E-Paper
Bent, but not broken
HE IS over 100 years of age , was a freedom fighter and has been an English tutor to Dr Vikram Sarabhai for some time, but Mukut Singh, now president of Gandhi Darshan Prachar Kendra, has no regrets except a complaint with the State Government. Singh is undergoing treatment in a private room of Ward Number 12 of Hallet hospital for a fractured right leg, under Dr Anand Swaroop. He has a house in Nonari in Kanpur Dehat but it is in a shambles.
HE IS over 100 years of age , was a freedom fighter and has been an English tutor to Dr Vikram Sarabhai for some time, but Mukut Singh, now president of Gandhi Darshan Prachar Kendra, has no regrets except a complaint with the State Government.
Singh is undergoing treatment in a private room of Ward Number 12 of Hallet hospital for a fractured right leg, under Dr Anand Swaroop. He has a house in Nonari in Kanpur Dehat but it is in a shambles. During British rule, his property was confiscated several times which resulted in a huge loss to him and unfortunately he could never recover the loss, disclosed Singh in fluent English.
He did write a letter to the then chief minister Gobind Vallabh Pant for some assistance in this regard, but was offered a meagre amount. Needless to state, he refused it, saying that with the petty sum, even a room could not be repaired..Since then, he has been unable to get any help and wants that he be given some aid to repair his house.
Singh, who was born on July 12, 1906, moved to Ahmedabad to his brother’s place for further studies. His brothers were already working there.
Before traipsing down memory lane, Singh does not forget to tell this correspondent that his 100th birthday was celebrated in his hometown courtesy MP Radhey Shyam Koirey.
It was in Ahmedabad that he came in contact with Ambalal Sarabhai, the father of Dr Vikram Sarabhai. For Singh, Sarabhai and his wife were like parents..
Ambalal also treated him as his son, adds Singh. Since Mridula, the eldest of the eight children of Ambalal was general secretary of the Congress Committee during the early 30s, Singh also joined the party and then the freedom struggle and went to jail several times during the fight for independence.
Recounting his relations with Ambalal, Singh says that Ambalal, knowing well that Vikram Sarabhai was a promising student, though a little weak in English, sought Singh’s help to improve his language skills. Singh was a post-graduate in English.
It was during that time that Dr Vikram Sarabhai used to call him guru, recalls Singh getting emotional.
However, he has lost his contact with the Sarabhai family for a long time now.
He tried to revive his relationship through a letter to Dr Sarabhai’s wife a few years back, but did not receive a reply. Probably, she did not receive the letter, adds Singh.
