Basrur Venugopal : Boyhood Anecdotes

A DATE WITH MOHAMED ALI JINNAH :

At Guntakal with my parents :

Anecdotes -1940 t0 1945 : Part 1.

I have fond memories of my living with my parents from 1940 to 1945 in Guntakal . My father ( Late Dr.Basrur Ganesha Rao ) was a very well known and prominent personality in the Medical Services in the Railways . He was a Doctor on call at anytime anywhere for anyone . My life was centered around him at this time when I had a part of my Secondary school education at Guntakal in the European Convent there .

Guntakal is a prominent Junction for trains travelling in different directions . The Bombay-Madras Mail & Express were two major routes that passed through Guntakal . Friends and relatives going to Bombay and Bangalore used to stay with us and Pappa used to help them in many ways – like arranging for tickets , booking carriages for cargo for transportation to Bangalore etc etc . His help was essential to the transit passengers and he would gladly assist and invite them to stay at our place till the matters were sorted out .

Pappa was a keen sportsman and he would never sacrifice his game of Tennis in the evening at the European railway Institute . Dressed in his white shorts and half arm shirts he would sport his canvass shoes and walk to the Institute through the Railway Station greeting his many friends on the way . He had one constant companion and that was ME tugging behind him to watch his game. ( Sometimes my sister Kumud used to come along with me ) . He was a very good player and we used to enjoy the sight of the youngsters ,his opponents , running all over the court to return his lobs so accurately placed behind them . We took pride in telling our friends that he had the distinction of receiving a trophy from Sir Arthur Hope . once the Governor of Madras Presidency . I wish I could resurrect that photograph of Pappa which is somewhere with the family . Apart from watching his Tennis our other main intention was to have a glass of Spencers Lemonade which was served to us . And that was scintillating

On one evening Pappa’s tennis routine was suddenly cut short . He received a telegram from Adoni ( A station between Guntakal and Raichur ) on the route . It was a cryptic message which stated … “ Guard Jinnah serious . Attend on him at platform 6 Madras Mail .””

Pappa wondered why he was being called upon to attend to the Guard at the platform in the train. He believed that common sense should have prevailed and the Guard admitted immediately to Adoni Railway Hospital . Never the less he discarded his tennis attire and seized his medical kit to walk to the station in time for the arrival of Bombay – Madras Mail . I tugged along , following him like a “”badi baala “ to the station .

The Mail steamed into platform No.6 as we just reached the station . There was a huge crowd at the platform . Pappa was taken to the First class carriage . He got into the train and found Mohamed Ali Jinnah , Leader of the Muslim League in India , fighting for his life . He was unconscious ,struggling with a feeble heart beat . The Doctor opened his medical kit and pulled out two vials of Coramine injections and pumped them into his veins . He believed that God had to do the rest .

There was a delay of three hours before the train left and Jinnah came back to life . The crowd shouted Inqilab Zindabad .

A few years later Pakistan was born . Pappa’s friends used to joke and say that the Doctor had a hand in creating Pakistan. This is one unforgettable incident in my life and still clings to me . That was my father , a Doctor on service , at any time, any where, and to anyone .