Rajan Mehra

July 4 2008
We are delighted to have this memory  of a visit to the Aberdeen Reunion lunch 1985 from Rajan and Shalini Mehra and we thank them for sharing this experience with us. We thank Shalini for her story

Planters Reunion 1985
An everlasting memory

For years Tea Planters' Reunion Meet at Aberdeen remained a much awaited and well attended event.  An annual meet would be organized and planters, mostly expatriates, working as well as retired, would travel distances to meet their old friends and colleagues. Gradually the attendance became lesser and eventually the tradition died down.

The heartening news that Aberdeen Planters' reunion has been one again resumed and will be held on 15^th August this year, summoned up my memory and I could not help travelling back in time to revive images of one such Meet I had attended.

In August 1985 my husband Rajan got his first UK leave. Every year our company, (Assam Company Ltd.)would select two couples on seniority basis from the estates for UK trip. The visit always coincided with Planters' Reunion Dinner at Aberdeen. The other couple with us was Mr. and Mrs. Nazrul Haq Choudhury. Nazrul was then Manager Kondoli Tea Estate. The Company Managing Director Mr. H.D. Wahi was also in London with his wife and daughter. They too were joining the Planters' reunion get-together at Aberdeen. Our train tickets from London to Aberdeen were booked in advance by then London Visiting Agent Mr. Frank Wilson who very generously booked us in 1^st class, which somehow did not turn out to be very comfortable for us as others were travelling general class (I am not aware of what was it called). Rajan and I felt very embarrassed when we discovered the faux passé but both Mr. and Mrs. Wahi very magnanimously made light of the situation to put us at ease. It was a night journey so we missed out watching the scenic countryside that I had heard so much about.

It was a bleak, grey morning when we arrived in Aberdeen. Scotland can be very wet and windy. It dampened my spirits as I was looking forward to explore the land of pristine natural beauty and rich colourful kilts. We checked at the hotel Metcliff but by the time we finished breakfast the sun peeped out and the whip-lashing wind turned caressing. It lifted my spirits.

Rajan and Nazrul had to hire a DJ Suit which was the formal dress for the evening dinner. Later we came to know that it was a usual practice for the planters traveling from distances and not carrying one. There was this particular shop we were directed to by Mr.Wahi and in no time they both had been fitted with smart suits, of course only for the evening.

Since the get-together was in the evening we had the whole day to explore the city. What struck me as very unusual were the stone structures! These stunning granite buildings give the city an extremely unique look and its nickname -‘Granite City'.

"Aberdeen to Heaven - nae not a great step."

So goes a proud local boast about Scotland's lovable city of fine granite buildings set against the bright impeccable parks and gardens. There were plenty of interesting bars, restaurants and very decent shopping centers in the city to explore. To the south east on the stunning and very dramatic shoreline was Dunnottar Castle - perched high on the red cliffs above the red sea. We were told that there were many beaches both south and north of Aberdeen, lovely quiet places to stop and enjoy the sun and view on way up the coast. Unfortunately we didn't have time to explore much.

Later in the evening we got back to the hotel and got ready for the get-together. I had carried a sari especially for the occasion. In 1973 when I came to Tea most of the expatriates had already left. I recognised very few named on the attendee list, namely Mr. and Mrs. E.K.Deighton, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Will, and Mr. & Mrs. Clayton but for Rajan there were many familiar faces and he was thrilled to meet them after a long gap of time. We were allotted different tables but besides Mr. and Mrs. Will, there were not many familiar faces on our table. We had just settled in when appetizers and drinks arrived, introductions were done and conversation commenced. Very soon planters were in their element as if transported in time capsule back in the Tea gardens. All this was new to me and most of the time I remained a silent listener. But not even once I felt out of place. In fact looking back I recollect that I was being given extra attention by everyone on my table. Since I am a vegetarian, special dishes were ordered. The dinner lingered on and the conversation was never-ending. I was basking in attention and compliments that Tea planters are so generous in giving. They were all admiring my sari and jewels-"how exquisite... just out of this world!!!!" The whole atmosphere was charged with animated camaraderie enough to give this young memsahib a high, no don't read wrongly as I was as sober as any teetotaler could be.

