Individual results

Name: Mehar Singh Jandu
PA Number: PA2671/4/18
Ref: C2C/020805/INT/13
Date of Interview: 2 August 2005
Date of Birth: 1916
Origin: Littran, Jullundar, Punjab, India
Gender: Male
Religion: Sikh
Caste: Jat
Came to England: 1950
Came to Coventry: 1950
Language of Interview: South Asian (specific language not given)

Timing: 14.42-15.43

14.42
India divided with Pakistan. I lived in Karachi in Pakistan. I had a good job as an electrician. When Pakistan was made, I had to leave Karachi and go to Punjab. In Karachi, I was as an electrician foreman in a factory where 600 people worked. Then I came to the village and tried to go to Delhi, to find a job and could not find anything. Many people suggested to me that lot of people go to England, why don't you go as well? I thought when I was in Karachi I helped people to make their passports and send them to England. Then I thought those people are there and they will help me. I applied for a passport. I had no difficulty. My passport was ready and I tried to come to England. When I came from Delhi to Bombay I went to a factory owner who owned a factory in Karachi. I asked them to look after some of my money. Seth Shivratan came out of the office to meet me. He was very happy to see me. He welcomed me and said ''good you have come, you look after the electrical lift in (14.45) Bombay." He offered me a job and asked me to come. I said ''Seth I have done lot of work, now I have changed my mind I am going to England.'' He said '' you can go but still there is a job available for you''. He tried and I said '' make arrangements for my seat.'' He told his worker to book a seat. We have influence of the planes that carry goods and not those that carry passengers. By the time you get your seat during that time you start working here as we have opened a new workshop, make a main switchboard, after that everything will be done. I said ''it is okay''. I was working writing sheets. I came to Seth and said ''the work is finished and I can't do any more''. Seth was very happy and said'' what can we give you?'' I said ''Seth Ji I came here and I have passed my time. I don't need anything''. Even the cashier was with me at that time. He hinted me. Then the Seth also said ''you are very clever''. Cashier said ''give him 300 rupees. I worked for 15 days and he gave me 300 rupees.
When I got on the plane I was the only Sikh in Bombay. The other three people also got on the plane they were also going to England. In the plane we met each other. There was a lot of problem for eating. Different food was served on the plane compared to what we ate. They said '' eat your food''. We were not eating. ''Eat your breakfast''. We were given bread, butter and tea. I said to the others ''come and join me. Come and eat this''.
14.50
''When we have the dinner there will be beer'', at that time beer was free.
''At that time drink beer, then don't eat anything. When it is tea time then eat bread and butter''. This was very suitable. When the plane arrived, my ticket was different from other peoples' tickets. My ticket was Marcley France and theirs was Italy. He came by sea to Marcley France. There were 3 people up to there. The agent wanted to make money, the other people travelled by plane, I travelled by train.
14.51
They were illiterate and had written to their relatives to collect them from the station. I said to them '' you are sending letters they might not get the letters''. I said to them '' the plane has already started from here. They might not get the letters in time. It is not useful''.
Then I was left alone. On the way there was France, I came here by train. Those people who travelled with me previously were there, now they were not there. From there he met another two people who were from the train. They were going to Glasgow. We were on the train when we arrived here. I think I got off at Victoria Station and we were going to go by buses. When we checked the buses we were told to go underground. We didn't know anything about underground. We wanted to take a taxi but nobody was prepared to take us by taxi. Then we got one which would take us to Euston. We arrived at Euston. We had baggages like in India but here the system is different.
Then the train was leaving before my train and I knew the place so I asked them to get on the train before me, then I was left alone. The train was coming from Euston to Coventry. I put the baggage in the train and the guard was watching me. I said to the guard ''I want to get off at Coventry. I don't know where to get off''. The guard said ''don't worry. I will let you know''. We arrived in Coventry within 2/3 hours.
When we reached Coventry it was 4.00. Coventry Station was very old. There were benches where I sat and put my baggage. I thought I will wait till 6 o'clock and then I will go where I want to. I sat on a bench resting. After 10 mines a taxi arrived.
14.55
The man from the taxi came and put my baggage in the taxi. I was thinking people here are very nice. I went and sat in the taxi at the back. I was thinking he doesn't know where I want to go. He didn't say anything. I spoke to him in English. ''I want to go to Red Lane''. He was surprised and said ''you speak English?'' I said yes I am speaking''. He went to call the Station Master and said to him ''this gentleman speaks English''. The Station Master arrived also and said ''you speak English'' I said'' ''yes'' he asked me ''where do you want to go?'' I said I want to go to Red Lane. Are you sure?'' I said ''I am sure''
14.56
It came out of his mouth ''the two people who came from Bombay do you want to go to the same address where they have gone?'' He showed me the address and I said ''I don't want to go to this address''. The station master had instructions which he forgot that if one person turns up send him to that address. There were 3 people who arrived before me he didn't ask them anything.
When I arrived they caught me and they asked me if I was the right person. Among the three people who arrived before me, one of them was going to same place where I was going.
The taxi arrived which took me to Red Lane. It was 4 o'clock in the morning. When the driver knocked on the door, the Indian opened the door. He said ''come in''.

