Cecil Remembers Mr Shiu Narayan Bodhi

Mr Shiu Narayan Bodhi was the elder brother of Mr Ram Narayan Bodhi, know as Chhotka Bhaiya.  As for Ram Narayan Bodhi, Shiu Narayan Bodhi was also raised by Nana and Nani since their childhoon.  We all called him Badka Bhaiya.

In in adulthood when he got married, he lived off Reservoir Road in Suva, an area close to mental Hospital (asylym).  He was a cook by profession but was very well known aa a member of a dancing group.  This group danced at weddings and at special functions.  

I remember him dancing in the attire of Indian dancing woman. His children that I remember, were,  Beermati , who got married to a man from Navua, Brijmati who is married to a teacher and at present they live in Wellington, New Zealand, Kamal Prasad (Kamlu) who used to live in Fulaga street in Samabula, and who later married Farida and short time after that emigrated to the USA and then to UK.   

Mr Shiu Narayan had a second wife who had a few children of her own and they also lived at Reservoir Road.  He later built a house at Fulaga Street Samabula and this where he died.  I think in the early 50’s.  His son Kamal lived in the house until I bought it from him in 1957.  This is from where Kamal went to the USA.

Kamal and I became very close friends, apart from being cousins.

Kamal was a great street fighter and boxer. He did not train but went into the ring to fight on friends urging him to do so, and usually won.

We trained together in the same training room trying to build our bodies using weights and to learn Judo from a Black Belt Holder called Henry Gibson. We also used to hang around together after school and work and went to movies with other friends in Samabula. He had a very fair complexion and would easily pass as an European, but was a very modest person

Badka Bhaiya was also a frequent visiter to Nani’s house and had great regard for Nani. Our mamas, mausis including my Mum and my sister and cousins also visited his house and we used to have good times out there. He used to keep quite a few geese apart from chicken and dogs. These geese were quite vicious and we used to be very wary of them. My Mausi Latch kept in close contact with the girls especially Brij. Every time Latch came to New Zealand, she used to visit Brij in Wellington. In addition she kept in touch with her by mail and telephone. I understand that Kiran and Betty are also in touch with Brij to the present day.

I had the opportunity to see and talk to Brij and her husband when they visited Auckland recently. I intend to see them on my next visit to Wellington

I used to see Beermati (known to all of us as Beeru) when I used to visit Navua in the course of my official business or sometimes otherwise, until I left Fiji in 1973.

She was a very kind and hard working lady. She was married in a rice farming family in Navua.

I can picture Mr. Shiu Narayan Bodhi, in my mind.

I hope someone has got his photo. He was of medium to shortish man with broad shoulder, with ready smile on his face. He walked with a bit of slant to one side, unlike his brother Ram Narayan who walked straight with a dignified manner. (Off course, he was in the Territorial army in Fiji)

Badka Bhaiya and Chhotka Bhaiya, although not Nani’s sons by birth, were regarded by all of Nani’s children, as brothers

I did not know that they were not real sons of Nani and Nana until much later in my adult life when my mother was once telling me about all her family.

So, it goes to show how grand people Nani and Nana were.

“Mr RAM DEO”

I am taking this opportunity to mention another person whom no one has said anything about and he was also close to Bachu family. His name is Ram Deo.

Mr Ram Deo, was also called Ram Deo Bhaiya by all of my mother’s brothers and sister.

He was a very tall man, about 7ft in height, slim built and very fit Sometimes people called him “LUMBU” He served as the Driver of a General in USA army when the American troops were based in Fiji. (Suva ) during WW2 . He was quite fair in complexion and when he dressed in the army uniform and drove the car, he blended very well with the American soldiers. To enhance his appearance, he grew a slim moustache like some of the American actors did in those days. He was also like a member of Bachu family and was regarded as one of my mother’s brothers.

How this relationship was formed, I have no idea , but I was told to call him Mama.

In my youth when we moved to live at Veisari, just outside Suva, he also moved there and built a house a short distance from where we had our house. I came to know him better from that time. We used to go in the jungle and creeks looking for good wood to build our boat and to catch prawn.

In the evenings I used to go fishing in our boat with him and Kaka and we used to catch a lot of fish. He was a good oarsman. He had a daughter and a son.

They emigrated to Canada and settled in Vancouver. I had the good fortune to meet him on my visit to Vancouver in 1995. He made a point to transport me to Rotary Club which I wished to visit and took my family to his home for dinner where his elderly wife gave us a good treat. He was a member of the local Sanatan Dharam Mandali to which my cousin Shambhu Prasad belonged.

This person also forms part of Bachu clan although not related by blood to it.

Hope some senior people will remember him.