Page 94 - All About History - Issue 26-15

ALL ABOU
T
A group of Jute
Wallahs at Megna
Jute Mills, West
YOUR HISTORY O Elizabeth Miln, fourth
Bengal, in 1930.
O Second from top-right
is Kenneth’s mother
from top is his father
John Miln

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Photos
Scansofsnapsthat Wallah’s life
offerinsighttothepast
Antiques and
objects
Show off your family heirlooms,
mementos and retro curios Kenneth Miln was(andstillremains)locatedontheeastbankofthe
Letters from the past I am a retired Jute Wallah. These riverHooghlyabout20milesnorthofCalcutta,which
were mainly folks from Dundee wasBengal’spremiercityandport,ideallysuitedfor
Oldcorrespondencecanholdawealthof
who, having gained some theexportofmanufacturedJuteproductstoworldwide
historical info and fascinating stories
experience in mills, chose to markets.Welivedinpartofalargebungalowonthemill
News clippings leavetheirnativelandforgreener compound, separated from the noisy mill by a series
Articles reporting on iconic events pastures in India, where large new ofwell-laid-outgardens,tenniscourts,abowlinggreen
Amazing stories mills were under construction. andaplayparkforJuteWallahchildren.Beyondthese
This movement of skilled workers amenities lay the extensive mill buildings including
Interestingorinsightfultalespassed
and processing expertise from the engine house and boiler house. With Megna’s mills
down from your ancestors
Dundee to India took place from operating round the clock, the native total labour force
Eyewitness accounts the mid-1800s through to the 1950s, by which time the amounted to more than 4,000. European (Scottish)
Didyouwitnessahistoriceventin last Jute Wallahs were leaving India. For many of those expatriate overseers and management staff (Jute
person? Share it today wholeftthepromiseofhigherremunerationandamore Wallahs) numbered about 14.
comfortablelifestylewasthedraw,forothersitwas Withinthemillstherewasstrictadherenceto
Family trees travel and adventure. hierarchy, with native staff at the lowest levels. Up to the
Achancetoboastaboutfamousor Asaboy,MegnamillscompoundinCalcutta(now late 1950s there was basically no fraternising between
significant ancestors Kolkata)wasmyhomefor12years.Ourcompound European expatriate staff and locally appointed staff.
Send your memories to: allabouthistory@imagine-publishing.co.uk

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