Was it an old woman?
Yes it was an old woman. She said ''come in''.
14.59
There was one room at the front and one at the back. Then I said ''the person whom I wish to meet is Kartar Singh''. I thought this lady must be somebody else's wife. I said '' I want to go to Kartar Singh of Littran's house''.
15.00
She said ''this is Kartar Singh's house. Come in'' and I was still not going in and I said again ''I want to go to Kartar Singh of Littran's house because I knew he was not married. ''Is your name not Mehar Singh?'' I said ''I am Mehar Singh.'' The woman said ''we have been waiting for you from last three days.'' Then I realised it is the same house. It was a small house. The husband and wife were living in the front room at the back was only a kitchen. They said ''come and sit in''. The old woman shouted ''Kartar Singh Kartar Singh''. He said ''yes''. ''Come Mehar Singh is here''. He said ''Okay I am coming.'' He came down. I thought Kartar Singh was already sent to England 14/15 years ago. He must be well established. He must have a house. I will start living with him in one room. The first thing I saw was a gas-cooker. To my surprise, I had never seen this before. He made tea. We drank tea. Then he said ''I have to go to work in the morning at 7 o'clock. Now you come upstairs and have a rest''. He took my baggage upstairs and he showed me the bed. He slept on a single bed and he said ''you sleep here''. There was also a double bed on which two other people were sleeping. They knew me and they were also sent to England by me. They were asleep and I decided to see them in the morning the next day. Kartar Singh's wife was from the same village as me so she was like a village daughter to all the people of our village, so she was respected as a sister. Her name was Nashatar Kaur. The first wife had died. Kartar Singh said to me '' I am going to work. Now you have your dinner and I will come and see you after work at 5 o' clock and I will talk to you then. I thought it was difficult. There were two people, three sleeping. I asked them jokingly ''who is upstairs?'' They were called and I asked from where are these two people? ''They were also sent by you. You are facing the other way'' jokingly. When Kartar Singh came in the evening, whoever came from an outside country, according to him they used to drink a lot of beer. There were few people. Everybody knew each other. He then took me to a pub in Red Lane. When the came back home 4/5 other people were sitting in the kitchen. I was very happy to see them and I thought they have come to see me as I have come from the same village.
Then we were talking and it was bedtime. One person went upstairs, the other 4 followed him. I got worried as to where I was going to sleep. Then I said to Kartar Singh ''they have all gone up to sleep. Where are we going to sleep?'' ''Don't worry about them. We are going to sleep in the room. There is another room, facing that side'. The four of them will sleep''. There were two double beds with two people sleeping on each bed. Then I realised what England is like.
15.05
The two people went on ''he is strong and stout to work''. I said ''what do you mean by strong and stout?'' I had written to Kartar Singh in the past asking if I would get a job as an electrician and he said '' you will get the job. Don't worry, you come ''. They were talking among themselves ''he is strong. ''he is strong.'' I said to Kartar Singh '' I want a job as an electrician and he said ''everybody works here as a labourer. Everybody comes here and forgets''. I said '' I don't want to work as a labourer. I was a foreman. I am not picking up iron in a foundry''. Kartar Singh said ''maybe it was my mistake. There are people who are superintendents, constables who are also working as labourers. Start looking for a job''. I said ''where will I work?'' They started joking ''is he really going to work? He will only get foundry work'' they said'' even if you work as a labourer, there is no harm'. I kept quiet. Then one day I was reading a telegraph, there was a job advertised - electrician wanted. There was a car body factory here. I got a bus and asked where the place is and I went there. I didn't know the place and I was there. Before me two other people also arrived. One White man came and asked me ''what have you come for?'' I said ''I have come for a job''. He asked ''what qualifications have you got?'' I did some repair work and showed him. He was very happy. He said ''you are alright'' and he employed me. He said ''I will offer you four and a half shillings per hour. I said '' money is not enough''. He explained to me that this is the highest rate which a skilled man gets here. Because I was new and qualified and the first one to go there, he would employ me. He said '' if you don't want it we have not got any other job. This is the only job I have. If you don't want this job then I will employ one of the other two.''
I came home. In the evening I talked at home about the job. I said '' I did get the job, the woman's husband knew English. They were offering me four and a half shillings per hour. And Kartar Singh's wife said '' it was good money'', the others also said ''that was very good money''. I said ''four and a half shillings is less''. They said ''not even the foreman gets that sort of rate. Why didn't you tell me that I could get overtime on a Saturday?''
