I assisted a sailing expedition from Aden – Salalah – Mumbai. The voyage to Maldives was made exceptional and unforgettable by the 9 feet long “Sailfish” hooked by us.