As a young lad, Hargobind was studying to be a doctor like his father, when he came across a tract distributed by the Zenana Mission's Bible women. In this, young Hargobind Das read about Jesus Christ the Son of God who loves the whole world. In the caste-ridden society that he lived in, this was a new concept. Moreover, Hargobind read the gospels in the Holy Bible telling him that Jesus Christ loved lepers too, and He touched and healed them. This was radical and Hargobind hungered for more of this faith where there was no caste and there was compassion and mercy. He read and was convinced that Jesus Christ was the Truth. As soon as he turned eighteen, Hargobind was baptised in November 1895 in Benares and received the name of Andrew Prabhu Das, having got rid of his caste! As is the case, his family ostracized him and he was disowned by them. He had a desire to pursue his medical studies. His mother on parting from him, gave him all her jewellery to sell and fund his studies. Andrew Prabhu Das went on to the Agra Medical School in Uttar Pradesh to complete his education and was a qualified doctor in May 1902 when he received his degree.
Whilst studying in Agra, he met with his friend's sister Sally Atmaram, studying at the Victoria High School. Sarah Atmaram born on September 12, 1881 was the daughter of James Atmaram of Hoshangabad, a government clerk and who gave his children the best education of his time. Sarah Atmaram passed with a first division in 1901 being a diligent and responsible student. Andrew and Sarah were married on December 28, 1904 by Rev. Charles W. Darling, at the St. George's Church in Hoshangabad in Madhya Pradesh then known as the Central Provinces.
Dr. and Mrs. Andrew Prabhu Das arrived in Tarn Taran, Punjab, to work at the Mission to Lepers in 1909, where Canon E. Guilford of the Church Missionary Society was being supported by the Mission to Lepers to work among these afflicted. In his own words written in John Jackson's "In Leper Land" Canon Guilford says, "Never shall I forget my first visit to these awful wrecks of humanity. When we got within the Asylum there came surging around us such a crowd of deformed, mutilated, suffering creatures...". It was among such that my grandparents started their work and remained here in Tarn Taran till 1961 January when Dr. A.P. Das died whilst he was superintendent of the Home & Hospital for fifty two years. Mission to Lepers was founded by Wellesley Bailey in 1874 to aid leprosy sufferers, first in India and later throughout the colonies of the British Empire. The Church of England's Church Missionary Society was closely involved in this work and along with the Mission to Lepers, leprosy patients were reached out to, when society had given them up or had nothing to offer them. Wellesley C. Bailey had visited Tarn Taran just before Dr. A.P. Das came to Tarn Taran and there is a posting of this in the visitors' logbook maintained by The Leprosy Mission and it was over a hundred years' ago in a fragile condition kept by Dr. Premal Das now!
Whilst researching for Dr. A.P. Das, I googled and came across this passage from the 1969 Health Statistics of the Chief Medical Officer of the Punjab Government: "The present asylum, situated outside the town, was established in 1858. It was maintained with Municipal funds and with the cost received from the respective districts to which the lepers belonged. In 1903, the maintenance and the control of the asylum were passed out to the Mission of Lepers, London. It is now called Leprosy Hospital and Home, Tarn Taran. It has 230 beds. At present, there is one Leprosy Specialist and 4 Nurses, besides some other allied staff. The asylum remained under the charge of Rev, Canon Dr. A.P. Dass from 1909 to 1961. Near the asylum, a colony for recovered cases and their descendants has come into existence.
Martha David Home: Close to the asylum is a separate home for the untainted children of the patients; and is known as the Martha David Home. It has 60 seats. Here the children are kept separate from their parents. They are provided with necessary facilities for their education. The mission maintains both the Asylum and the home." I was amazed that in the 21st century, I could google and find information about my grandfather on the internet!
My maternal grandfather Canon A.B. Chandu Lall visited my paternal grandfather Canon Dr. A.P. Das in 1937 and made this posting in the visitors' logbook not knowing that in twelve years' time his daughter would marry Dr. A.P. Das's youngest son. This was really an amazing "God's incident" in the lives of our ancestors, because there are no coincidences with God!
Bishop Heber Wilkinson, the Bishop of Amritsar, in his book "Thirst of India" published in 1954 writes: "In Tarn Taran, Mrs. Das, the wife of the superintendent of the home, the Rev. Canon Dr. Das, has done remarkable work with such children. They live in a simple hostel and are grouped together in "families", ranging in age from sixteen years to two years. The older children have to care for the smaller children, and live and work together in their little family groups. They receive ordinary school education and do beautiful handiwork. They are especially well trained in singing and folk dancing, and it is a great treat to hear their tuneful voices in perfect harmony and to witness their graceful movements as they enjoy themselves when performing simple folk dances. On occasions they put on performances to entertain the lepers who sit at a distance from them. It is pathetic to see the expression on the faces of the parents who are separated physically from their children, but are able to see them from time to time and to take great pride in their progress. From this home many young men and women have gone out into the world to lives of Christian service. Some of them are nurses and teachers, and one young man became a Petty Officer in the Indian Navy. I know of no greater work of love and mercy than the care of these untainted leper children."
From my grandparents I learned to live for others and service to the deprived as Jesus Christ taught us has become our lifestyle. Dr. & Mrs. A.P. Das had nine children, the first two of whom died in infancy. Dorothea (b1909) the eldest surviving child married Dr. James Ayaram who also worked as the superintendent of The Leprosy Mission Home & Hospital in Tarn Taran, carrying on the tradition of his father-in-law. Ernest (b1911) was a professor of Zoology in the university of Sholapur in Maharashtra; Victor (b1913) the next son, nearly died in his infancy but my grandmother asked God to spare his life and dedicated him to the Lord, so he became a doctor and joined The Leprosy Mission and became its Secretary-General for South Asia ably assisted by his wife Beulah. His daughter Dr. Kiran Sarkar worked and retired from The Leprosy Mission and his son Anil was superintendent in Purulia, West Bengal, when he died some years ago. Christine (b1915) was the fourth child and she became the principal of the mission school in Kharar and then joined The Leprosy Mission as superintendent of the Hospital & Home in Tarn Taran, carrying on the family tradition, from where she retired. My grandmother died and was buried in 1974 at Tarn Taran whilst staying with my aunt Christine when she was the superintendent there. Harold (b1917), the next child also worked with The Leprosy Mission in Poladhpur, Maharashtra, along with his wife Venetia and their younger son Dr. Premal Das is currently the Deputy Director of The Leprosy Mission, India. He and his wife Dr. Loretta Das, are based in Naini, Allahabad in UP. Eric (b1919) the sixth child was in the British army which he left after India's independence and joined the Forest Department of the Punjab Government, neither he nor his family worked with The Leprosy Mission and I am his third daughter documenting this! Joy (b1921) is the only surviving child of Dr. & Mrs. A.P. Das, living with her niece in Delhi/Noida, and was a teacher first with the Mission to Lepers Home in Tarn Taran where she taught the untainted children of leprosy patients, and later in Chandigarh at the Carmel Convent School. She retired and moved on to Delhi where she is staying now.
Psalm 128 sums up my grandparents' life: Blessed is every one that feareth the LORD; that walketh in his ways.
For thou shalt eat the labour of thine hands: happy shalt thou be, and it shall be well with thee.
Thy wife shall be as a fruitful vine by the sides of thine house: thy children like olive plants round about thy table.
Behold, that thus shall the man be blessed that feareth the LORD.
The LORD shall bless thee out of Zion: and thou shalt see the good of Jerusalem all the days of thy life.
Yea, thou shalt see thy children's children, and peace upon Israel.