15.10
The next day when I went again for the job, they said '' there is no job. There was only one job as an electrician. Read the paper, if there is a vacancy next time we will offer you a job''. Then there was no job. Then people were asking me if I have got the job. I said '' no I haven't''. Then another man said to me ''go to GEC, it is a General Electric Company. Try there as well''. Then I went to GEC, within one week I started talking to White people. There was a clerk sitting there. I jokingly said ''I have been there. It is my last try but you are going to say ''no vacancy''. It is my duty to ask for a job. She said '' this Company is not like the other Company, they will offer you a job if there is one going''. She took me to the manager. ''This is the man looking for a job''. In GEC labour side was on the other side and 600 people worked there and there were many departments. Wherever the vacancy was available they would call the person to that department. They used to take the person to the department wherever the job was.
15.11
When one person took me to a place where it was very noisy, khrrr - rr-rr-rr khr. It was a heavy machine. There was a cable where the man was sitting and working and the other people were working outside. Then he asked me the reason for coming here. Then he said ''you are an electrician but you have been sent to the wrong department''. In this department they were making metal boxes. Big and small boxes, cutting the plates to the size.
Now I will write to the manager he is an electrician and he needs electrical job. I thought I have got the job. I said to the foreman ''in case if the job is not available, if I want to do this job for the time being, will I get it?'' He said ''don't worry if you don't get the job you are looking for then you come back here I will keep you''. Then I got confident that I will definitely get the job. Then I went to the electrician foreman. He said to me ''I will see you on Wednesday. There is a job there and the rate will be. The week starts from Friday. You come on Friday. This will done that will be done, the card will be punched and you will be shown how to do it. You have been offered a permanent job''. Then I went on Friday, the person who was in charge, their work was with telephone. My work was different but if you need a person, you can keep him, he is an electrician, but he can learn the work. There were other boys there. I was the only Indian with the hair and beard in style. There were two foremen. There were another 3 or 4 foreman. The person who was in charge called one of the foremen.
15.15
The foreman showed me the things like pliers, etc, etc. He gave me a tool box to keep all the tools in it. The person in charge said to the foreman ''he knows the work, give him the skilled job straightaway, no need to worry''. I said ''okay''. There were parts of different sizes with the wires of different colours- blue, white, green, white. He assembled one with the screws from the other side the wires came out. You bind the wires together with the string. This is the diagram. In that bind there are four different wires. ''The wires are coded. Four others, four others. It is also written there wires are coded. The colour codes are ready. Blue, white, green and white and two wires. The straight white wires has got a twist, the others are coloured. Blue and white is going to be connected here, the others are going to be connected here and there''. I was told to make in that sort of shape and design of the wires. They supplied me with solder and everything else. There was a chair like a stool which was adjustable to different height. I assembled and it took me one and a half hours to do it. The foreman came again to examine my work. I tried to change the shape and the layout so that it would look neat. After I had done it he said 'there are another five to do''. I fixed one, then he said ''you attach second one, then third one and so on''.
When it was Friday the work finished at 5 o'clock. It was 4.30, the foreman was hovering in the department, he came to see me and said to me ''we do overtime. But not on a Friday''. After Friday it is Saturday, we work until 12 o'clock.
15.19
Saturday the work goes on whole day, Sunday half day. Monday two hours overtime, Tuesday two hours overtime, no overtime on a Friday. If you want to do overtime you can but we won't force you to do it. If you want more money it is up to you. I said ''I will come on Saturday''. I did little, little work and completed it.
15.20
I joined with the other Indian people. There the job was very clean, everywhere it was clean. The floor was very clean. When I came home I said '' I have got the job. I have come from work''. They would not believe me that I got the job. They said ''you roam around and then you say you have come from work.'' I showed my wage packet, and then they believed me. Hey said '' you have got a very clean job''. ''I don't mind about the pay being less so long as it is a clean job''.
At that time I wanted to stay and there were seven people living in that house. I had no choice. The White people were not prepared to keep Indian people. The Indians were keeping the Indians there was no doubt about rent.

