John Mackenzie

Visit to India May 2011

I visited India and more specifically Cachar in May 2011.  I was born in Shillong in 1941 and lived on Roopacherra Tea Estate where my father was the manager.  We left India in 1950 but I have very fond memories of those times.  In addition my grandparents were also in tea in Cachar and I visited two of the gardens which they were on - Silcoorie and Lallacherra.

I had the opportunity of visiting other estates in Cachar as well - Doyapore, Doloo and Koomber which had their own significance which I will expand on that at a later date.  At all times I was made very welcome and looked after. 

On the return journey I went through Kolkata where I stayed with the Krupa and Jytoi David and then on to Siliguri where I stayed with the Swapan and Kalyani Dutta and met old friends from my own days in tea in the Dooars.  Swapan took me along with him on his visits and we passed Nagrakata Club on our way to Hantapara for lunch with K. K. Mehra.

I will post and expanded version of the visit at a later date.

John Mackenzie