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Ramjibhi
Popat was born on New Years Day in 1926 in the small village of
Dungra in Sarat, Gujarat. He went to a local school to learn Gujarati
but at the age of 14 left home and travelled to the city of Bombay
where he felt that he could get a better job.
"My
parents encouraged me to leave my home village and try to make a
life in Bombay because there were far more opportunities there,"
he recalls.
This
took the form of working in an Indian restaurant as a chef, earning
around 30 rupees a month.
After
two years and at the age of 16, he decided to join the British Army,
again to work as a chef.
The Royal Artillery Army was based in Bombay. I earned 40 rupees
working in the Army. When the war finished, the Major asked
me if I would like to go to England with him and his family,
to work for him. |
| Ramjibhi
Popat |
"I
was mainly cooking English food. The Royal Artillery were based
in Bombay. I earned 40 rupees working in the Army. When the war
finished, the Major asked me if I would like to go to England with
him and his family, to work for him.
"I
immediately said 'Yes'. I knew that I could probably get a better
job, better life and opportunities in England."
They
travelled to England in a steamer boat called SS Trackmore. In total
it took 15 days to travel from Bombay to England.
"The
Major was kind enough to pay for all the expenses. I came alone,
although I was married but I decided to leave the family behind.
"We
arrived in England on 22nd February 1949 and settled in London for
two years. We stayed in a hotel and I worked there as a chef.
Rented
accommodation
Then
the major found some premises, a farm, in Cirencester. The farm
was converted into a hostel for students (mainly from the agricultural
college) and I worked there as a cook until he decided to move to
Cheltenham in 1956.
It
was then that I decided that I no longer wanted to work for the
major. So I found a job in Cavendish House working as a chef, mainly
cooking English food."
There
was no TV at the time, but I did thankfully have a radio. I
used to listen to shortwave for Indian radio programmes. I used
to manage to get Indian programmes from Bombay and Delhi which
was nice. It reminded me of home. |
| Ramjibhi
Popat |
At
first the major paid him £3 a week. When he started working in Cavendish
House he was earning six pounds and 10 shillings a week but he was
living in rented accommodation at 7 Hales Road, near Charlton Kings.
This
arrangement was in order to save enough money so that his family
could come to England.
When
his family arrived they eventually bought the Hales Road house.
As the first Hindu to arrive in Cheltenham he admits that he did
find it difficult to settle down here.
"It
was a totally different environment here to what I was used to.
However, I do feel that life is much better in England than in India.
"When
I first arrived in England I found the weather was very different.
It was February, it was snowing and very cold." It was the first
time he had seen snow.
Another
big adjustment was the lack of a social outlet as even after a few
years there were few Asian people in the town.
Only
a few Asian people
"I
only met a few Asian people, there were not that many. I used to
meet them in the street, in passing. I think they were living in
Cheltenham.
"There
are four particular Asian people (Hindus) who came from Coventry
that I remember. Mr Jasubhai J Patel, Mr Chimanbhai L Patel, they
both lived in Bath Road at the time, and Mr Diyarbhai N Patel and
Mr Diyarbhai D Patel. "Three
of them were working in Rotol and one was working in Smiths Industries.
There
were maybe one or two other Asian people here (Muslims) and they
were probably students.
There wasn't a great range of food available like it is now
but I used to get certain lentils, rice, dry fish and curry
powder. I used to mainly purchase these items from the international
shop or from Cavendish House. |
| Ramjibhi
Popat |
"There
was no TV at the time, but I did thankfully have a radio. I used
to listen to shortwave for Indian radio programmes. I used to manage
to get Indian programmes from Bombay and Delhi which was nice. It
reminded me of home.
"After
work and on my days off, I used to go to the cinema in Cheltenham
to watch English films. There were no Indian films. I used to go
to the pub as well with my friends.
"There
wasn't a great range of food available like it is now but I used
to get certain lentils, rice, dry fish and curry powder. I used
to mainly purchase these items from the international shop or from
Cavendish House.
"I
couldn't buy any fresh chili and not much fruit either, just bananas.
I didn't see any fruit like grapes or pears."
There
was also no real place in which he could practice his religion.
"There wasn't Hindu temple in Cheltenham where I could go.
Instead I used to go to the local church with friends from work.
I used to go once a week on Sunday. The people were very nice, very
friendly.
No
racial comments
"At
home I had a few photographs of the Hindu Goddess and that is where
I used to pray."
Ramjibhai
did not experience any colour prejudice when he came to England.
In fact he recalls that he has never experienced any direct racism
while he has been living in Cheltenham.
He
recalls that he was working with many nationalities in Cavendish
House - Polish, Chinese, Spanish, Italian, Russian and German. He
says they were really nice people to work with and very friendly.
When I first came here people did stare at me but I think that
type of reaction occurred because people had never seen an Asian
person before so I guess it was expected. I have never experienced
any racial comments at all. |
| Ramjibhi
Popat |
"When
I first came here people did stare at me but I think that type of
reaction occurred because people had never seen an Asian person
before so I guess it was expected. I have never experienced any
racial comments at all."
Unlike
many migrants, one barrier he did not face was the language one.
"I knew how to speak English because I learnt it in India,
so I didn't have any difficulty in speaking to people. I certainly
did not have any difficulties when speaking to customers in Cavendish
House."
Ramjibhai
has been living in his present home in Cheltenham since 1962. He
retired from Cavendish House in 1990 after more than 30 years' service.
He
has five children: two daughters and three sons - the oldest is
40 and the youngest is 13 years old. All but one was born in England
and they all went to school locally - St James' School, then Northern
Park School, and one went to Bournside School in Cheltenham.
His
eldest daughter went to Gloscat to study catering management and
his other daughter works in the B&Q office.
My
children do not know how to speak Gujarati, and slowly we will
begin to lose our traditions. |
| Ramjibhi
Popat |
"I
do feel that my children have better future prospects than I ever
did. They gained an education, which has meant that they have got
good jobs which they enjoy. They are all doing very well.
"I
did find it difficult to raise my children. It was financially difficult,
buying school uniforms and food but I did manage."
His
concern today lies in his fear that the Hindu community is losing
touch with its culture.
"'My
children do not know how to speak Gujarati, and slowly we will begin
to lose our traditions.
"'I
do like living in Cheltenham, it is a nice place to live and very
nice people. I would like to go back to India now that I am retired
but only to visit.
"I
don't think I could go back to live there on a permanent basis mainly
because my family are here and I would miss them too much."
»
See 'The Hindu Community'
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