15.21
There were four, four to ten people living in one house. By working like this, I got skilled. The job I was doing was that given to the White people for training how to set the wires.
15.22
After the training they offered the job but I got it straightaway.

How many years did you work?
I worked for 14/15 years.

Were you still living in Red Lane?
I lived in Coventry.

How many years did you live in that house?
I lived in that house 5/6 weeks. There was another person from the same village as mine (pandoo) who had bought a house and Kartar Singh also had bought a house, because people were coming, give them accommodation. Some of my pandoo came so I moved with the other three to that house.

Where was that?
This house was also in Red Lane. All the food, flour was shared. In either house there were 8 to 10 people. People who worked at night they needed beds, but they went to work. People who finished daytime they needed beds. The people who worked at night slept during daytime.

15.23
Who cooked the meal in the house?
We used to make our own food taking turns.

Ration.
There were ration shops. The shops were owned by White people. There was no shop owned by Indians.
15.24
It was rationing time. We used to get one or half tea bag each. 3/4ths of people got one tea bag each, half packet of butter. Everything was rationed, you could not get anything. Butter and cheese, cheese we were not eating. Sugar - one person got 1lb packet each. Our people were very clever. They used to get black from anywhere. They were also caught buying black. One person used to sell in black.
15.25
He was also earning his own living. In Red Lane it was prohibited to do urine on the street. It was dark, one person was walking to his house, he started doing urine before entering the house. There was a policeman walking, he stopped him. The man who was selling sugar in the house thought the policeman has come.
15.26
My sugar will be confiscated. There was so much sugar in the house. He opened all the packs, 5-7 boxes and disposed in the water by opening the water taps because he was afraid, so he threw all the sugar. I went on working as an electrician Mistry. Other people also carried on working. Then gradually in 1950, 52, 53 other people also started coming. 25, 50 people lived in Coventry when I came, we used to get together and drink in pubs.
15.27
After 8 days we had a bath. During those days it was council baths.