"Remember when I was...." were oft quoted beginnings of conversation as the attendees reminisced and regaled one another with old time stories. How I wish I knew then that one day ‘The Camellia' would carry such stories! I could have filled pages with treasure full of memoirs that evening. What a loss to posterity! For someone like me, who had only heard about the tales of the pioneers this was history coming alive from its sepia pages. This was the gathering of a generation of tea planters who were trailblazers and trend setters, who had borne hardships in a foreign land and helped establish not only a big business but a great institution also, namely -Tea. I felt elated to be proud of that illustrious gathering.

Finally the evening drew to an end with good-byes, hugs and kisses and of course promises to meet the coming year. All of us got up for a group photograph that I am attaching here. There are faces in the picture that are bound to be recognized by many of you, some have departed from the earth, May God rest their souls in peace but some might be there. Though images are little blurred but every time I look at this picture I feel proud to be a part of a heritage that passes on and on.

Next morning our train was very early. Though feeling little drowsy as we had slept late the night before, I could not afford to miss the landscape unfolding outside the moving train. It was breathtakingly beautiful, at the horizon, the blue of the sky melted into the blue of the sea making it look like a vast canopy, now and then the stone buildings came into view standing like sentinels on watch, for miles spectacularly laid out golf courses coasted along the sea. I sat glued to my window seat soaking in the landscape. I made a promise to myself to visit this unique place at least once again in my life time.

Now with the renewal of Aberdeen Planters Reunion get-together there is an extra incentive and hopefully we will be able to make it next year.  Memories of the 1985 get-together are bound to come back but with a difference, I am sure I will be one of those telling the tales, not just listening. In addition I am sure I would know many more visitors because of our association through The Camellia. I also promise that I will be well equipped with a pen and note pad or rather carry a tape recorder/laptop to record many a tale for you readers.

What a collection that would be from the pages of tea history! My heart tinkles with just that thought!!!!

		The Manufacture of Tea  as practiced today We are deeply indebted to Rajan Mehra for helping those of us who have not been associated with the manufacture of Tea for some years. Below is an explanation of the steps taken for the three separate processes, shown as a  line drawing of the manufacturing process of what North East  (Assam) Tea Manufacturers follow in making Tea for the public to enjoy Full Orthodox Dual Manufacture Extraction  Orthodox fines--balance CTC  Full CTC Rototvane/CTC Roll/CTC     Process     Process     Process     Withering     Withering     Withering Open Troughs or  Enclosed Troughs Open Troughs or  Enclosed Troughs Open Troughs or  Enclosed Troughs   Rolling in  Rolling Tables Rolling in  Rolling Tables    Rotorvane              Sifting in     Rotary  Sifters           Sifting in      Rotary   Sifters          Extraction of      First Fines  Extraction of      First Fines         Second Roll Extraction of second Fine Fines go for  Fermenting   Third Roll Extraction of Third Fine              Balance Coarse Balance leaf to CTC            CTC          FERMENTING FERMENTING FERMENTING Floor Fermentation Floor Fermentation Floor Fermentation Trough Fermentation Trough Fermentation Trough Fermentation   Continuous Fermenting Machine Continuous Fermenting Machine       DRYING DRYING DRYING   Conventional dryers Conventional dryers Conventional dryers   Vibro Fluid Bed Dryers Vibro Fluid Bed Dryers       SORTING/GRADING SORTING/GRADING SORTING/GRADING   PACKING Paper Sacks (Small or Large) PACKING Paper Sacks (Small or Large) Jute Bags PACKING Paper Sacks (Small or Large) Jute Bags
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Click on each line below to see the process in photos. 

Withering

Rolling

CTC Process

Fermentation, Drying & Sorting

Finishing

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