Did you wash the clothes as well?
I didn't wash, I had them dry cleaned. Other people used to boil the water by using charcoal band wash their clothes under the tap.
Did you send money to India?
Yes we did. 40 pounds a month in one money order. We were not allowed to send more than 40 pounds a month but we could send 40 pounds or 20 pounds.
It was very hard to make 40 pounds in those days. It took us two months to make 40 pounds and we had to take somebody literate with us to the post office to send the money and we used to say ''push it to India''. We used to send the money to India very happily. Gradually Indians started coming here but they did not know the language.
15.28
After 10-12 years the families also started coming. The children also came; they were admitted to schools for education.
15.29
Some people went to the solicitors, shopping, they took their young children with them because they were studying in schools, and they acted as interpreters. They asked me to find somebody who could speak English.

Did you go back to India?
Yes I went after 14 years.

What about aunty?
First I brought my wife here, and then I went to India.

15.30
Where was your family?
The family was already here.

Did you marry and then come?
I was already married. I had one daughter 12/14 years old. She got married and I was not present. Then the passports were made at the same time when the immigration came into force. Nobody could come without the passports or work permit. Then people tried to bring their families.
15.31
My younger brother was there. He bought the tickets. There was too much rush for the tickets and they were sold in black. People were prepared to spend money to come here. They spared lot of money. The tickets for 400 pounds/500 pounds were sold in black for 800 pounds. My brother went to buy a ticket and they were 1500 pounds each, the tickets were not available. We are trying.
15.32
I wrote to them stop the tickets. You don't worry you will come. My son-in-law was also there who came later. He went to see the agents. The agent said '' you are crazy. Don't spend the money''. After a certain date people are not going to go and tickets will get cheaper.'' There was a good man then they had the tickets and they came.

15.33
Was your son old?
Was he married? Was he young?
No he was not married. He was old; his passport could not be made. I asked the White people and the officers and took advice from different people. He had problem for school and no one was giving a certificate. I thought I will keep on trying. I saw a solicitor, and he wrote a letter - this is my son, what education will he do? I was trying to get my son here.
15.34
First his passport also got rejected.




15.35
The Seth who was in India, he had a branch in London. The Seth said '' how come you are here?'' I said '' I am here but I have got a problem, and he thought it was to do with the job and he said ''don't worry. You will get a job''.
15.36
I said the passport is not being made I have sent all the paperwork. I don't know why they send the passport back and rejected it.'' Then he suggested and helped me. The Seth put himself in my place and spoke to the Passport Officer explaining that he had come to England. His son is prepared to go to school and has been offered a place in school why have you rejected the passport? The Passport Officer had a good impression that this person is ringing from England he must be holding a good position. He said ''I am at home so what answer can I give? Have you got any reference for the letter? I said ''yes I have got a reference. "Don't' worry I will get the passport issued." Then my son came.

15.38
What work did you do after working there?
I had a job. It was a good job. I had one month's leave. Then there were redundancies but I was old worker. I was the only one left, the others were made redundant. I still got the old rate. I didn't have a foreman either. After my holidays I came to work and had two days more. The company had a chance to say tome ''if you want to work you can work but your rate will go down''. During those days I had a travel agency and was working privately but decided to run a travel agency and I said to the company ''if you want to leave me you can''.

15.39
In which year?
I can't remember the year. Say it after 14/15 years. Then I started a travel agency. I learned about it. I started my own business. Then I retired.

15.40
When did I retire I can't remember. Then I was on pension. If a person is retired he can work, but he has to pay tax. Then I was working and also paid tax. I am old and what else do I have to see more?

Are you happy to come to England?
Very happy. My male generation at home asked me ''how are you living here?''
15.41
That is enough. We were not educated but still working and so many living.
15.42
In 1915/20 after 20 years people started calling their own people.

Are you happy in England? Or would you like to go back to India?
Yes I am happy. I have been 2/3 times to India. I have made my house.

Is there a place of your own to live?
I don't want to live there. My younger brother came, my son came. One of my grand (15.43) daughters is in Canada. She is getting married. One daughter, one son-in-law are in Canada. We could not attend the wedding as we are not very mobile. The other son and daughter are going to the wedding on Thursday.

Is all the family here?
Yes all the family is here. The two sons are married here. The younger daughter also got married here. Mostly all the relatives are here.